Pumpkin Pie Crunch

So…. I have definitely been neglecting my blog lately.  I have a lot going on both physically and mentally… so I am currently making time for some things that really really need me (my kids that are growing up way too fast .. mostly) rather than writing.

On that note….  I just had to share this recipe… with someone… anyone….

My mom got this on a handwritten piece of paper from someone at work and asked me to make it for Easter dinner.  I did… and YUM!

Super easy…. super tasty….. just super.

Pumpkin Pie Crunch

1 can (15 oz) solid pack pumpkin (my MIL takes our Halloween pumpkins, cooks them down, and splits the pumpkin with us… so I used fresh frozen)

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 1/4 c sugar

1 tbs pumpkin pie spice ( I didn’t have any… but had three of the four ingredients to it… so I used 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, and 1 tsp nutmeg…..  the fourth is allspice.. but I didn’t have any of that either)

1/2 tsp salt

1 package yellow cake mix

1 c walnuts

3/4 c melted butter

Baking time 50-60 minutes

Heat oven to 350

Grease bottom of pan.  combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, spice and salt.

pour into pan.

sprinkle dry cake mix on top.

top with nuts.

drizzle with melted butter.

bake…..

YUM!

Silhouette Giveaway at A Bowl Full of Lemons

Go here to A Bowl Full of Lemons and see her awesome giveaway for a Silhouette pack!!!  What a deal!  You can also see some cool ideas on how to use a Silhouette or a Cricut or other cutting machine if you already have one.

Check it out!

Bathroom- New Green

I finally got some new paint for the bathroom!!!  Yippie!   I thought….

I tried to do it a bit smarter this time and bought three samples.  I got the color I thought I wanted and then the shade lighter and darker.  I ended up picking the shade in the middle…. anyway….

So.. after a very long painting experience (trying to do it all myself while watching three children three and under because hubby had to work late)… and a few other mishaps- falling through and busting the toilet seat.. and my son getting covered in paint….. I got it done all yesterday!

So… this is the before before….. when I decided I wanted green…..

Then the first green… that was sooo mixed wrong.. and then I had them try to fix it… didn’t come out right.  I kept painting hoping it would grow on me, but it didn’t.

And… the new green…. dill….  (color was meant originally to pick up the green in the leaves of the shower curtain….)

(yes… I know the molding isn’t attached and you can see the blue… hubby had to order a new motor for the washer.. so he is leaving the molding off until he is done fixing that.  Hopefully he doesn’t mess up the paint!)

So… I think paint colors look so different depending on the time of day, lighting, where you are.. and then they all look different in photos.  I think I like it.  I definitely like it waaaaay more than that bright neon green.  That is for sure.

And… if you noticed.. the other changes that I made are-

I painted the basket for the tp brown from that light wicker color….

I also painted the clock from the bright blue to the dark brown…

I added some chocolate brown vinyl flowers that I cut with my cricut to the washing machine.  I am not sure about these yet.  I was going to try and add more maybe to make more of a pattern.  I know they are random right now.  I did not do these to just add flowers.  There were these yucky yellow marks on there since we got it five years ago… and then it broke last week and hubby had to use a big grinder to get the screws on the bottom off… which made more marks.  These are covering the marks…. hence… random.

I used to have pics of the two older kids in the tub (important parts not showing.. of course)…. on a pretty brown scrapbook paper in these white frames.  I am not sure if I will put those back up.  (This last pic showing the vinyl is with the old green)

So.. the new color definitely darkened the room up a bit, but it seems more soft and calm.

What do ya think?   About the color…..   the spray painted basket and clock…..   the vinyl on the washer…..   the prints???

Oh.. and I forgot to show ya… This is what happens when you “hop” onto the closed hard plastic toilet seat from the step stool because you thought you heard the front door open and wanted to hurry and make sure no children escaped!!!  The top is in half… the seat is too… if you can tell from the pic… the bolted area is all broken off… and the seat went right over to the left there and put a nice dent in the newly painted wall!!!!   We needed a new seat anyway…..  too bad the hardware store was closed last night when I went to go get one!

 

And… forgot to say…. I saw on some blog in blogland where the woman had the faucet in the bathroom with two plastic knobs.. she took them off and make new tags to put under there.  One said “hot”.. one said “cold”… then she did funny things… like “happy”  and “easter”… etc….    I think I am going to make a new tag for in here…. and may try to make some sort of vinyl to cover the ugly soap thingy too…….

2 Personalized Tote Bags for $15 with FREE Shipping

 

 

ArtsCow.com is having a special for two of their personalized tote bags for $15 with free shipping.  They are good sized bags, too.  Each tote is 19 in. x 14 in. x 4.5 in.  I think these would make super cute Easter “baskets” that you could stuff with goodies.

