I have been MIA for a while… with being pregnant and nothing sounding good to eat at all… and now with a 5 week old life has been crazy! I did want to update on my baby girl though 
She was born December 22 at 2:46pm and was 6lbs 14oz and 19 inches long!
Here are a few pictures of our last 5 weeks
Leaving for the hospital
First Family picture
1 week old… modeling for www.oopsydaisybaby.com
1 month old with brother and sister
This is a recipe I found in my google reader and it has been a HUGE hit with not only my pregnancy craving… but alsom my husband It is sooooo simple to make and freezes great which is a plus!
http://www.vintagevictuals.com/2009/09/pumpkin-bread.html
Rose’s Pumpkin Bread
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
4 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg (fresh grated nutmeg is best!)
2/3 cup water
2 cups pumpkin (1 15-ounce can pumpkin will work)
3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease 2 large loaf pans (9″ by 5″) and set aside. (- Mine always makes 3 loafs)
In a large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients together and beat for 2 minutes with electric mixer until smooth. Divide into the loaf pans. Each pan will be about 2/3 full.
Bake for 50-60 minutes. Make sure center is done – a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
Note: This bread freezes very well.
Note: For muffins, bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
I have been cooking a lot lately as we are working on our budget… and this has been a great one that my family loves! (sorry no pictures… when I make it again I will add them)
Sloppy Joes
1lb ground beef
3T A-1 steak sauce
15oz tomato sauce
1/4 c. ketchup
1/2t garlic salt
Brown meat, drain grease, add all ingridents and simmer for 20 minutes.
ME!!!!!! I have been on a blogging slump lately… and I am trying to get back into it… Life has been busy… I am 18 weeks pregnant, kids are out of school, and my amazing husband is working overtime so life is CRAZY!!!!! Lets see if I can get motivated to take pictures of what I cook!
These have become one of my and my husbands favorite things!!! It is so easy to make and sooo yummy!!!!
1 1/4 cups quick oats
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks melted butter
1 cu raspberry jam
1/2 cup white vanilla chips
Coat an 8 inch square pan with cooking spray. (I use a 9×13 pyrex because I like mine thinner!). Set aside.
In a large bowl combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in melted butter until mixture is moistened. The mixture may be crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of mixture; set aside.
Press remaining mixture into bottom of prepared pan.
Bake for 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.
Remove from oven and spread the raspberry ham evenly over crust, to within 1/4 inch of the edgeds. Sprinkle white chips evenly over jam. Sprinkle reserved mixture over chips, pressing lightly.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool completely! Enjoy!!!!
So, this is SOMEWHAT cooking related… but I think much needed to draw attention to! There is an organization that is connecting soldiers with us over here in the states looking for support!
What a great way to put our baking into good use!!!!
http://adoptaussoldier.org/preregistration.htm
I encourage everyone who reads my blog to sign up and support a US Soldier… you support them by email, letters and care packages! It truely is AMAZING!!!!
This was really good and got great reviews from the company we had over on New Year’s Day!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/12/make-your-own-luck-black-eyed-pea-salsa/
I made the recipe exactly how The Pioneer Woman made it!
Man…I have totally been neglecting my blog since Christmas! Between kids out of school, Phillip switching to a different watch and my wonderful and perfect niece being born life has been a tad bit crazy!!!! But, can I say I am the luckiest Aunt in the world!!!! And I have the bravest sister ever!(30 hours of labor and 4 hours of pushing!!!!)
Here is my beautiful Niece, Nora Ann…. our miracle baby! (www.missionbabygus.blogspot.com)
Today we did brunch for my parents and the 4 of us. It was a huge hit!
I made my dads famous waffles, bacon, and the Pioneer Woman’s Sleepin’ in Omelette (modified).
For the waffles:
2 Cups Bisquick
1 can club soda
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
Beat together and pour into heated waffle iron! Very light and fluffy waffles that everyone loved!!!
And for the Sleepin’ in Omelette (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/05/sleepin-in-omlette/):
6 onion Rolls
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 sticks butter (I used 1/2 stick)
1 8 oz package cream cheese (I used 4 oz)
10 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard (I left this out because my husband HATES anything mustard)
dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chopped chives
Generously butter a 9×13 baking dish(I sprayed with butter flavor cooking spray). Tear onion rolls into 1/2 inch chunks and place them at the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle cheddar cheese and then tear small chunks of cream cheese and place in dish. Cut the butter into pats and place over the top.
Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the top of the dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, bake at 325 degrees, covered, for 45 minutes(I baked for 40 minutes). