JUST a House Wife?!!

Today I decided I want to give you a look into my everyday life. Someone the other day scoffed a little when I said I was a stay at home Mom. "Oh, so your just a house wife." was there response. JUST A HOUSE WIFE?!? I was sitting at the Dr and didn't really feel like defending the rest of us "House Wives" at that moment. I have been thinking about it and it kind of got me angry but then it made me feel bad for the girl. She obviously does not have the opportunity that I do to get to stay at home and take care of my Family. So maybe she was jealous? Or did she really think being a "House Wife" is a pitiful thing? Either way, I documented my whole day today so YOU can see what type of things this "House Wife" does during the day, you know, aside from eating my Bon Bons and watching Soap Operas. GAG!

6:05 am: Troop knocks on my door wanting to cuddle in my bed.
6:20 am: Beach Body work out for 45 mins. Today was Cardio, lower body and abs
7:15 am: Start making breakfast so my boys start the day off good! Today was Blueberry muffins with strawberries and bananas. That means I had to bake the muffins AND cut the fruit! WOW!
7:45 am: While the muffins were baking I mixed up 5 DOZEN chocolate and peanut butter chip cookies.
8:00 am: Eat breakfast with my boys
8:30 am: Clean up breakfast/dishes and continue baking the rest of the cookies.
9:00 am: Get showered and ready for the day. Captain Hunk was nice enough to get Troop ready for me today! :)
9:40 am: Get Troop in the car and head to pick up my Visiting Teaching Companion. I won't go into detail about how we got extremely lost on our way to the first house!
10:15 am -12:20 pm: Visit sisters in my ward.
12:30 pm: Come home to feed Troop lunch.
1:00 pm: Load Troop back in the car and head to Target to pick out Thomas the Train stickers for Troop's dinner chart and chicken broth. And GO ME for ONLY buying what I needed! :)
2:00 pm Start preparing dinner. Chopping carrots, celery, onions and chicken, only to find out Captain Hunk has a meeting and won't be home until 7:30ish so he was heading home for an early dinner then heading back to work.
2:45 pm: Put my prepared ingredients back in the fridge for tomorrow and figure out something quick I can prepare for Captain Hunk.
3:30 pm: Try to get Troop to lay down on the couch with me because he was in SERIOUS need of a nap. Plan failed!
3:45 pm: Wake Captain Hunk up from his quick snooze and then fold my last load of laundry that I didn't get to yesterday.
4:30 pm: Troop thinks we should make "Jello shapes." I only have one box of Jello. So Off we go to the Commissary for another box of Jello, and oh ya, the cottage cheese that I had forgotten for our pot pies. Good thing we aren't having them until tomorrow.
5:00 pm: boil some water to make our Gelatin. Get it all mixed up and put in the fridge. Troop keeps running to the kitchen every 5 minutes to see if it is Jello yet!
5:15 pm: Feed the dog...I forgot to mention I did that this morning too.
5:25 pm: Sit down to Blog.
There you have it folks! Keep in mind I still need to make dinner for Troop and myself. I think it's a chicken nugget and carrots kind of night!
Don't get me wrong, I definitely have days where I get together with my favorite girls and we just chat the day away while the kids play, but going nonstop with chores, chasing Troop, grocery shopping errand running and so on is the norm. And THIS "House Wife" wouldn't change it for the world!

Marzetti (Squiggly Spaghetti)

Here is a recipe, as promised, with ground beef! I found this in an OLD recipe book my super awesome Great Aunt gave to me! It's called Marzetti, but as it seems to go in my Family, Captain Hunk calls it Squiggly Spaghetti! It's pretty yummy and very easy! If you aren't a mushroom person, it tastes just fine without them! :) This recipe makes 2 (2 quart) casserole dishes. I always cut the recipe in half. You may make both and freeze one for up to three months! I LOVE freezer meals!

