Saturday, September 14, 2013

candy corn ice cream

 If you love Fall's favorite treat Candy Corn you will LOVE this!!
It's so easy that you can make it again as soon as it gone!!

3 Cups of Heavy Cream
2 Cups of Whole Milk
18 oz. bag of candy corn plus 1 cup of Candy Corn

On stove top begin melting candy corn over medium/low heat into 2 cups of whole milk. Once completely dissolved, your milk will be candy corn orange :) Remove from heat and add the heavy cream stirring to combine. Put in plastic container and chill overnight. The next day make ice cream according to your ice cream maker directions :) Coarsely chop 1 cup of candy corn into small pieces. Add these into your ice cream batch during the last 5 minutes. Chill ice cream for about 3 hours they ENJOY!!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

mac & cheese soup with bacon

What's better than homemade mac & cheese?? Mac & Cheese Soup with bacon, perfect on a cold night or anytime!!
 
4 ounces (1 1/2 cups) uncooked dried small macaroni
1/2 pound shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons salted sweet cream butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1 (14-ounce) can chicken broth
2 cups half & half
1 cup finely diced bacon
Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; set aside. Melt butter in 3-quart saucepan until sizzling; stir in flour and mustard. Add broth and half & half. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil (4 to 5 minutes). Reduce heat to low; stir in cheese until melted. Stir in cooked macaroni and ham. Cook until heated through (4 to 5 minutes). Salt and pepper to taste.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

crockpot chicken jambalaya

Perfect for a Mardi Gras celebration at home or just a cold winters day!
 
1/2 pound andouille sausage cut into 1 inch pieces
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1" pieces
1 white onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced
2 14 oz cans HUNTS diced tomatoes, undrained
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1-3 tsp Tabasco Sauce
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 pound frozen fully cooked white shrimp, thawed (optional)

In medium saucepan, cook sausage until lightly browned and rain of fat. Combine sausage with all ingredients except rice in crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 - 8 hours. Increase heat to HIGH and stir in rice and cook for 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. Add shrimp, stir, cover and cook an additional 3-5 minutes until shrimp is heated through. Enjoy!!

Monday, February 4, 2013

15 amazing uses for cucumbers

There are two types of people when it comes to cucumbers: the ones who love them, and the ones who hate them. It’s not often that you hear a person say, “I guess they’re okay, I really don’t mind them.” If you knew all of the things you could do with cucumbers, even if you hated the taste, you would find yourself putting them in your basket at the grocery store. They are cheap, readily available, and totally green. You can even grow your own supply! Here are fifteen amazing frugal uses for cucumbers:

1. Fat busting: Do you ever wonder why women put cucumbers on their eyes to relieve puffiness? The photochemical in cucumbers makes the collagen in your skin tighten, thus the lack of puffiness. Did you know that you can rub a cucumber on a problematic spot of cellulite anywhere on your body to lessen the visibility of it? Did you also know that it has the same effect on wrinkles? Wow, it makes purchasing those fifty dollar creams seem a little silly, doesn’t it? You can also rub a little bit under your kiddo’s eyes after a long bout of crying to avoid that puffy ‘I cried for an hour straight’ look.

2. Defogger: Do you get annoyed when you get out of the shower and you have to fight the fog on the mirror? Who has time for that when the kids will be awake at any moment? Try rubbing a slice of cucumber on the mirror before you hop in and not only will you get a fog-free mirror, but you’ll have a nice smell that will boost your mood.

3. Headaches: If you suffer from headaches from chasing your babies all day, or had a little too much wine with dinner and want to avoid a hangover, eat half of a cucumber before bed. Cucumbers are high in B vitamins, sugar, and electrolytes, and they replenish the nutrients missing in your body to help you avoid a hang over or to beat that headache that’s been threatening to take over.

4. WD-40 replacement: Did you know you can get rid of a squeak by rubbing a cucumber on the hinge? Wow, now you don’t have to tear your garage apart looking for that little can with the red straw, and the baby won’t wake up when you slowly open the nursery door to check on him.

5. Crayon on the walls: Take an unpeeled cucumber and rub the crayon off of the walls in the event that your kiddo left you some art. You can also use this technique to erase a pen mistake.

6. Halitosis killer: Take a slice of cucumber and put it on the roof of your mouth. Hold it there with your tongue for 30 seconds. The photochemical that you love for cellulite and puff reduction will also kill the bacteria that is causing your bad breath.

7. Tarnish remover: If you’re finding tarnish on your stainless steel kitchen faucets and appliances? Rub it off with a cucumber slice. Not only will it remove years of tarnish, it will leave it streak free and your hands will thank you, and your kids won’t be put at risk from a dangerous chemical.

8. Energy booster: If you’re feeling tired in the afternoon, don’t give Starbucks your five bucks. Instead, grab a cucumber. There are just enough carbohydrates and B vitamins to give you a longer-lasting and healthier boost of energy than soda, coffee, or those health hazard energy drinks.

9. Munchy madness: Did you know that European trappers ate cucumbers for energy and to keep from starving to death? If those big burly manly men can eat a cucumber to keep from starving, you can eat one as a healthy choice when the munchies hit. Slice some up and take them in a small plastic container to the movies if your theater doesn’t offer healthy alternatives to munching on butter soaked popcorn.

10. Frugal facial: Slice up a cucumber and boil it in a pot of water. The chemicals inside of the cucumber will mix with the steam. Remove the pot from heat and lean over it, letting the steam hit you. Your skin will be more radiant and healthy, and you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

11. Shoe polish: Cut a slice off of your cucumber and rub it on your shoe. It will not only shine it up, but it will repel water.

12. Pest control: Put three or four slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and place them in your garden. The chemicals in the cucumber have a reaction that pests hate. You won’t smell it, but it will drive them from your garden all year long. Replace them periodically.

13. Sunburn: Sometimes sun block doesn’t always protect your little ones from sunburn. If you have burnt little kiddos you don’t have any aloe, rub some cucumber on them. Many doctors even use cucumber to treat patients with irritated skin and sunburns.

14. Blood pressure: Cucumber has been long used to treat high blood pressure. If you have it, add cucumbers to your daily diet. There is also ongoing research into the use of cucumbers for lowering cholesterol.

15. Constipation remedy: The seeds of a cucumber are a diuretic. If you’re constipated, try eating a cucumber. If you suffer from chronic constipation, add cucumber to your daily diet.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

natural remedy for flu

 flu season is upon us... instead of reaching for over the counter stuff that doesn't work reach for this  and you will feel beter in no time!!

crock pot teriyaki chicken

We love chicken, this is an all time favorite and sooooo easy!!

2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine
1 1/2 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon minced ginger
8 pieces chicken

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and add chicken. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Serve over rice sprinkle with sesame seeds :)