I pictured these being used as gym bags, dance bags, gymnastics bags, sleepover bags for kids, but could also be used as re-usable grocery totes or even work bags.  How cute would these bag be with a pic of your little ballerina in her tutu and slippers for her to use as her dance bag?

Use coupon code 2for15totes until 4/25/11 here to get this deal.

 

(and.. no… I don’t get anything if you buy these… I just get emails from them and think they have super good deals.)

Menu Plan 4/11-4/17/11

This week’s menu is based mainly off of things we already have in the stockpile with very little needed at the store.  I may not even go grocery shopping this week- just send the hubby to get the bread, milk, bananas type stuff instead.

It is starting to warm up here in the north country a bit, too, so I will be trying to include some spring/summer grilling and salads type meals in the next few weeks because it makes me feel like I am cheering on the warmer weather.

 

For this week- (oh.. and one of these meals might be pushed back because I won a free dinner of pizza and wings from the John Hoover Inn in Evans Mills, NY on the radio so we might be trying them out this week.)

Monday-  Tilapia with steamed veggies and brown rice

Tuesday-  Sloppy Joes and coleslaw

Wednesday-  Leftovers

Thursday-  chicken stir fry over brown rice

Friday-  Homemade Pizzas with the kiddos

Saturday-  Roasted Chicken with cauliflower and chick peas (Everyday Food current issue)

Sunday-  Leftovers

Artichoke Mushroom Lasagna

I finally got a chance to run grocery shopping last night (Thanks, Mom!) so I was able to get the one more can of artichoke that I needed for this recipe.  I will make it tonight instead of the planned Monday night on the menu for the week.  I got this recipe out of the April/May 2011 Taste of Home magazine and it looks and sounds super!

 

(They even give the nutritional info. so that I can plug it in to figure out that one slice (1/12th of the whole thing) is 10 points plus for Weight Watchers!   ouch… but it looks so good!)

 

(photo from Taste of Home also)

 

• 12 Servings
• Prep: 30 min. Bake: 1 hour + standing

 

Ingredients

• 1 pound sliced baby portobello mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cans (14 ounces each) water-packed artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained and chopped
• 1 cup chardonnay or other white wine
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• SAUCE:
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3-1/2 cups 2% milk
• 2-1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup chardonnay or other white wine
• ASSEMBLY:
• 9 no-cook lasagna noodles
• 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions

• In a large skillet, saute mushrooms in butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the artichokes, wine, salt and pepper; cook over medium heat until liquid is evaporated.
• For the sauce, in a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese and wine.
• Spread 1 cup sauce into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles, 1-2/3 cups sauce, 1 cup mozzarella and 1-1/3 cups artichoke mixture. Repeat layers twice.
• Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Yield: 12 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 piece equals 383 calories, 18 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 54 mg cholesterol, 751 mg sodium, 29 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 24 g protein.

 

Pasta e Fagioli

I made this recipe tonight instead of Thursday because I need to get groceries for the Artichoke Mushroom Lasagna that I was supposed to make.  It is a Weight Watchers recipe and turned out really yummy.  It ends up being six points plus for a generous one cup serving.

 

Pasta e Fagioli

Ingredients

	1 Tbsp canola oil
	1 medium onion(s), chopped
	1 medium carrot(s), chopped
	1 stalk(s) (medium) celery, chopped
	2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
	1/2 pound(s) 90% lean/10% fat raw ground beef
	1 tsp chili powder
	14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes
	4 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
	1 1/2 oz uncooked pasta, small shell variety about 1/2 cup
	15 1/2 oz canned great northern beans, rinsed and drained
	3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
	1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions

• Heat the oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chili powder; cook 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened and the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and pasta; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the pasta is tender and the soup thickens slightly, about 8 minutes. Add the beans and heat though. Remove from the heat, then sprinkle with the cheese and pepper. Yields generous 1 cup per serving.

 

New Bedroom Ideas- HELP!

So….  We have been slooooowly working on an addition to our house for quite some time now.  We got married in 2006 and built a tiny little house that was meant to be temporary until we found our dream house to buy.  Then we got pregnant the first time.  Hubby added a second room into our open lofted upstairs bedroom to function as the nursery.  Not long after having baby number one we decided that we would stay in our house as long as we could put on a HUGE addition.  We got a great deal on the property so we made the decision to slowly add on and stay here.