Marzetti

1 (12 oz) pkg egg noodles
2 Tbl butter
2 large onions, chopped
2 cups sliced frsh mushrooms
2 lbs lean ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp ground oregano
2 (10-3/4 oz) cans tomato soup
1 (12 oz) can tomato paste
2/3 cup water
2 Tbl Worcestershire sauce
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Butter 2 (2 quart) casserole dishes. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain; set aside. In a large skillet, melt 2 Tbl of butter. Add onions and mushrooms; saute 5 to 6 minutes or until onions are tender. Crumble in beef; continue to cook, stirring until meat has lost its pink color. Drain off fat. Add salt, pepper, oregano,tomato soup, tomato paste, water and Worcestershire sauce. Cook and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in drained noodles and 2 cups of cheese. Divide mixture evenly between the two dishes. Top each casserole with 1 cup of cheese. If preparing ahead, cover unbaked casseroles tightly with foil and freeze upto three months. To serve, bake, uncovered 45-55 minutes (1 to 1 1/4 hours if frozen) or until heated through.

I plan to make this for dinner tomorrow night so I will add pictures to this post tomorrow! :)

It's not JUST the Terrible Two's.....

I found this article on CNN the other day and thought many of you would enjoy it! Don't forget to take the Quiz at the end!!

Two-year-olds get all the buzz, but the truth is, tantrums and mayhem can strike at any age, for a variety of reasons. "Most toddlers begin testing limits shortly after their first birthday and continue until about age four," says Ari Brown, M.D., author of "Toddler 411."

So how did the Terrible Twos become such a pop-parenting phenomenon? "It's an old-fashioned idea and not supported by research," says Alan Kazdin, Ph.D., director of the Parenting Center at Yale University. The term was coined in the 1950s, perhaps because so much pressure was put on families to be detergent-commercial perfect that the moment a child grew out of compliant infancy, moms were freaked out.

But modern parents agree -- every kid is different, and every year presents new joys and challenges. Read on for a fresh perspective on each stage.

Parenting.com: 5 tantrum stoppers that actually work

AGE 1

What's to love: They can be wonderfully cuddly. And since many 1-year-olds haven't yet realized the power of the word "no" to antagonize you, they can often be more compliant than their 2- to 4-year-old sibs. Their distractible nature means you can get them to stop fiddling with the oven knob by giving them a pot and a spoon to bang with.

What's tough about it: Establishing good sleep patterns is still a struggle throughout this year, as you drop the morning nap, lengthen the midday one, and solidify bedtime. All that snooze drama can make for an overtired, cranky kid. In addition, his limited vocabulary makes for misunderstandings. (He says "nana." You put him on the phone with Nana Helen. He wanted a banana. Cue meltdown.)

How to make the most of it: They need about 13 hours of sleep (11 at night and 2 during the day), so try to make it happen, suggests Bronwyn Charlton, Ph.D., co-founder of SeedlingsGroup, a collective of child-development experts in New York City. Inadequate sleep stacks the deck against you: A tired toddler is a cranky toddler.


AGE 2

What's to love: There's no denying it -- 2-year-olds are stinking cute! Their curiosity about the world is infectious. And while they certainly get into trouble, their mishaps feel accidental, making them easier to forgive.

What's tough about it: Two-year-olds are fully mobile. Translation: They're into everything. And that means this is the first time you've had to set limits (no climbing the bookcase, crossing the street, or picking up cigarette butts off the sidewalk). Your child has never heard "no" so many times in her short life -- and she doesn't like it. To top it all off, 2-year-olds don't yet have the language to express feelings, so they resort to pitching fits. Their young brains can't handle extreme emotions without going a bit haywire.

How to make the most of it: Praise often: "You didn't throw any toys today! Great job!" When she blows her stack, ignore her, as long as she isn't hurting anyone. Yelling or attempts to subdue -- even with affection -- make tantrums last longer. Kazdin notes that a tantrum is a futile time for discipline. "Wait until your child is able to absorb what you say."

Parenting.com: Why toddlers throw tantrums

AGE 3

What's to love: The reasoning skills that can make life with a 3-year-old trying also make it easier for him to understand why he has to wear sunscreen. And his ballooning vocabulary means no more misunderstandings. Plus, how cool is it that you're having a conversation with your kid?

