Catch up...

Here are some things we have made in the past month...or two....oops!

 Ron made manicotti one night...it was delicious.  I helped fill them though. :)

 We had corn and 5 cheese Texas Toast with it and some Wilhelm Red wine.  MMMM...so good!

 I made ham, broccoli, cauliflower, and cheese strombolis one night.

 Close up of the cheese oozing out!

 This is the trifle I made for our mother/daughter banquet.  Strawberry, banana, coconut cream!

This was the first sugar free (minus the chocolate and PB chips) trifle I made.  It was for Mother's Day with Ron's family.  It was banana with chocolate and peanut butter!  Not bad for sugar free...cake was just alittle dry.

So...that's what we've been eating!  haha

This week (didn't take a picture) I made stuffed cabbage rolls for the first time.  We had cabbage in teh freezer from growing it last year.  I was happy to get it out of the freezer.  They turned out pretty well considering it was the first time I made them.  The cabbage was a little chewy/crunchy since it was frozen.

Few Quick Things...

This won't be a long post...just updates, etc...

We recently went to KY to visit with friends.  We had a GREAT week and did not want to come home.  It was a very relaxing time away.  No plans  - just day to day decisions.  A lot of gaming, sleeping in, seeing all our friends down there, sharing some wonderful times together!  So refreshed from that week....

I've tossed around the idea of selling my trifles.  Wishing it could be to anywhere but will have to keep it local.  Still working on the "company" name...but enjoyed the inputs!  No decision yet!  Also trying to figure out how to have a free website...I may just make a separate blog somehow...???  We'll see.

I'm going to try to get better about sewing....to sell the baby stuff....I just need to take one night to cut things out (or 2 or 3) and then another night or 2 or 10) to sew it.  Trying to think of some other things to sell too.


I'm playing with the idea of Pampered Chef...since Ron works evenings...but that doesn't give me money...just free/discounted things....most of which would be nice to have....and some AWESOME Christmas presents, ahem! :)  hehe


So many ideas in my head.........hoping to act on them....the sooner the better....still want to think of other EASY, cheap things to make that I could sell........

Mom's done a GREAT job making her stuff - it looks awesome!


Thanks all for reading my thoughts....hehe....I will take any input though!  :)

Bittersweet goodbyes...

Jason & Kerby were at Mom and Dad's for about 2 weeks before they left to begin a new chapter in their lives...in Costa Rica. You can read about what they're doing here.

We were blessed to spend several days with them during this time and I cherished every minute with them...no matter what it was...from shopping at the outlets, dinners out, playing games at mom and dad's, chatting, seeing extended family, and picnicking in a storm!

Here are some (very few) pictures from our time with them (in no particular order...):

Playing Golf Sunday evening (I love you Kerby.....hehe)

Visiting with extended family on the back patio

Grandma and some great aunts and uncles (Aunt Doe, Aunt Shirley, Uncle John, Aunt Alma)

Dad and Jason roasting hot dogs for the crew Sunday evening.

A fire we had....wasn't necessary to keep warm but helped keep the bugs away a little.

Jason tending to the fire as we playing cornhole on night.

Cornhole - Kerby, Mike, Jen, Mom, Grandma, Dad

Fricket

Jason & Kerby requested a trifle before they left...they never had one of mine. So I made 2 for them! The first (above) is peanut butter and chocolate. We had this one Friday when they grilled for everyone.

On Monday we had a picnic and I made this one...strawberry and blueberry for Memorial Day. (can't really tell from this angle but I made the top look like a flag...) :)

As we were eating Monday for lunch, it decided to storm. Kerby and I were trying to get pictures of the lightning after we were done eating. I only got 2 good pictures...here's one of them.

We had a wonderful time with them before they left and miss them very much but are very proud and happy for what they are doing. We look forward to a trip down! We're praying for you both daily and are happy for the answered prayers thus far (finding a home for starters!). We love you both VERY much and can't wait to see you again!!!!

