Finally fruit salad the kids will eat

It's not really a "salad" but the kids will eat it, and it will last for a week.

1 can canned peaches, chopped
1 green apple chopped
2 fuji apples chopped

Mix everything including the syrup of the canned peaches together. The syrup will keep the apples from becoming brown.

Enjoy. :)

Gotta try - Chips ahoy recipe

Chips Ahoy

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 level teaspoon baking soda
2 level teaspoons salt
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening (Crisco)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg white
2 to 4 tablespoons warm water
12 ounces mini semisweet chocolate chips

Bring all ingredients to room temperature. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Mix the flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.

Use an electric mixer to mix the two sugars and shortening. When creamy add the vanilla extract, salt and egg white. Add the flour 1/2 cup at a time, adding a tablespoon of warm water as necessary to mix the flour - don't exceed 4 tablespoons of water - this will make a firm dough. Mix in chocolate chips. As the dough gets thicker you may want to mix by hand. Roll into 2-inch balls and press down with the palm of the hand to flatten. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

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Here is another version

Chips Ahoy

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 level teaspoon baking soda
2 level teaspoons salt
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening (Crisco)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg white
2 to 4 tablespoons warm water
12 ounces mini semisweet chocolate chips

Bring all ingredients to room temperature. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Mix the flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.

Use an electric mixer to mix the two sugars and shortening. When creamy add the vanilla extract, salt and egg white. Add the flour 1/2 cup at a time, adding a tablespoon of warm water as necessary to mix the flour - don't exceed 4 tablespoons of water - this will make a firm dough. Mix in chocolate chips. As the dough gets thicker you may want to mix by hand. Roll into 2-inch balls and press down with the palm of the hand to flatten. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Growing up

When do you know that you are officially a grown up? Is it when you get your first job? Get married? Have a kid? Turn 30?

I think it's when you start taking charge of your life. Start being responsible for you and others around you. It's when you finally see the big picture and understand it. Or most of it at least.

Inspiration

Where do you get your inspiration?

Living the same schedule day to day for years can be dull. Some days I feel ok and others like I haven't lived. I know one thing though. I feel alive when I travel. Maybe it's seeing all those new places or maybe because it makes me appreciate home more.

Now that I've got a plan to start some real savings and get rid of debt over the next year, I'm really looking forward to what I can do with that money. One thing is for sure, I need to travel.

Before the year ends i must

In order to make my year productive, I've come up with a list of things to accomplish before the year ends.

Before the year ends, I must:
1. Make an ice cream cake. Decorate it, and take a photo for the blog.
2. Have at least 1 signature dish, that can be made at home on a regular basis and shared with family or sold
3. Finish at least 1 sewing project that can be worn or given as gifts to friends.
4.


...to be continued

On Sewing

I WANT A SEWING MACHINE!

Yes, I hated sewing as a subject back in school.

Now, I'm finding sewing so useful. I've made my very first bag with scraps from my cousin who is an interior designer.
And I'm currently inspired by "i am momma hear me roar" to make this oh so cute bike shirt for kids. Just fitting since I'm due with baby number 2 any day soon.


I also want to make cloth diapers, cloth wipes, more bags, kids clothes etc etc etc! So I'm hunting for cheap practice cloth and more thread.

I made my first sewing projects with just 1 needle and white thread, but here is hoping that I get a machine, so that I can experiment with more projects. I'm leaning towards alteration at the moment, before I even try to make clothes from scratch. I am liking this new hobby. :) Plus I get to save.

Two Steak stew recipes fused

I found 2 steak stew recipes. The first is Cube steak stew from Allrecipes, and the second is Philly Cheese steak skillet from Betty Crocker. So I mixed the 2 together to get this:

Steak and Cheesy Potato Skillet Stew :)
Done in less than 30 min

Ingredients:
2 tbsp butter for frying
350g Beef stroganoff strips
Salt, pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
Flour for dusting

1/2 a small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 small potatoes, sliced
2 Tbsp oil for frying
1/2 cube beef boullion cube or chicken cube
salt and pepper

1 tsp cornstarch for thickening the sauce

Procedure:
1. Heat your frying pan on high. Mix salt, pepper and garlic in a bowl. Sprinkle over beef and mix well. Add butter to your pan and quickly sear meat, not too long so that the steak doesn't harden. Remove from pan.

2. In the same pan, add onions, garlic and oil. Add potatoes and brown. If garlic starts to burn, add a little water to the pan. Add stock when potatoes are browned. Season with salt and pepper. Thicken sauce with cornstarch mixed with a little water.