What's tough about it: "Research shows that age three is the peak of defiant behavior," says Kazdin. You're more controlling (you have to be -- he's a force of nature now!), but he wants autonomy desperately, which makes life a series of battles. And your child is up for it: That improved reasoning lets him enter into high-level negotiations ("I'll put on my pajamas now if you give me a piece of chocolate").

How to make the most out of it: If what he's doing -- say, taking all the clothes out of his drawer -- isn't hurting anyone, ignore him. "Behavior that gets no attention will go away," promises Charlton. In nonnegotiable cases, carefully restrain your child or move him to another place.


AGE 4

What's to love: Your child's personality expresses itself more, so you'll know her triggers and what to do when something does set her off. And since she's likely in preschool now, you both get a break from each other. That makes a big difference in your energy and patience.

What's tough about it: Think age 3, but with an even larger vocabulary with which to slay you. Plus, 4-year-olds are navigating new social waters in the outside world, so they're more likely to act up at home.

How to make the most of it: When she has a fit, stay calm. Afterward, ask "Can you think of something better to do next time?" Share your own tricks, too: "When I get upset, I like to close my eyes and take a deep breath."

Parenting.com: 10 clever ways to get your child to give up the pacifier

Do you have a terrible or terrific 1, 2, 3, or 4-year-old? Take our quiz!

AGE 1

Your 18-month-old fights like mad against being strapped into his car seat. You finally click the buckle. He...

A Wails for the whole 20-minute ride to the store and bites you when you take him out.

B Cries for five minutes and then falls asleep.

C Is quickly distracted by the sippy cup you offer.

Every morning when you leave for work, he...

A Clings to you for the entire 30 minutes before you go, as you apply mascara, choose earrings, and eat breakfast. If you attempt to put him down or hand him off for a second, he lets the entire neighborhood know that hell hath no fury like a baby scorned.

B Sobs as you say goodbye and bangs against the door for a few minutes after you've gone.

C Objects just enough for you to feel loved.

It's time for her afternoon nap. She...

A Hides under the couch where you can't reach her and shrieks amid the dust bunnies.

B Allows you to put her in the crib, but rattles the railings and cries for 20 minutes.

C Falls asleep if you stroke her cheek for a minute.

Parenting.com: Incredible kids birthday cakes you can bake

AGE 2

In the car, your son drops his favorite book in that spot where neither of you can reach it. He...

A Screams bloody murder until you pull over and get him the $#&!ing book.

B Cries for a while but settles down when you hand him a small bag of Cheerios.

C Says "Oopsie!" and gazes out the window.

Your daughter can't get the shirt off her doll. She becomes frustrated, but when you offer to help with the undressing, she...

A Yells "No!" and whips the doll at you before breaking down in tears.

B Throws the doll on the floor and gives up.

C Sits quietly and watches how you do it.

At a playdate, your boy's friend snatches something he was playing with. He...

A Throws himself on top of his friend and wrests the toy out of his hands, twisting his pal's arm in the process. In front of his mother, no less.

B Whimpers a bit, then engages in a brief tug-of-war with his playmate.

C Looks annoyed but quickly finds another toy.


AGE 3

Walking out of the mall, she asks to be carried. You're pushing her baby sister in a stroller. When you refuse, she...

A Throws herself down in the middle of the parking lot, forcing you to break out some heavy-duty threats (no Disney World, ever!) or bribes (a lollipop! Five lollipops!).

B Moves as slowly as an inchworm, stretching out the trek to the car to an agonizing 20 minutes.

C Scowls briefly.

Your son finishes his ice cream and asks for more. You say no, and he...

A Tantrums so hard that he throws up.

B Repeats "But why?" in Most Annoying Voice Ever for five minutes before giving up.

C Says "I really like ice cream a lot."

You give your girl a pink cup instead of red. She...

A Spills the contents of the offensive cup on your shoes and squawks "Wrong, Daddy!"

B Whimpers until you make the switch.

C Pouts cutely when you say the red cup is dirty.


AGE 4

Your daughter notices that you have given an eighth of an inch more juice to her brother. She...

