Pig Candy

You know my love affair with odd ball recipes, but this one may just take the cake, or at least be sweet as cake. Now, when I first read this at Mommy's Kitchen I did think "why", but as I read on the thought of giving this a try teased my cooking addiction into giving it a chance, after all, it does come highly recommend, Paula Deen makes it! Actually, I was thinking the men might like it at deer camp this year?

Pig Candy

1/4 c. light brown sugar

1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. cayenne ( optional)

1/2 pound thick cut bacon, 8 slices

Preheat oven to 375. Mix brown sugar, cayenne and pepper together in a med. bowl. Add bacon and toss. Line a baking sheet with a wire rack and lay bacon on the rack. Pat any remanding spice mixture on the bacon. Put the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and bake till crisp, about 15 min. Remove from oven to a serving dish and let cool slightly before serving.

Oink! I know, the fat content already but once in awhile won't hurt us, right? I just love the name, I'm making it just for the names sake! lol Let me know what you think about this one, will you be brave and sugar your next batch of bacon? If you do, let me know how you liked it would you?

Julie & Julia

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for this movie to come out! I don't go to the movies often, I can't justify spending $7 for one when I can rent several and view them at home. Ok, I'm cheap, frugal, thrifty...but I like getting all I can for my money. But once in a awhile a movie begs me to attend and not wait for it to come out on DVD and this one is the latest! I love Meryl and have seen all her movies, she sure does a good Julia! I can remember watching Julia Child growing up along with the Galloping Gourmet, probably with my Mom. Maybe that is why I love to cook and bake? This movie looks funny and I love that it's two true stories in one! And what fun it would of been to be Julie, blogging about making all of Julia's recipes! Who else is going to see this movie?

My friend and fellow Sue over at Not Quite June Cleaver is hosting a giveaway based on this movie event. She's whipping up one of her famous aprons to be sent along with Julies book " Julie and Julia-my year of cooking dangerously" should be a fun read! Just head over to Sue's blog and get signed up. I hope I win! lol

Day Trippin

Nothing like just taking off for a little day trippin, and that's just what we did over the weekend. We headed out in search of a couple state parks that we've never been too and came highly recommended. A nice 2 hour country drive later, we arrived at Johnson's Shut-ins. This place was created by a volcano billions of years ago, truly amazing. In case you don't know what a shut in is, and we didn't either, it's a river bed where the floor was ripped through by lava forming "shut ins" a series of rock formations that hold in the water. A fun place to swim, almost like in a maze. I have photo's posted on my Flickr page here if you'd like to see more.

The two photos I did post were taken at the second park, Elephant Rocks. That's my hubby standing in front of one rock, this boulder is small compared to many there. I was more impressed by this park for the simple fact that the rocks are awesome! Found by a quarry owner but in the same volcano region. In fact this area was once a volcano about 10 miles wide. If you are ever in doubt simply looking at such marvels like these will reassure you. I was in awe! We walked the path and maze to the top where we could see the whole valley below. I have more photos on my Flickr page of the rocks and lake .

A day trip like this is almost better than a vacation, you get away but not too far and you take in your states natural beauty. We plan to return with kids in tow in the fall when the leaves have turned, it will be stunning! So, needless to say, I haven't had time to bake the yummy recipes I posted during the week but the root beer float cake will be baked this weekend for my oldest son's birthday. One more thing, if you signed up for the tag pad swap, please email me with your mailing info so I can get the list together and the pad in the mail. Happy Monday!

Root Beer Float Cake

I don't know why I've been so stuck on recipes lately, maybe it has something to do the with the cooler weather? I've found a few new sites that I'm hooked on and even joined, all in hopes of making me a better baker, I'm gonna love the homework! lol

One site that caught my attention is "Joy the Baker" this girl has it going on, the recipes she comes up with are out of this world! Just look at this Root Beer Float cake, I can't wait to try this, my mouth waters just looking at it, and I gave up soda almost 4 years ago! She's won me over with this one!

Root Beer Float Cake
2 c. root beer, no diet
1 c. dark unsweet cocoa powder
1/2 c. unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 in. cubes
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. dark br. sugar
2 c. all purpose flour
1 1/4 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 lg.eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Spray the inside of a 10 in. bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small saucepan, heat the root beer, cocoa powder and butter over med. heat till butter is melted. Add sugars and whisk till dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In another small bowl whisk the eggs till just beaten. Then whisk into the cocoa mixture till combined. Gently fold in flour mixture into the cocoa mixture. The batter will be a bit lumpy.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35-45 min., rotating the pan halfway through baking till a sharp knife comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, then loosen edges with a knife and turn out onto a cake plate.

