EASTER DECOR and BASKET WINNER!

When I reached 60 followers, I "random.org"ed a winner for some of my favourite things.  The winner was #54... Stephanie Williams. 
Stephanie, add a comment to let me know how to get info. to mail things to you. 
I will pick a new winner if I have not heard from Stephanie by Saturday, April 30th.

I love antique and vintage. 
These are some of the things I use to decorate (simply) for Easter.

The old paper eggs were made in Germany.

My favourite Easter story is of Christ's atonement, and Resurrection.
I do love this Easter storybook, too.

A hard to find 1800s metal egg that opens.

Two of my antique blown glass eggs
in a tiny antique metal "basket"

A sweet old paper/cardboard rabbit with a cart

For a short while I collected vintage egg cups

A wood egg from a White House
Easter Egg Hunt

My basket of wheat grass from Keith.
It has had 2 haircuts, and is in need of another.
Can you see the hidden eggs?



WHAT I BUY WEDNESDAY!

HI LEIGH JANTAC.  WELCOME AS A NEW FOLLOWER!

Last week Leslie and I found something we really liked and came up with a recipe for Pizza Friday, our version of a PULL APART PIZZA.  I have seen several variations, (using cut up Rhodes dinner rolls, cut up Pillsbury biscuits...) but our idea is easier, and (probably) tastier.

Our local Super Target carries a "6 Count Mini Pull Apart" roll in the bakery dept. ($2.99)   It was great when we had it last week dipped in marinara sauce, so this week we made pizza.

PIZZA PULL APART
Michelle (me) and Leslie

The rolls have 3-4 sections.  Pull apart the sections and tear each section into 3 to 4 pieces.  Layer in a sprayed 9x13 pan.  (You can use a smaller pan and make the "pizza" thicker.) 
I drizzled a bit of marinara sauce sauce on it to keep it moist.  (O.K. Really it was Hunt's 4 Cheese ;0)
I could have put other pizza toppings on it now, but Doug wanted cheese.  So... I generously sprinkled it with (pre) grated mozzarella cheese.  Sprinkle the cheese in a way that it melts the pieces together.  (If you are building more than 1 layer, put cheese between the layers/pieces.) 
I baked it at 350* for about 15 mins., until the cheese was melted and the "crust" was hot. 
It took less than 5 minutes from start to oven.  And that included going downstairs for a can of sauce.  I served sauce on the side for dipping.  We had a salad and strawberries.
TA DA!

Almost everyone loved it.  (Total credit goes to the Garlic Rolls.)  Doug thought it was too garlicky.  Emily just did not like it.  Debbie thought it was a bit too bready.  (She's not a big bread eater.)  For everyone else, it was a HIT!
These Target rolls (located by the Naan bread at our store.)  are on my "What I buy" grocery list.  Perfect (easy) side for soups, stews, pastas, salads...

(I have not been paid or compensated for my opinion.  But I wish I was.)

10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY!

WELCOME TO NEW FOLLOWER, SMCOLTRIN.  THANK YOU FOR COMING.

10 April - 17 April, 2011

"The future is as bright as your faith."  President Thomas S. Monson

#1  My sister and her son are here visiting.  We are (really) enjoying the visit.

#2  When Logan was a baby I discovered a song that would soothe him when he was upset.  It worked so well that we all used it.
("I love you, "Logan". Oh yes I do.  I love you, Logan, and will be true.  When you're not with me, I'm blue.  Oh Logan, I love you."  from Bye Bye Birdie)
When I sing it to Brooklyn, it makes her laugh.  :)

#3  Lots of years ago (about 15) I watched a movie I liked.  It got "lost".  Eventually, (about 3 years ago) so I could forget about about it being "lost" I ordered the video of it.  (It was cheap.)  I finally watched ""Vanishing Act" (with Mike Farrell, Elliot Gould and Margot Kidder) with my sister.  It was fun.  (Let me know if you want to borrow the video.)