A Spills both glasses out of spite.

B Surreptitiously switches the glasses.

C Asks for a little more juice, please.

When it's time to leave the playground, she...

A Screams "No way, lady!" then keeps playing.

B Hard-bargains 15 more minutes out of you, but then leaves calmly.

C Nods in agreement and begins searching the grounds for her lost hair clip.

Your son is playing superheroes. When his friend tells him he can't be Iron Man because he's not strong enough, your son...

A Demonstrates his strength by punching him.

B Tells him he doesn't want to play anymore and hops on your lap for a cuddle.

C Ignores the unkind remark and keeps on playing.

How did your kid score?

Two or more C's We don't believe you. But if you're telling the truth, consider yourself very lucky. That kid is a dream.

Two or more B's Your child is typical, with good and bad days. That's to be expected from a "preoperational thinker" (illogical and unable to consider other points of view), which is what all kids are until about age 6.

Two or more A's Twenty percent of babies are born with a high-need temperament, which can last years. A spirited kid is exhausting, but he is not "bad" and, with your love, will grow up happy and well-adjusted.

Flour, Flour, FLOUR!!

This morning I was at the grocery store and nearly SQUEALED with excitement when I saw my brand of flour in 20 lb bags!! You think I'm crazy, right? Think again!! About 8 years ago my Mother in Law gave me a bucket of flour that she brought home from New Mexico. I used to think flour was flour. NOPE! This stuff was AMAZING!!! It is SO fine that you never have to sift it! It makes baked goods turn out light and fluffy and is just all around amazing!! The bad part was no where in MT sold it so my Mother in Law ordered it in bulk so we could stay stocked up!! When I moved to Colorado my Aunt found a local grocery store that sold it, but only in 5 or 10 lb bags. We go thru too much flour in this house!! Sometimes they run out and that makes for a very unhappy Wife! Now that I know I can get it in the big bags, I will be adding it to my food storage!! Someday I know I will live in a  place where I don't have such easy access to it!! I think everyone should try it out!! It's called Blue Bird flour and is made in Cortez, CO. I know many places in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Texas sell it. If you can find it, try it!! It is a little more then regular flour but it is SO WORTH IT!! I promise! If you would like to find where you can buy it, click here and you can call the number!! To my Colorado friends, you can buy it at King Soopers or Albertsons. It's on the bottom shelf in the baking aisle in a cute white flour bag!! Happy Baking!

Jack's YUMMY Peanut Butter Cookies!!

Don't those look delicious!! First of all, I apologize again for missing yesterday!! I hope these cookies will make up for it!! You know you can practically smell them RIGHT NOW and are rushing to your kitchen to bake them!! The main secret to this recipe is...wait for it... CINNAMON! Yep!! I am a little bit of a food snob and I get GOOD cinnamon that is 5% saigon! YUM!!! You can buy that from Food Wise!

Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 mins! You may add kisses or peanut butter cups for some more yumminess!!

Armed Forces Vacation Club!!!

Hey Everyone, I know this is not a traditional post, but I felt like it was unfair to keep this info to myself!! I know I have quite a few followers who are Military and this applies to YOU!! My Aunt told me about this site and it is an AMAZING way to save money on your vacations!! Not to mention is has some GREAT places to stay! Check it out!! Click here to see it!

Yummy Chicken Parmesan!! (Yogurt Chicken)

I know it's Monday but with me leaving for a few I wanted to make sure I got in BOTH recipes for the week! This one is a Family favorite!! Traditionally known as Chicken Parmesan, Captain Hunk named it yogurt chicken and the name has stuck! This recipe was requested by one of our followers and I decided to share it with everyone!

Yogurt Chicken

2 cups Ritz crackers crushed
3 Tbl grated parmesan cheese
2 tsp garlic salt
8 Boneless, Skinless chicken breasts
1 cup PLAIN yogurt
1/4 cup butter melted

Combine the cracker crumbs, cheese and garlic salt. Dip each piece of chicken into the yogurt, then roll them in the cracker crumbs. Place in a 9x13 baking dish. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 mins. Serve on top of thin spaghetti noodles with your favorite sauce and sprinkle with fresh Mozzarella!

Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler!!

I decided today I would share a dutch oven recipe!! We LOVE dutch oven food and believe a dutch oven is an essential camping item! The possibilites are endless!! We happen to be going camping tonight and will be making one of our favorite treats! Dutch oven peach cobbler!! For those of you who don't know what a dutch oven is, see the picture below!

It is a cast iron dish. To cook with it, you heat up coals and once they are hot, you put the dish in the campfire above the coals, but not directly on them. Then you place more hot coals on the lid for an even cook!
The peach cobbler is so easy! Wait for it....
2 boxes of white cake mix
6 cans sliced peaches
1 stick of butter

Drain the juice out of three of the cans then put the peaches in the bottom of the dish. then put in the other three cans WITH the juice. Dump both cake mixes on top of the peaches. DO NOT STIR! Then slice the butter into little pads and place around the top of the cake mix. Put on the lid, then place near the coals and put more coals on top. Bake for about 20 mins then give the dish a 180 degree turn and bake for another 20 mins. The dessert is finished when you have soft carmelized peaches and a bubbling brown crust!! It is so yummy and I promise you WON'T have leftovers!!

It's a Stain Removal Kind of Day!

Typically, I do my laundry on Mondays. This week, unfortunately, I didn't get to it until yesterday! Horrible, I know! :) After doing ALL of the laundry in the house I decided it was time to blog about stain removal!! I know everyone may have their own method of stain removal but I would like to share mine! I live with two boys. One is a Soldier and the other is 3. I bet you can imagine the kind of stains I have to deal with! Captain Hunk SWEARS no one can remove stains quite like me. He is a little silly though! I swear by TWO kinds of stain remover: Shout Advanced & Oxy Clean.

The Oxy Clean is great for blood stains because it actually foams up to dissolve the stain. I think shout it great for EVERYTHING else. The only thing better is mixing the two together! YEP! Just yesterday I needed to get a pizza stain out of one of Troop's white shirts. I sprayed on some Oxy Clean and then dabbed on a little Shout. Then I rubbed it in using the bristles at the end of the Shout bottle. I didn't even have to let it sit. For more worked in stains I would let it sit for a bit. The sauce stain came right out!! Be sure to check the clothing before putting it in the dryer to make sure the stain came out. Sending it through a heated drying load my set the stain for good. Captain Hunk recently left a tan hat in his Jeep with the top off and it poured down rain. When the hat dried it was nearly black. I sprayed it with Oxy Clean, rubbed it in with Shout and then put it through the dishwasher! The stain was pretty bad so I ran it through twice but now the hat looks BRAND NEW!! Sometimes I take too much pride in my stain removal abilities but sometimes it's the little things that make me feel so accomplished! :)

National Excercise With Your Kids Week!!

I LOVE looking up silly random Holidays! Just wait, we will have recipes themed after some silly holidays! This week, however, is National Exercise with Your Kids Week! So perfect right before school is starting for most! So I decided, is there any better way (or more fun way) to exercise then by dancing?!!? I think not!! Here is a little video of some dance instruction from my little Troop! Enjoy!



Sweet moves eh?!

Steel Cut Oats VS. Rolled Oats

Which is actually better for you? Steel cut oats or rolled oats? Turns out an oat is an oat, whether it's steel cut from the original groat or rolled flat and even presteamed so that it will cook in 90 seconds rather than 15 minutes or more. Flattening and steaming does not remove whole grain benefits, so you get all of the vitamins, mineral, antioxidants, and oaty fiber. I myself LOVE steel cut oats because they are more nutty and chewy, but instant oatmeal is so convenient! Especially when Troop wakes up starving and wants to eat NOW! However, steel cut oats have a lower glycemic index than instant oatmeal, causing a lower spike in insulin levels when consumed. There are several differences between it and the typical rolled oat variety. These include:
•Much longer cooking time (30 minutes)
•More cholesterol lowering soluble fiber than other oatmeal
•Takes longer to digest so you stay fuller longer
•Chopped with steel blades resulting in a "chewier" oatmeal
Also, prepackaged flavored oats can contain alot of added sugar and salt.
So in reality, it's up to you to decide. You still get the whole grain benefits from both so whether you prefer a nutty chewy flavor or the convenience and taste of instant, BOTH are a great choice! :)

Green Chile!!

