Day of Silence: Please join us in prayer and rememberance

Praying for those sweet babies,
their families, classmates, and teachers &

Remembering the victims, NOT the shooter!!!

Our Father's love will ALWAYS prevail!!!

Learn more about the children here:

http://www.people.com/people/static/h/package/tragedyconnecticutschoolshooting/index.html

(Pumpkin) Queso Dip

This is really delicious... with a little added nutrition. 

Not that it's healthy by any means, but yummy, all the same...and you cannot even taste the pumpkin!

 



Pumpkin Queso Dip
Serving Size: 1/4 cup
Recipe makes about 20-30 servings (with cheese, salsa, beans, & corn)

What you need:
1  block melting cheese (I used Pace Cheese Melt, which I prefer over Velveeta)
1  small jar of your favorite salsa OR 1 Large can tomatoes with green chilies
1  can pumpkin puree
1 can corn, rinsed & drained* (1 can of your favorite beans, rinsed & drained)
1/4 tsp cumin
chopped green onions
(you may want to add beans, mushrooms, spinach, taco seasonings, or meateaters may want to add cooked chicken/taco meat/sausage, etc)

Rinse and drain corn & beans. *Removes excess sodium*
Add all canned ingredients in a large microwavable bowl and stir.
Sprinkle in cumin, mixing well.
Cube cheese, and drop into mixture. (Add meat, if doing so)
Microwave on High until melted. Start with 4 minute increments, stirring after each interval, until cheese is completely melted.
Top with chopped green onions, (parsley, chopped fresh spinach, or sour cream) if desired.

Serve with chips, crackers, or warm tortillas.

Enjoy!

I have joined the Blog Hop

Thanks to Kara at http://www.happygoluckyblog.com/ for the invite! Check out the list of blogs, have a look around, follow new blogs, make new friends, and learn a thing... or two... or a lot of things :o) There are some creative, crafty, and interesting bloggers linked up to the Blog Hop!

A Return to Blogging

I am back!!!

Hello blog world,

Sorry for the extended hiatus, I have been enjoying life without the internet...REAL life...The Good Life :) Family. Friends. Fun. Memories!!!

Coming up this week:
a new Journey, or two,
a super joyful Joy,
a Journey through photos blog,
and no Junk!!!

When life gets so busy, we miss out on the little things... And the little things are what bring us joy.

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A great thought from Jesse Duplantis: Never leave a thing undone if it might glorify God... Tomorrow is today!

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SURPRISE PaRtY TiMe!!!

{Finally} 
A week later....here it is!


The Story

The day before my sister Krystal's birthday, I invited a few of her  friends over to her apartment to celebrate her birthday with a surprise party.

She and a friend from work (Becca) take turns driving, since they work out of town. It was Becca's week to drive, which worked out perfectly, and meant that we would be able to coordinate my dear Krystal's arrival. 

On the day of the party, I didn't even have time to stop and blink!
That morning, I ran to the store to get a few last minute things. Back at the apartment, I began prepping the pizza toppings and veggie tray, blew up balloons, hung the balloons, finished decorating the apartment, wrapped the gifts, and started on the cupcakes.

Meanwhile, Becca was stalling Krystal at work so that the others would have time to arrive. Rachel & Max arrived at 5:30, as planned, just as I was scooping the cupcakes into the pan. I popped them in the oven, and stirred up the dip. Rachel happened to see Becca & Krystal drive up, and she & Max hid in the dining room as I turned out the lights. In a split second, Krystal & Becca entered, and we yelled SURPRISE!!!

Krystal looked a little confused, said Hi, and proceeded to show Becca to the restroom. (It took us forever to think of a ploy to get Becca into the apartment without being suspicious, so I told her to ask to use the restroom, and it worked!) Becca was trying to tell Krystal that she didn't really have to use the restroom, but Krystal couldn't hear her. Krystal had been so concerned b'c Becca really played up her acting role on their way home :) "Man, I really have to go, I forgot to go before we left...if we hit one more bump..." Krystal finally understood what Becca was saying and just laughed! She realized that everyone was there for her birthday, and couldn't believe it. She was so grateful. 


I put the pizzas into the oven while she opened her gifts: It was funny, because Rachel and I both got her several new colors of nail polish. We ate dinner, had cupcakes, talked, laughed, played games, and had a grand time!

                               

Purple balloons!!!

The Gifts

The Pizzas
With all of the business during the party, I forgot to take pictures :(
So, the pizzas pictured here aren't the actual pizzas from the party, but were made the next day.

What you'll need for the Deep-dish "party pizzas":
I used canned biscuits.
(you can also use tortillas, sliced bread, or pizza crusts and use a baking sheet).
Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.
Cut each biscuit in half and place into muffin tin, pressing the dough up the sides to form a well.
Spoon your sauce into the dough cups.
Sprinkle with cheese, and add the toppings.
Bake at 375*F for 10-15 minutes, or until dough is cooked and cheese is melted.
Let cool for 3 or 4 minutes.
Loosen edges of pizzas with spoon and remove.
Makes 12 mini pizzas and serves 6.
Enjoy!!! Our guests did :)

The cooked pizzas

     

Pizza Toppings for the pArTy:
Bell peppers, Canadian bacon,
Mushrooms, & Pepperoni

Corn Tortilla Pizzas
(before cooking)

Roasted Broccoli, Baked Potato, & Hot Dog on Whole Wheat

Tuna on toast...

Tuna with:
 Lite Miracle Whip,
Celery, Boiled egg, & Bell Peppers
On grilled toast with Lettuce & Tomato
Served with bean dip & potato chips

Lettuce free salad. Yum!

Celery, Radishes, Bell Pepper, Tomato, Croutons, & Lite Ranch

Sugar free Vegan fudge



Sugar free vegan fudge with pecans

Recipe from: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/01/31/sugar-free-chocolate-fudge/

Thanks Katie!!!

*For this recipe, I quadrupled ingredients to make a large batch (using 2 small bananas).

My bananas weren't ripe enough - BIG mistake... They did not blend well, and weren't sweet enough.

I added 6 packets of Splenda.

Made one 12x12 pan.

Cut into 2x2 = 36 servings

Perfectly boiled egg & oatmeal with sugar free vegan fudge

Looks like cookie monster :)

Learned to how to boil a perfect egg from: http://365daysand100pounds.blogspot.com/2011/12/day-240-how-to-boil-egg-101.html. Thanks Kara!!!
For more Egg tips, like how to peel them easier, check out: http://hotpolkadot.com/2011/07/19/how-to-tuesday-eggcellent/ (Saw this one on Pinterest)

Sugar-free Vegan Fudge recipe from: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/01/31/sugar-free-chocolate-fudge/ Thanks Katie!!! *For this recipe, I quadrupled ingredients for a large batch (using 2 small bananas). My bananas weren't ripe enough - BIG mistake... They did not blend well, and weren't sweet enough. I added 6 packets of Splenda.

Oatmeal: Cooked it like aldente pasta

Boil 2 1/2 cups water, add 2 cups old-fashioned oats. Cook 8 minutes, add 2 Tbs margarine, 1/4 cup milk, 2 pkts Splenda, dash of salt, & dash cinnamon. Topped each 1/2 cup serving with one square of the banana fudge from the above recipe. Makes 8 servings (1/2 cup each)

Delish!!!

Oven toasted S'more Cups

The Surprise Party

. . . was a HUGE success!

Tune in for all of the wonderful details in the next couple of days.

There will be lots of pictures and some recipes, too.

~ Until then ~

Baked Chicken & Cheesy Spaghetti with Apparagus

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The Pinterest Monthly Challenge