#4  My basket of wheat grass that I am growing for Easter is growing great.  Keith gave it to me last Easter.

#5  I had a $20.00 Barnes and Noble card (I paid $10.00) that was about to expire.  Leslie traded me for a $2.00 Amazon card. 
I bought 3 DVDs.  "Les Miserables (25th Anniversary Concert), "Fitzwilly" (love this Dick Van Dyke movie at Christmas time-or anytime) and "Gaslight" (1944 + bonus 1940.  A good olde suspenseful movie.)

#6  I had an extra avocado from a meal and made a peanut butter and avocado sandwich for lunch.  This is a recipe from my childhood.  And my mom's childhood.  (My grandma had an avocado tree in her backyard.) 
It may sound terrible.  It may look sick.
It is so good.  (From my mom's family we also learned how good it is to put a slice of plastic (American) cheese in a peanut butter and jam sandwich. mmmmm

Peanut Butter & Avocado Sandwich

#7  Game Nights.  Lots of game nights.  And, after one game night, 6 of us made a midnight run to the Taylorsville DEE'S for cheese fries.  We played "Pit", "Skipbo" and a few games of "Scattergories".

#8  Matt, Debbie and I went to "Ensign Peak".. It is my favourite local spot to visit.  (It has a great family hike, but it was raining :(

Ensign Peak

#9  We went to Ashley's VERY FUN Super Saturday.  Look what we made.  (Actually Ashley's Aunt Christy did a TON of the prep work.  There is a "squiggly thing" on the cupcake that holds a picture.  We are copying Christie and putting a hook on the back for balloons. 
Thank you, Christie, for all of your hard work and fun ideas.  Thank you inviting us, Ashley.

#10  Late night cheese fries, again, on Saturday night.  Company is fun.

PLANNING OUR MENU

WELCOME NEW FOLLOWER, MELANIE.  WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU!

Are you working on planning your menus a week ahead of time and keeping a grocery list goiung of what you need?  It saves trips to the store (which usually means buying unplanned items)  and money when shopping.
Saves time, too.

SUNDAY - Tacos, salad, refried beans and jello salad.  (This is one we like -  strawberry or raspberry jello, berries (fresh mix or frozen (I used fresh strawberries and frozen blueberries this time) and about 1 pomegranate's worth of seeds.  We like this, but I have not been able to find pomegranates for about 2 months. 
On Wednesday I found the seeds ready to go at Sam's Club.  It was $8.00 for a 2 pack.  Each looked like about 1 pomegranate.  (I also like the seeds in pilaf.)  One of the seed packs  molded (about a week before it's use by date) and the other pack lacked the sweetness and firmness of a pomegranate you seed yourself.  (Darn.  I thought I had a find.)  I did my sister's favourite MARIE CALLENDER pies for dessert.  (They sell them frozen at our local stores, and we like them.)
MONDAY -  Cafe Rio :0)  That is one top of the list things to do when my sister comes from California.
TUESDAY -  Breakfast for dinner.  My sister requested Blueberry French Toast.  I also made Deviled Breakfast Eggs.  mmm
WEDNESDAY -  FRITO Chili Casserole.  Thank you for making it, Leslie.
THURSDAY - White Chicken - An easy crock pot family favourite. (+ salad, broccoli, strawberries and mandarin oranges) 
FRIDAY -  PIZZA FRIDAY - I will post the recipe (if you can call it that) on "What I BuyWednesday".
SATURDAY - Some of us ate at a Super Saturday Craft afternoon.  The rest ate planned overs.
I took Red Velvet Cookies w/ White Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  It was a new recipe, and only o.k.  With so many better cookie recipes, this one will go on my do not make again list.  (Part of the reason is that the red is not vibrant enough/white chocolate bright enough to make these for Christmas/Valentine's Day.)
(Nine of us went to DEE'S for midnight fries.)

SOME THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY!

WELCOME NEW FOLLOWER, RACHEL.  Glad to have you here.

