Toy Thursday: Christmas?

Christmas?

Yes. It is only October.

But as a saver, it's never too early to check your gift stockpile and research gifts. If you're a saver (like me), you know that EBates is a GREAT site to get paid to shop. But sometimes Ebates doesn't offer all of the sites you want to shop from. That's where MyPoints comes in. Click either of these links and get paid to shop.

Buy smart, save money. :)

Make Monday: Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie! Make Your Home Smell Like Fall!

Thank you, Pinterest.

My name is Sarah, and I am a Pinterest addict. Whew. I'm glad I posted that. But being a Pinterest addict, I also tweak things.

I made my home smell and taste like fall. And that is AWESOME.

I took this link and made it my own. Preheat oven to 400.

It says to buy plain Pillsbury dough and make your own rolls Ain't nobody got time for dat!

I bought the Cinnabon Pillsbury rolls at Hy-Vee (and earned .02/gallon for the fuel saver) and used it. I popped the canister (the adult version of the jack in the box) smashed the rolls flat in a greased pie pan and let them sit. I set the cream cheese frosting aside.

I took my Granny Smith Apples (also from Hy-Vee), peeled, cored and sliced them (placing the peels and cores into a pot with water, sprinkled with cinnamon -- free potpourri) and tossed them in cinnamon, granulated sugar, apple pie spice and a dash of lemon peel.

 Mix one cup of flour, one cup of brown sugar and one stick of unsalted (room temp) of butter (ya'll) with your hands.

Put the apples on top of the smashed rolls.
Dump the flour/brown sugar/butter mix on top.

Bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes.

Take it out of the oven, just before the top gets brown, and let it sit on a cooling rack.

Remember the cream cheese frosting?  Knife it out of the container and spread it on the pie. It doesn't matter if it is pretty, it tastes delicious and it won't last long!

And your house...(remember the cores/peels/cinnamon potpourri?) will smell awesome. I have 4 boys, one in pullups and one in diapers. If I could bottle this smell, I would make millions.

Food Friday: Gestational Diabetes Approved Recipe...Cauliflower Crust Pizza

If you have gestational diabetes, by the 9th month you are craving pizza. Pizza can be so full of carbs and salt. Here is your way to satisfy your craving, enjoy one of your favorite foods with friends, and still be healthy with a gluten free, low carb, and low salt meal.

For the crust:

2 cups grated cauliflower (about 1/2 head)
1/2 cup yogurt
1 egg
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the toppings:

3/4 cup of your favorite store-bought or homemade pizza sauce or marinara sauce (we use 1 can of Hunt's Crushed Tomatoes as it has less salt mixed with Italian seasoning)

1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese (we like to add cheddar too but remember to watch the salt intake)

Choice of toppings (cooked meat, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, etc)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grate the cauliflower by hand or with a food processor until it takes on a grainy or grated texture. Place 2 cups of the grated cauliflower into a clean, thin dish towel. Wrap it up in the middle and twist closed, squeezing out all the moisture. Place the dry cauliflower into a bowl and add the yogurt, eggs, and herbs. Fold the mixture until everything is evenly combined. Place the cauliflower "dough" onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread the mixture with your hands until it is about 3/4 inches thick. This is your crust.

Bake the crust for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and firm enough to hold its shape. Remove the crust from the oven and top with sauce, cheese, and your choice of veggies or meat. Pop the pizza back into the oven for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Enjoy!

Food Friday: Ham Asparagus Gratin

Here is a new recipe we found on the back of a Campbell's Cream of Asparagus can that is just perfect for spring, especially as you are sitting at the table with your family, with the windows wide open letting in the evening's fresh air.

This refreshing casserole is a nice substitute for winter's potato gratin and is a good way to use asparagus that is in season right now as well as leftover ham. Personally I cannot wait to try it with wild asparagus.

1 can Campbell's Condensed Cream of Asparagus Soup
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 1/2 cups cooked cut asparagus
1 1/2 cups cubed, cooked ham
2 1/4 cups rotini pasta, cooked and drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions. Cut and steam asparagus. Then stir soup, milk, onion powder, black pepper, asparagus, ham, pasta, and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese in baking dish. Bake 25 minutes or until ham mixture is hot and bubbling. Stir and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Happy May Day!

Food For Thought Good Friday

For this Good Friday, join us in some food for thought for today's recipe.

Food for thought from Sarah:

Today is the day we reflect on Jesus' debts He paid for us. Currently my husband and I are working on paying down our debts so we can afford the house we want for our growing family. Today I am reminded about the debt Jesus paid for our souls. He gave His life for us. God gave His only Son to us for our sins.

So while I'm overwhelmed in mortgage applications, closing costs and calculations, I'm thinking about Jesus and what He paid for me, my husband, and my boys. A debt that I cannot calculate with interest rates or FICO scores.

This debt is paid in full and wiped away with a clean bill. This to-good-to imagine offer really exists, so take Him up on it today.

Food for thought from Emma:

Today is the day we reflect on Jesus trials. Our lives always contain trials, but these struggles seem so trivial to those Jesus faced for us. We all carry our burdens full of emotional pangs, relational strains, and physical hurts. I am not exempt and neither are you.

On this day we relive the path of Jesus through his own struggles and trials. He faced betrayal, denial, scorn, anxiety, bodily torture, and death. He did this willingly without so much as a cry. All this He did so that He might carry our burdens for us.

We need not struggle alone. Christ who bore the pangs of this human life is there to see you through. He understands and feels every emotion, thought, sorrow, and pain right along with you. Celebrate a Savior this day who relates to your situation, your frustration, and indisposition. Surrender at the cross.


Should you like to know more about the recipe at the cross, feel free to contact the authors via mommysrecess@gmail.com. It is recipe not to miss out on!