Many of you who know me have had my Green Chile and know that it is a coveted recipe of mine! However, I decided I would be nice and share it with you all!! Oh and this a crockpot recipe!! There is also a quick version which I will share at the end!

GREEN CHILE
1 3lb pork or beef roast (most prefer pork but I'm a beef girl!)
1 large can LAS PALMAS green enchilada sauce
3 4oz cans diced green chiles
1 small yellow onion chopped
1/2 tsp Garlic salt
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper

Mix the onions, green chiles and salt and pepper and garlic salt in a bowl. I typically don't measure my spices but I wanted to give you a rough estimate. You may add more or less until it is to your liking! Place the roast in the Crock Pot and coat with onion mixture on top and sides. If you have all day to let the meat cook then set it on low. If you have 3-4 hours, set it to high.

Look at the texture!! YUM!!

I am a little snobby about certain brands of things. I ONLY use this brand (Las Palmas medium) when I use canned enchilada sauce! It has the best flavor in my opinion! I could eat it plain with a spoon! :)

After the meat has cooked for a few hours, shred it (or chunk it) to your liking. Then add the enchilada sauce and cayenne pepper. Cook until heated through and it thickens. IF it is not thick enough, I usually pull out a couple cup fulls of sauce, put it in a sauce pan, bring it to a boil and add some cornstarch mixed with cold water. Boil until desired thickness then add back to the Crock Pot. Be sure to taste it to make sure the flavor is to your liking. If not, add more spices!!

You may choose how you like to eat it! Captain Hunk likes his in a tortilla with cheese, topped with sour cream and salsa!

I like mine in a bowl with the cheese, sour cream and salsa mixed in. Then I scoop it with a tortilla! Either way, it is super delicious!!

When I was in high school and first started making this dish, I did not use the crock pot. I would use all of the same ingredients except the roast. Instead I would use raw beef chunks, cut them into small pieces and sautee them in a pan with the onions and green chiles. I would then add the sauce and all of the spices to the pan, bring it to a boil then add the cornstarch mixture (1 Tblspn cornstarch, 1 cup cold water) and boil until thick!! Super easy and fast way to make it but the meat won't be quite as tender as cooking it in the Crock Pot!

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe! If you try it, let me know how it turns out! :)

Bleach, Bleach and MORE Bleach!

I warned you that I LOVE bleach! So I decided to do an entire post about it rather than multiple. Though, I can't promise I won't think of something else that has to do with bleach later on down the road! Does anyone else struggle with their dish cloths starting to smell mildewy after a couple days? I feel like it got so much worse when we moved to Colorado! Thank goodness for clorox!!! First of all, I switched to white dish cloths. At the end of the week I take all of my dish cloths and soak them in a bleach bath! I fill the sink a couple of inches deep with scalding hot water and add a tablespoon of Clorox. I let them soak for about an hour then I throw them in the washer, by themselves, and wash them like normal. Not only does this help remove ALL stains, it also seems to help with the mildew smell. I can use a dish cloth for a couple days longer then when I don't use the bleach! Cool huh? Not only do I love bleach but I love ALL things Clorox. Especially the Clorox anywhere spray. I love it because I can clean my counters and the inside of my fridge with it and it is COMPLETELY safe!! It won't even harm your food! In my research of looking at some other things that bleach can be used for, I came across something interesting. Take it as you will, I won't be offended if you disagree!

http://thefitnesschronicle.com/the-clorox-bath-can%E2%80%99t-buy-organic-try-soaking-your-food-in-clorox-bleach/

I thought it was pretty cool and MIGHT just try it! Let me know what you think! :)

Bread In A Jar?!?!