"Enjoy life.  This is not a rehersal."  sign at RIB CITY

20 March - 10 April, 2011

#1  I am feeling better.  I had lots of fun playing "dinosaurs" on the floor with Logan.

#2  Mark and Ashley celebrated their 1 year anniversary.

#3  I never got to see "TANGLED" at the theatre, but it came out on DVD.  (Darn.  I fell asleep watching it.)  (Fell asleep the 2nd time, too.  At least I saw some different parts.)

#4  While channel hopping I found "FAME"  "the original Glee".  I set up a few episodes to DVR.  It was fun to watch again.  I was telling my kidults about finding this show from my childhood.  Then I found out it was from the mid 80's.  We already had 4 children by then :c)

#5  I went to a local antique show with Wendy...

#6  ...and spent no money.

#7  We enjoyed a fun play date and lunch at IKEA.  I bought something that I "crafted with", and will  have a GIVE-A-WAY for most the supplies.  (See What I Buy Wednesday and A Craft)

#8  I love General Conference week end.  They are my 2 favourite week ends of the year.

#9  My mother in law asked each family to listen to the conference talks and write our own verse(s) to "Follow The Prophet".  A new conference family tradition :)
My Verse
"Apsotle Elder Nelson, speaking for the Lord,
He knows some are worried, waiting for the word.
"Do not let your fears, now replace your faith".
Obedience to commandments,
keep body and spirit safe."

Sat. a.m. session
April 2011
also quoted President Monson, "The future is as bright as your faith".

Mine and Leslie's Verse
"President Monson spoke of temples,
how fast the numbers grow.
You will find some peace if you commit to go.
It's not just a building, it's filled with so much more.
You'll be renewed and fortified
when you walk through the door".

#10  We did a really fun and easy and cheap craft while the men attend the Saturday night conference meeting.  (See the monogrammed frames from Follow Friday and A craft.)  I will doing a giveaway for the supplies to make the frame to a follower the first week in May.)

#11  My sister is coming for a visit.  :0)
I want to get my ironing for all of April done before she gets here.  Conference Saturday I ironed 17.  Monday I ironed 12.  Wednesday I ironed 17.  Almost done.

#12  GOT A HAIRCUT.  (First 1 in 6 months.)

#13  My ROWENTA iron broke.  This was a special iron.  Doug took me to Sam's Club to buy it on 21 September, 2005.  The day we took Leslie to the MTC.  (No, I was not happy.)
Up to that point I had paid Leslie to do our ironing.  ($1.00 per item.)  That morning I was helping HER iron.  I knew if I was going to be ironing again, it was time to replace my ROWENTA, so we went to Sam's on the way home.  (I got the big ironong board, too.  When Mark left, I got our sweet Stevie Dog.  Although Doug does not care to have dogs, he let me get Stevie.)
Back to the iron story.  This one broke the way that all mine have broken.  They do not stay on and I see sparks where the cord goes in the iron. 

So, why am I happy?
About a year ago Wendy C. found a nice ROWENTA at an estate sale and bought it for me.  No delay at all in my ironing.  BIG SMILE

#14  I am finally caught up with "Things That Make Me Happy".  (I actually thought that I posted this on Monday.)

THROW BACK THURSDAY

WELCOME NEW FOLLOWER, SNOWTILE.  WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU FOLLOW :)

I am 1 post away from my 200th post.  I will celebrate with some mini "random.org" drawings for my FOLLOWERS the first week in May.  For one mini prize we will have a drawing for one of my follower's choice of a PRINCESS CLIPPIE from "BITS AND PIECES"  Blog.  Check out the selection at their blog - listed on the right side of my blog.  They also have added Rapunzel to the line.

With Easter coming, I have a recipe I like to make that uses the abunance of hard boiled eggs. It is a breakfast recipe that I have had over 25 years.  I am not sure where the idea /recipe came from.  (One way I remember is by thinking about which house I remember making it in.) 
One thing I like about making/serving this recipe is that it can be made ahead and kept in the fridge over night.  It works great in a breakfast buffet setting, and can be taken to a brunch.

