New Beginnings...

I started writing a blog about a week ago about my new years resolutions. I write down ideas in point form and tried to write something have decent. But it didn't sound like me. It didn't come from heart. It was blah. I thought how could I post this blog when I felt like there was something missing and that it wants me.

Its December 31st, 2013. Its quite hard to believe that this year went by so fast. Yet there is no sign of it slowing down. I look back and think about all the wonderful things  and all the painful things that happened this year. I look at my new husband and the 2 little boys in my life. I look at my friends and my family and think how they have all changed. In just a few hours a new chapter will begin. A clean slate for some of us!

2013 started off like no other... at the hockey rink! That's where you will find me most of the time. But at this time I was learning how to balance being a hockey step mom, working full time, doing photography on the side, being a soon to be wife and planning a wedding... oh did i mention 2 little boys... 2 different hockey teams. I was getting frustrated and over whelmed. I was trying to be the "perfect wife/step mom" and I quickly realized I can't do it all. Though I felt I had too. I was yelling at Jonathan and I was always cranky with the boys and I soon had to realize that I couldn't do it all. I took a step back from everything. I realized things will get done one step at a time. Now  as I go into 2014 I feel a little better. Not so overwhelmed. But I have to do hockey on my own. I don't have my husband with me. But when he's home he lets me have a break :). And we have 2 little boys... same hockey team this year. Ask me this time next year about hockey.. it might be different. I am going into this hockey season refreshed and ready to take it on!

oh the 2 little boys. This year as Jon and I planned our wedding I questioned about being a Step Mom. I was down for a while and really didn't care if I saw them or even talked about them. No one really knew I was dealing with that but I think it was the realization that this wedding thing was real. I was REALLY going to be their Step Mom. Then one day the Zach said something so sweet that I realized I couldn't imagine my life with out them 2. They are so sweet and thoughtful. I have really enjoyed watching them grown over the last few years. I cant wait to see what kind of gentlemen they are going to grow into. For 2014 I am going to stand up for more Step Mothers. We are all not so evil. I am going to try and love those 2 little boys just a little bit more. with the situation we are in right now being I am being a step mom and daddy. Hopefully their wish of a baby sister will happen!

Our situation... my husband 1 week after we go married left for Alberta. My heart was broken for 2 weeks I cried every day. I am getting better. Its starting to become more of a routine. But I am so glad he was home for Christmas. I love my husband. We got married on October 12th the day was beyond perfect.. We deserved it after all we went through to get to this day. But it was perfect.

I struggled a lot this year trying to find my own way of things. It was as if my eyes were open just a little more to the world. I learned that there are horrible mean people in this world who think that when they say or do something it doesn't hurt people. It does. I have been victim of it over and over. But thats ok. Their day will come. What goes around comes around. I am a better person because of those people. I can hold my head up just a little bit higher. Along with those people I have found people who lie. I am not a liar, I am horrible at lying. These were people I thought I could trust. But they hurt me too. again... their day will come. For 2014  its has made me a better person. I will be kinder, more thoughtful, and not lie. I dont want anyone to feel what I have felt.

2014... I want to be more organized. I want to be more put together and get rid of clutter not only in my home but my life.

 I want to go back.... I need to go back to church. I always had could find an excuse I would read my bible and pray. But I am ready to go back. Its going to be difficult because I am not going back to MY church. I will be going to a new church. To the church my husbands family goes to. It will become my new home.

oh yeah.. so I got married... I have a new name. I have some changes coming in 2014. Like my new name... and my new business name... and new website... and new business cards.. I cant wait to show you all what I am working on. They are beautiful... trust me... So talking about photography.. I am a photographer who does not print off  pictures that she takes. That is the dog gone truth. I have 4 scrapbooks that have been started that need to put together.. so thats something else.