I know I said I would only do recipes on Friday but this is not your AVERAGE recipe so I decided it was okay to share on a Wednesday! :) This is an unusual one but I promise you will LOVE it! Doesn't everyone love home made bread?! The only bad thing about it is when you make it, you need to eat it within a couple of days before it goes bad! NOT ANYMORE!! With Bread in a Jar you can use ANY quick bread recipe (NO YEAST) and it will have a shelf life of 6 months to a year!! CRAZY!! Not only does it last a long time but it is DELICIOUS!! I can't tell you how many times I would make this and send a few jars over to Captain Hunk in Afghanistan! The Soldiers ALL loved it and I even had some asking me to make it for them after they came home!! The recipe I am going to share makes 8 jars but you can easily half it to make four. Before you begin you will need pint size, wide mouth canning jars and lids. It MUST be wide mouth so the bread can slide out easily!
CHOCOLATE APPLESAUCE BREAD IN A JAR (Chocolate Cherry Bread)

1 cup butter
3 cups granulated sugar
4 egg whites whipped
1 Tbl Vanilla
1 tsp Almond Extract
2 cups applesauce-room temp
3 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place a baking sheet onto the middle rack and remove the top rack from the oven. Before starting your batter, wash the jars and lids in hot, soapy water and let jars drain, dry, and cool to room temp. Generously coat inside of jars with butter.

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar, egg whites, vanilla, almond extract and applesauce. In another mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients until moistened.

Spoon 1 level cupful of batter into each jar. Carefully wipe rims clean.

Place the jars on the baking sheet (so they don't tip over) in the center of the oven. Bake for 40 mins. Keep lids in hot water until they're used. When cakes are done, remove jars one at a time. If rims need cleaning, use a moistened paper towel. Carefully put lids and rings in place, then screw the tops TIGHTLY shut. Place jars on a wire rack. They will seal as they cool.

When you are ready to eat the bread simply remove the lid and dump the bread out. You may want to run a knife along the inside of the jar to help it come out smoothly. Slice and enjoy!

The Dreaded Orange Stain!!

Oooohhhh the dreaded tomato sauce on your tupperware stain!! A lot of people really struggle with getting rid of these ANNOYING stains! You may be suprised though, at how easy they actually are to remove! I myself am a bleach girl! You will learn very soon how ofetn I use bleach!! My favorite way of removing the stain is to fill the bowl with HOT, STEAMY water and add 1-2 Tablespoons of bleach, depending on the size of the bowl. Let it soak over night then wipe it clean! If you heat the sauce in the microwave while in the plastic bowl, it could cause the stain to remain forveer because it is chemically cooked on! Another trick is before putting the sauce in the bowl, spray the bowl with Pam or Olive Oil. This will prevent it from staining! These are just my tricks but I decided to do a little research to give you guys some more options! Here is what I found:

1. Mr Clean Magic Eraser
2. Dawn Dish soap and hot water
3. Cascade with no water, soak over night
4. Put out in the sun for a couple hours then wash as usual.

I hope this was helpful! If you guys have any ideas or tricks that you use on your tupperware stains, please feel free to share!!

Turn Up The Music....AND DANCE!!!!

It's a new week so that means ALL NEW exciting tips, tricks and of course, a new RECIPE!! Today however, isn't about removing a stain or how to cook this or that. It's about turning up the music, grabbing your spouse or kiddos and DANCING!! That's right!! You know you have done it! And if you haven't, now's your chance! Growing up, Saturdays were ALWAYS cleaning day. I can't remember a single one without the music blaring! Whether is was Def Leppard or New Kids, with five girls in the house it was never a dull moment! We loved to dance in the living room and SOME of us made up new dance moves! :) It made cleaning the house much more fun and the time would go by fast! Even though I have been out of the house for 9 years I STILL turn the music up and dance in the living room or kitchen or WHATEVER room I am in! Even Captain Hunk dances with me! When Troop was just a newborn I would turn on The 90's AT Noon on a local station and carry him around while I danced! Now that he is nearly 4, he too LOVES music and dances his little heart out! So my tip for the day is to take a break from your busy schedule, turn on some music and dance your little hearts out!! I promise it will make ANY bad or boring day 10X better!