Chocolate Root Beer Frosting
2 oz. cocoa, melted
1 stick unsalted butter, soft
1 t. salt
1/4 c. root beer
2/3 c. unsweet cocoa powder
2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
In a bowl using a stand mixer or electric mixer, beat butter and cocoa powder. Once combined add melted chocolate, salt, powdered sugar and root beer. Beat together till smooth. Spread on top of cooled cake. Slice and serve.


This recipe and a few others have been added to my baking list. I don't normally bake in the summer unless it's a cool day, but I may have to make a exception here. Some other neat recipe sites that I've become a part of are:
Mixing Bowl- a save and share site that allows you your own page to store recipes and share yours. There are groups to join for all kinds of recipes.
Tasty Kitchen- is a sister site to The Pioneer Woman where you can save your favorites and share your own too.
Add me as a friend if you join either of these, I'd love to see what your cooking up and baking for! And check out Joy the Baker, the name says it all!

The Best Peanut Butter Cookie Ever!

I just can't believe our weather, it's raining still, has been all day and it's only 65 outside! Feels more like fall than July so I'm baking homemade pizza for supper and the best peanut butter cookies ever for dessert. I've shared this recipe with you last year but since I have so many new readers and it's my favorite cookie recipe, I thought it was time to share it again. It really is the best and so easy! They just melt in your mouth once warm, just a bit!

Peanut Butter Cookies
1 c. peanut butter
1 c. sugar
1 lg. egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients well and form into balls, place on greased baking sheet, flatten with a fork. Sprinkle a little sugar on top and bake at 325 for about 13 min.

Wasn't that easy, now just wait till you taste these........your mouth will yell YUMMO! I'm spoiled now by this fall like weather, but I know the true July will return and bring a hot and dry August, so I'm enjoying this weather by doing a little crafting, baking cookies and taking a coffee break while blogging.........hope your day is just as enjoyable!

A Country Pleasure

I don't know why Mondays are dreaded so? Sure, they mark the end of a weekend but they mark the start of a brand new week and the way you accept Monday can shape the whole outlook for the week. So, cherish your Monday morning, seek and find the simple pleasures that will take you through the week with a positive outlook and see if your week doesn't end in a peaceful, calm way. We do control our way of thinking!

Last night, we took a drive out in the country, just took a county road and drove to see where it ended up. It was a simple act, a peaceful and relaxing way to spend time together. We saw many deer who didn't mind that we were raiding their solitude, they watched us as we stopped to watch them. A spotted fawn showed no fear. We found a true country pleasure.

This old barn full of hay for winter feeding doesn't look like much to us, but to the farmer it means survival. Mondays we should prepare to survive the week, not dread the days ahead. Seek and find the little pleasures that your world offers you, it's a great exercise in simplicity that can be contagious! Find a road and drive off to explore sometime, what you find may surprise you! Happy Monday!

Kool-Aid Jelly

I was looking through my drawer of recipes and came across this kid tested favorite, yes, you can make jelly from Kool-Aid! And it's so easy, cheap and like I mentioned, a favorite among the kiddo's. But even if you don't have any children, make some for yourself, and have fun choosing a flavor, so many! I like this recipe because I don't have to can it since it only makes 4 pints, just store it in the fridge or give it as a gift, it goes quick so it won't be around long!

Kool-Aid Jelly

1 pkg. kool-aid, any flavor, no sugar added
1 pkg. Sure Jell
3 c. sugar
3 c. water
Mix water, sure jell and koolaid together. Bring to a boil, stirring so it won't stick. Add sugar and stir well. Bring to a full rolling boil that can not be stirred down. Allow to boil for 1 min., stirring. Remove from heat, skim off foam and pour into clean jars and seal. Makes 4 pts.

I think I'll make some for my grandkids this week, I also want to make some strawberry freezer jam while berries are still 99 cents a box. Were still waiting on our toms so salsa making is still unknown. But were getting cucumbers daily along with peppers which I'll dice and freeze. Gardens are producing now and it's a nice feeling knowing your helping yourself even in a small way.