LOoking back on this list I think its going to be a busy 2014 for me. That's ok. I like being busy. I don't care if I reach every goal on my list or even if I set new ones. All I need is my family, my friends and my husband. It would be wonderful to cross everything off my list. All I want is my family and friends to be happy, healthy and know I love them. All I need is to Thank God everyday.... I don't know what I did to deserve all this... all I know is that... I am Blessed!

See ya in 2014!!

sparkling white grape punch

What You’ll Need:

• One 2-liter of Canada Dry Ginger Ale
• One 64 oz. bottle White Grape Juice
• Punch bowl with glasses, or serve out of Mason Jar Mugs!

What You’ll Do:

• Simply mix ingredients together, serve, and enjoy!
• Easy-peasy!!

Easy Crockpot Meatballs

How about making some Easy Crockpot Meatballs!  They’re sweet… and tangy… and oh-so-tasty!

What You’ll Need:

• Frozen Meatballs {try this Easy Meatball Recipe}
• One Can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce, or less per your tastes {14 oz.}
• 1 Bottle of Heinz Chili Sauce {12 oz.}

What You’ll Do:

1. Combine the cranberry jelly and chili sauce in a bowl, then stir.
2. Based upon your preferences, you can alter the proportions of cranberry jelly {sweet} and chili sauce {tangy}.
3. Add frozen meatballs to crockpot, and cover with sauce mixture.
4. Heat on high for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Let simmer on low.
5. Enjoy! 

BBQ Beef Cups

With New Years Eve being tomorrow I have a few recipes that I thought you can make for your New Years Party...

1/2 lb. ground beef

1 each small green and red pepper, finely chopped

1/3 cup Kraft Original BBQ Sauce

1 can (340 g) refrigerated country biscuits (pilsbury)

1/2 cup Kraft Tex Mex Light Shredded Cheese

HEAT oven to 375°F.
BROWN meat with peppers in medium skillet; drain. Remove from heat; stir in barbecue sauce.
SEPARATE biscuits. Press 1 biscuit onto bottom and up side of each of 8 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. (See tip for how to use remaining biscuits dough.)
SPOON meat mixture into biscuit cups; press gently into cups with back of spoon. (Filling will be mounded.)
BAKE 10 min. or until biscuits are lightly browned. Top with cheese; bake 3 to 4 min. or until melted.



Thank you to Kraft for your delish recipe!

Porkchops?

Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples and Onions

Yield: 4 servings Time: 5 minutes prep + 4 hours cooking time 4 pork chops 3 granny smith apples 2 yellow onions 1/3 C packed brown sugar Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste 1. Slice your onions and apples as shown. 2. Spray the inside of a large crock pot. Layer the onions along the bottom, and then the apples. 3. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the top of the apples.  4. Season the pork chops with the salt and pepper generously on both sides. 5. Place the pork chops on top of the apples, cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

Lasagna Casserole

Lasagna Casserole

This recipe is a staple in our house!! I make huge batches of this and freeze it!! That's house popular it is!! Time: 45 minutes prep + 45 minutes baking Yield: Two 9x13 pans 2 lbs ground beef 1  -48 oz jar spaghetti sauce 1  -16 oz package egg noodles 2 T butter 1/2 t onion salt (or onion powder) 1/2 t garlic salt (or garlic powder) 1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese 1  -12 oz pck mozzarella cheese                             1. In a large skillet brown your meat. Add the spaghetti sauce and sugar to the meat and simmer for 20 minutes. 2. While the sauce is just a simmering away get busy cooking your noodles. You don't want to over cook them. Cooking them "al dente" is best. If you don't speak Italian...do not fret. Al Dente just means cook them so they are still just a bit firm in the middle. You don't want a soggy noodle, folks. Now, don't you feel refined and educated to have learned a bit of Italian today. Pat your self on the back, you deserve it.  3. When the noodles are done, drain them, place them in a large bowl and toss with the butter, salts, and Parmesan cheese.  4. In each pan layer sauce, noodles, sauce and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. 5. Cover with foil and bake for at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Pizza Pinwheels

• 1 can (8oz) Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls - Garlic Butter flavor
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1/4 cup pepperoni - diced
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese - finely shredded
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese - grated

Directions

1. Unroll dough and take 2 pieces 4 long rectangles.

2. Spread 1 TBS pizza sauce onto each rectangle and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

3. Add Mozzarella cheese, then pepperoni to each rectangle and spread evenly.

4. Roll up each of the rectangles, pressing the edges to seal.

5. With a knife, cut each roll into slices and place cut side down on cookie sheet.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.