Happy Easter!

I know...a day late...oh well! :)

I made my traditional trifle - here's my first Easter trifle:



We had a long day but nice to see the family that we could. I got to see Jason for a quick and short visit on Friday evening as he brought up a u-haul load to mom and dad's. Jen/Mike were here as well and we got to spend Easter with them. Sunday we went to church and enjoyed Mom's singing for the Easter Cantata (no solo though). :) Then had lunch at mom and dad's with them, Jen, Mike, and Grandma. Mom let Jen and I make stuff! :) yay!!! Then Ron and I went out to Pam's for dinner (like we needed to eat more) and got to spend time with both his sisters and their families. We hadn't seen them since New Year's (well, for more than 5 minutes or Ron crashing at Stacey's this winter). We got to see Pam's greenhouse that will be opening soon! I'll post those pictures in a different post.

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Easter and enjoyed the beautiful weather we had and continue to have! I have to remind myself it's still April!

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

So...I don't "celebrate" this "holiday" because, well, I'm not Irish...but also b/c the thought of GREEN beer is just gross...anywho...

I continued the Holiday Trifle and here is the one I made tonight, since Ron was off...



It's nothing special...just a white cake mix with pistachio pudding and cool whip. I didn't come up with anything "St. Patricky" so that's all I got... :) I tossed the idea of Bailey's Irish Cream, but forgot until it was put together but wasn't sure how that would taste with pistachio pudding anyway.

Up next...Easter!! Can't decide what flavor but have a thought on "decorating".. :)

Recipes for Trifles...

Jen requested them...so here they are....from what I can remember for the first two. :)

Valentine's Day Trifle:
1 box of Strawberry cake mix
1 box of Jell-o Cheesecake Pudding
1 Jar of maraschino cherries
1 tub of cool whip

Make cake as directed. Mix pudding as directed and set aside. When cake is finished and cool, cut into cubes. Add a few scoops of cool whip and cherry juice to pudding, mix. Layer in trifle bowl starting with cake mix, then pudding, and a small amount of cool whip. Repeat and in middle, add most of the cherries. Top off with cool whip and arrange cherries in any design.


Christmas Mint Trifle:
1 box of brownies mix
1 box of Jell-o chocolate mint pudding
1 tub of cool whip
1 tsp of peppermint flavoring
2 drops of green food coloring
1 package of mint Oreos

Make brownies as directed. Mix pudding as directed and set aside. When cake is finished and cool, cut into cubes. Crush Oreos in a zip-lock bag and rolling pin. Add peppermint and green food coloring to cool whip. Layer in trifle bowl starting with brownies, then pudding, then a few Oreos, and cool whip mixture. Repeat and top off with cool whip and sprinkle Oreos on top.


Thanksgiving Pumpkin Trifle:
1 box of spice cake mix
1 box of Jell-o cheesecake pudding
1 tub of cool whip
1 package of Heath bar pieces
1 can of pumpkin pie puree
1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice

Make spice cake as directed. Mix pudding as directed and set aside. Mix 1/2 cool whip, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and set aside. When cake is finished and cool, cut into cubes. Layer in trifle bowl starting with spice cake, then pudding, then cool whip pumpkin mixture, and cool whip. Repeat and top off with cool whip and sprinkle Heath bar pieces on top.



I'm trying to think of one for St. Patrick's Day....have a few thoughts...I'll post it if I do with the recipe. :)

Let me know if you make any of these. My other thoughts for the Christmas one was candy canes but Ron didn't want that (he took that one to work).

And they continue....

....each holiday I've made a trifle...

The one for Thanksgiving was pumpkin





The one for Christmas was mint





and my latest "for" Valentine's Day was strawberry/Cherry (I really just made it because we hadn't really had dessert for awhile and knew Ron would like it)



Ron asked if I was going to make one for President's Day with Lincoln's head on it...I told him the next one MIGHT be St. Patrick's Day....otherwise Memorial Day. :)