We made up plans that we would be more than doubling our house.  We will have five new bedroom sized rooms and a new huge living room.  Cut to now…..   three kids three and under…..   hubby doing ALL of the work himself from the plans, drawings, digging, building, pouring, framing, electrical, plumbing…. eventually all of the insulation studs, walls, mudding, sanding, painting… all by himself while working a full time job and being a super involved daddy.  We still are waiting to use the addition.

 

Years have gone by….  plans have changed….. and I have a ton of ideas, saved pics from magazines or other blogs, hopes and dreams for all that the completed house will be.

 

All… except our master bedroom.  I have nothing… nada….. no inspiration… no ideas…. nothing.

So… I wanted to show you the bed that we got used off of craigslist.  I loved this bed at first because it was king sized … which we wanted… and was the right price.  I liked it more because it was solid wood and I knew it was good construction.  As time has gone by I like it less and less and really don’t care for the flower in the middle.

 

The comforter is a worn out bed in a bag type thing that really needs to go, but I am not ready to spend a decent amount of money on a new set until I know what I want for design for our new master bedroom.  This set up will not be it.  Our room will be in the new part of the house with a regular enclosed closet.

My husband and I both are huge fans of solid wood and the real wood look without painting over beautiful grainy and knotty wood.  My problem is that we are going to need night stands and a dresser or two to go in the new room.  I know that I won’t be able to match the woods and this bed already has the black iron across the top.  I already don’t love the flower (which I don’t think you can tell from the poorly lit photos, but is a maroon-ish color).

My idea is to prime and paint the entire bed black.  That way I can get whatever pieces that I can find that are cheap and match a bit in style rather than color.  I can paint those pieces and everything will look like it will go together.

 

My questions for help from you….. is…. should I paint the bed black?  Where should I go with the bedroom look from there?  I really like crisp, clean, fluffy look for the bedroom without being too feminine … but I don’t know if that will work with a black bed.  Maybe I should paint all of the furniture white???

 

To give you an idea of the rest of the decor style in the house—   the kitchen has bright golden yellow walls with more of a classy Italy wine decor mixed with reds and greens in pretty flowers (not grape covered everything wine decor); the living room has black leather furniture and will be mixed with African decor- paintings with bright colors that we got from Africa and some pieces like elephants, giraffes, African masks; I am still finishing the bathroom since my disastrous repaint job, but that is tan, white, brown, and the walls will be a sage tone green.

Menu Plan 4/4-4/10/11

Here is the menu plan for this week.  I got my new Taste of Home magazine last week and am using two recipes out of that.  I also decided to try and use up some odd pantry items that I have had for a bit- lentils, orzo, vermicelli, acini de pepe.  I have been including one steak meal using the steak deal that we got.  I also had to put the chicken meal from last week back into the mix since I ended up making a bacon potato chowder last week instead to use up some extra milk that I had.

 

Monday–  Artichoke Mushroom Lasagna (from Taste of Home)

Tuesday–  Sweet Potato Crab Cakes (from Taste of Home) with Lentil One-Pot Casserole (Weight Watchers)

Wednesday–  Leftovers

Thursday–  Pasta e Fagioli (Weight Watchers)-  Uses up the Vermicelli pasta

Friday–  T Bones or NY Strips with roasted potatoes and Tossed Salad

Saturday–  Chicken Breast with Wine Sauce and Asparagus (from last week-  Weight Watchers recipe)

Sunday–  Leftovers

New Deals 4/3/11

Well, folks… today is Sunday!  That means new coupons and new store deal match ups.  Hubby had to run out and get more parts to finish up his weekend plumbing job in our bathroom (that’s a whole other painful story) so I asked him to grab me a paper.  Our coupon preview has been quite sad lately so I haven’t been buying the paper.  I have just been printing the coupons and snagging up those deals.

I love that others get the ad in advance and post the deal match ups for me… and then I can share their links with you and we can all get the good info.

Wicked Cool Deals has the list of match ups, deals, and in ad coupons here for the week.  There is also that bonus coupon for $5 off any 10 corporate brand products.  This coupon rocks some super FREE stuff if you work this deal right.  Check out this link to I am That Lady to see what she thinks the best products are to use up this coupon and get the best free stuff.

I might even make time to run into Aldi this week so here is the link to Cincinnati Cents where she put together a great Aldi deal list for this week.    ***update:  I just got the paper… and for local… (wtn, ny area) The things in the ad that I got in the paper are completely different from this list.  I am not sure if this stuff is on sale in addition to the flyer we got or if it is just different due to different region.

 

If I find some extra super duper deals that aren’t included in these links… I will post those too.

Please fill me in if you know something that I don’t.  I really appreciate the extra info.  🙂

Happy shopping this week!