Thank you to those who signed up for the tag pad swap, just pop me a email with your mailing info. so we can get that underway. There is still a few slots open if you'd like to join us. It's easy and fun. You will receive the pad where you will decorate a page and send it off to the next one on the list. In the end, it will be returned to me and I'm thinking about a drawing for all who joined in, one lucky scrapper might end up with it?

Happy jelly making!

Scappy Swap

I'm in the mood for a swap, a creative one at that! Are you familiar with tag pads? They can be turned into just about anything, but my first thought was a fun swap and a treasure in the end. If your interested, here's how it will go. I'll be taking 10 names, just sign up here. I'll make the first tag so you have an idea of how this works, all you do really is decorate a tag on this cute little pad. You can use your imagination here, or stickers, drawings, scraps of paper, fabric, anything really that you can cram on this pad. With the pad will be enclosed a list of names of all who will receive the pad. Once you have completed your tag, you send it onto the next one on the list and that person will do the same. In the end, it will return home to me with all your lovely works of art, should be fun to see what everyone comes up with! So, who wants to join in on this swap? No talent needed, just a little time to play with it and to get the pad back in the mail in a far amount of time. A list of rules will be tucked inside as a reminder. You can sign up here till we get the 10 names needed to start this, come on, don't be shy!

A fair report, my flower photo placed 5th and the other one, nothing. But it's ok, I'm happy no matter the outcome! I was a little disappointed in the judging though, not because mine didn't do better but the ones that did weren't that great? Nothing really that stood out there as wow, you know? It's always nice to see what catches the judges eye, I just wish they would judge a little more professional. It won't stop me from entering next year, I'll just have to re-think my entries. If your into photography at all, try entering yours in the fair, it gives you another way of looking at objects, plus it's a little rush seeing that ribbon on your photo, no matter the place!

Off to the Fair...

A new, busy week ahead for me, but I have today free so I got my photos matted and framed and off to the fair I went to register them, wish me luck. I wanted to enter something in the black and white category, but time didn't allow, I must start this earlier next year, remind me, ok? lol But, I entered two of my favorites, my yellow flower with rain drops, finally mastered that shot! And one of my grand daughter, May drawing me a heart in chalk. I'll be thrilled with any ribbon but I'll have some more wall art either way! I'll know Wednesday how I did.

It's such a busy time here, summer is flying by. We had a wicked storm come through Sat. night. The lightening was something else, so powerful and angry-like. It struck my old tree outside this room I blog from, my craft room but the tree seems to be ok, so far. I hope it will be. It's not the first time to be hit by lightening. It shook the house, knocked out 3 lamps in different rooms and brought down 3 scrapbook frames off the wall, shattering them. We got 3 inches of rain out of that storm, do you think 3 is a unlucky number? It was that night! But we got some much needed rain and all is well once again! It always pours during fair week so no big surprise. Good Monday to you all and I'll let you know how I faired with my photos! LOL

Money does buy Happyness!

Can money buy happyness? I think so, not on a grand scale, I would never marry for money but I found this English china plate at a new flea market in town for just $3. I was thrilled, my heart giggled and it just made my day! Money can buy happyness and add to my English china collection too! Funny how the simple act of finding a plate can trigger a rush, it makes you forget about the heat, the lack of rain, and other worries that fog the brain. We all need to treat ourselves more to a little happyness.

I've been working to get my photos ready to enter in the county fair on Sunday. I usually enter a few each year, last year we were busy moving so I didn't enter any at all, and I missed it. So, this year I'm combing through my files to find a few good ones. I love to enter the black and white catagory, the odds are better and I just love the effect of the old finish. Over the years, I've placed in each grade but first, so that is my aim. If I make it, it will be a cheap thrill, it doesn't pay much but even if I don't place at all, the fun, excitment and learning from others, has paid off in ways yet seen.

Do you enter your talents in your county fair? I used to enter my canned goods too but haven't really been canning these last few years. I hope you will get out and support your county fair, go see the exibits, animals and shows, it brings out the kid in us all, and a little happyness too!

Garden Goose Giveaway!

My ole pal, Tina from the Garden Goose blog is hosting an awesome giveaway of her graphics, these vinyl decals can be placed on your wall very easily and can really highlight a room. Just go to her blog and check out all the sweet graphics, choose one if you won and leave a comment. She offers something for everyone and if you win, you get to choose $75 worth of vinyl art! Tina is celebrating her 500th post, so spread some bloggy love and get your name in for some wall words, designs and art! Congrats Tina, your a busy woman and so talented!