DEVILED BREAKFAST EGGS

12 - 14 large hard boiled eggs  (This fills a 9 x 13 glass baking dish)
3 table. butter/margarine
3/8 cup flour
3 cups of milk
3 cups grated cheese = 2 cups for sauce + 1 cup for the top  (I use medium or sharp cheddar)
(Yes, just a basic cheese sauce)

Cut the hard boiled eggs in 1/2 lengthwise, as for deviled eggs. 
Remove yolks to a small(ish) bowl, and put the egg halves in a sprayed 9 x 13 baking dish.

Make the cheese sauce
Melt the butter in a pan.
Whisk in the flour, whisking until it is smooth.
Add the milk and continue whisking on a lower heat setting until the white sauce is smooth and thickened.
Stir in 2 cups of grated cheese and stir until melted (and smooth).

Stir about 1 cup of cheese sauce into your SMASHED egg yolks, and spoon back into the egg whites. 
Cover the eggs with the rest of the cheese sauce, and then sprinkle the last cup of cheese over the top.

Bake at 350* for 20 mins. or until hot and the cheese is bubbly.  Serve hot.

These are served hot from the dish, BUT they are also great served on a piece of toast.  Or with asparagus or sliced/diced avocados on the side.
For the last couple of mins. of baking time you can sprinkle them with chopped, cooked bacon pieces.
(We had left overs after dinner the other night and have been reheating single servings in the microwave.)

WHAT I BUY WEDNESDAY (AND A CRAFT)

WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE MATTHEW T. AS A NEW FOLLOWER.  WELCOME.

I LOVE MAGNETS!  I buy the tiny SUPER strong kind for all kinds of projects. Today I am sharing one of my latest magnet projects.  (I will share another one next week.)
A couple of weeks ago we went to IKEA for lunch and a play date.  (The kids like the lunch area and food choices.  We like the shopping looking and all the steps on our pedometer.  We also like looking at the tiny houses.)

At Ikea we found a children's/summer line of plasticware dishes.  The set of 6 brightly coloured cups were only $1.99, so I picked up a set for a project that has been on my list for awhile.

My grandkids and I enjoy spending fun days at my house.  One of the first requests of the day is usually for a glass of water/drink. 
This was an easy and inexpensive project.  Using my trusty "E6000" and a cotton tip swab (with the ball pulled off) I adhered a SUPER magnet to the flared part of the cup, about 1 1/2 down from the top rim.  I put masking tape over the magnet (to hold it in place) and stuck it on the fridge to dry.  The kids waited.  Until the next day.  (Don't worry.  They did not just stand there all night.)

I am happy to share my idea, and see what others are doing, at  Fireflies and Jellybeans,  A Little Tipsy, and  The Thirfty Home.  I appreciate being invited to participate in the link parties.  Thank you.

The (few) supplies

The next morning I rewashed them and they were ready to go.  These have worked great.  They go on the lower part of the fride when the kids are here and they can get their own water.  We only use them for water.  I hand wash them at the end of the day.
One day Logan kept bangging his on the fridge and his magnet came off.  It was not a big deal.  It was stuck to the fridge.  I just re-glued it for the next day's use.
This idea has worked GREAT!  We have been using them almost 1 month now with no problems.

UPDATE - 15 April, 2011
I have bought my magnets in the past at HEARTLAND PAPER.  The Taylorsville location has closed, but there is still one in Bountiful, UT.  Now I buy them on Amazon (50 at a time) .  The price is the same, $.20 - .25 each.  I love them and use them for LOTS of projects.

As part of my 200th POST celebration, I will "random.org" a set of (6) cups and (6) magnets to one of my FOLLOWERS.  (I will do the GIVE AWAYS the beginning of May.  Watch for other GIVE AWAY items.)