7. Remove from oven, cool and serve with pizza sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

 

Cherry Pie Bites

 

Ingredients:

1 (21 oz.) can Cherry Pie Filling

2 tubes crescent roll dough

1 cup powdered sugar

1-2 tbsp. milk

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Spray regular muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.

Unroll individual crescent roll dough pieces and lay them in individual tins.  Put the widest bit of the dough in the bottom.  You may have to do this in two batches if you only have the one muffin tin.

 

Scoop pie filling into each crescent roll dough piece.  Be generous with the pie filling.

It's okay if a little seeps out during baking. I actually like when you can see the bit of pie filling bubbling out while baking. It also lets folks see what they are gonna be eating before then even bite into it. You want to bite into these and get a nice taste of the cherry filling. Because remember, the dough is really gonna puff up around these.  A good 3 to 4 heaping tablespoons should work. I'm guessing about 6 or so cherries in each one.

 

Start folding the dough around the filling as best you can. You should have three corners to pull in.

Again, leaving small open gaps are totally okay here. The filling doesn't have to be totally covered.  

 

Bake for about 13-14 minutes.

 

Note: Make sure the rolls are cooked all the way. You don't want to bite into these and still have some of the crescent roll be doughy and not totally baked. They should be fairly firm to the touch and have nice, tan-brown tops. 14 Minutes was just about right in my oven. They appeared done at the 12 minute mark but I let them go just a bit longer to make sure they were totally done.

 

Now for the glaze.  In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until it is smooth reaches a desired consistency (I like mine a bit more on the thick side).

 

With a spoon, drizzle glaze over the warm bites.

 

Apple Dumplings

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

1 Green Apple (Granny Smith or Golden Delicious)

1 tube (8 oz.) Crescent Rolls

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ground Cinnamon (to taste)

1/2 cup lemon lime soda (Sprite or Mountain Dew work good)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees

Peel and core apples. Cut apple into 8 slices.

Unroll tube of crescent rolls and separate into 8 pieces.

On each roll, sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon.

Add one apple slice.

Roll it up in a nice little bundle. Continue with next 7 rolls the same way.

Spray an 8-inch square pan with nonstick spray.

Place all 8 dumplins into baking dish.

Mix together melted butter with sugar and vanilla.

Pour butter mixture on top of crescent rolls.

Now take soda and pour it around the edges of the crescent rolls.

Sprinkle tops with a bit more cinnamon.

Bake in preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes.

Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Cook's Notes: Just double the recipe and use a 13x9 pan for 8 servings.

Spiced Pumpkin Pie Dip

Ingredients:

1-15oz can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

4 oz cream cheese, softened (I used 1/3 less fat)

½ cup of packed brown sugar (dark or light)

2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup of chopped pecans (optional)

¾ cup of mini marshmallows

Apple slices for serving

Graham crackers for serving

 

directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese with paddleattachment until soft and creamy. Add pumpkin, brown sugar, pecans (if using), pumpkinpie spice and cinnamon; mix on medium speed until incorporated.

Spoon the mixture into a 2 cup baking or gratin dish. Topwith mini marshmallows and bake in the oven 12-15 minutes. Serve the dip warmwith apple slices and graham crackers.

The dip can be mixed ahead of time (without topping withmarshmallows) and stored in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Simply takethe dip out of the fridge, top with marshmallows, pop it in the oven and increase baking time by about5-7 minutes. Just watch the marshmallows to make sure they don’t burn.

Enjoy!