Thirfty Tea Idea

One of the things I love about blogging, and there are many, that it brings the world to me. It's like my very own encyclopedia and boy have I used it, I do get my moneys worth! I came across a new to me blog that got me hooked by this post, tea in a jar. I'm sure you can relate to not having enough space in the fridge for ice tea, or wanting to try different blends over ice but don't have enough space? If this relates to you, check out Angry Chicken for her thrifty idea making a concentrated tea in a jar. I tried it over the 4th of July weekend because I knew I'd have little room with all the leftovers. I must say, it was the best ice tea I've had awhile. And so easy too, I like easy!

All you do is place teabags in a jar, the number of teabags varies to how strong you like it. I used 8 in a quart jar filled with cold water, place in fridge overnight. The next day, squeeze out all the tea you can from the teabags, discard. Now all you do when you want a glass of ice tea is grab a glass, use several spoons of the concentrated tea, again depending on how strong you like it, add cold water, stir and top with ice. Refreshing, takes us less room in the fridge and is thrifty too! Thank you Angry Chicken, still not sure why you named your lovely blog that, but if your reading this, enquiring minds want to know!

Preserving the Past

I'm making jam today, pineapple to be exact with a hint of pineapple sage, fresh from the herb garden outside my kitchen. But, I'm not canning this summer, most of my jams and jellies will be freezer jams, have you made them? They are super easy, less fuss and no cooking which means no heating up the kitchen at all! They are made with less sugar because the fruit is smashed fresh or frozen so the sweetness is already in there, naturally. I love that, esp. with the cost of sugar at a all time high.

Here is the basic recipe for freezer jam, you can almost use any kind of fruit, fresh or frozen. I am using crushed, canned pineapple for my jam today along with 4 pineapple sage leaves grounded up and thrown in. Pineapple sage is one of my favorites, and this year to my surprise Walmart had it for sale in the garden department, so I bought 2! They smell like heaven and pineapple of course. If you've never had any, treat yourself to one, they attract hummy birds and butterfly's with their long red spikes of flowers.

Basic Freezer Jam recipe

4 c. fruit ( fresh or frozen)
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 pkg. freezer jam pectin
Jars or freezer containers

Mix pectin with sugar and stir well to dissolve. Add to smashed fruit and stir for 3 min. Spoon into jars and freeze.


Wasn't that easy? Anyone can make jam this way plus you can mix the fruit and come up with your own combos. The best part, you are preserving the past in comfort and style! Enjoy!

Southern Bells Giveaway

Look what I found, aren't these pillow cases the cutest things ever? And you have a chance to win this set, thanks to "Our Victorian Cottage" blog who hand made these pretties. I wish I had her talent with a crochet hook! You have from today until the 15th so get your name in soon!

I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July yesterday, we sure did! Today is clean up day and rest, but it all was worth it, everyone had a good time, lots of food and a fantastic light show. The weather was perfect! I'm proud to be an American and do enjoy the celebration to the fact! Should be back to normal tomorrow, oh and the potato salad I made from The Pioneer Woman was a hit, it was sooo good!

Happy Birthday America!

From my blog and house to yours, I hope you have a special 4th of July, and don't forget the true meaning of the day. It's a honor to live in the land of the free! Happy Birthday America!!

Time in a Bottle

Just in case you have some time over the long holiday weekend, here's a easy project that will soon become a favorite and a great conversation piece, aren't they wonderful? And so easy too, you can get the complete directions from the Yankee Magazine website, just click on the home/garden tab, it's the first article and one you will want to try. I'll be hunting up some old botttles for sure! If you make your own, please let me know, I'd love to see how yours turn out! Gee, I love that mantel too!

The preparations begin tomorrow for our 4th of July bash here at the house. I'll be busy cleaning, cooking and baking. Were having a picnic outside on the hill, a bon fire, birthday and cookout! Family and friends will gather about 9pm to watch the fireworks that everyone will be bringing. I'm making potato salad from The Pioneer Woman, she calls it the best potato salad ever! So, I had to try it! I hope your own celebration is a safe one, full of good food, friends and family! Let freedom ring........Amen!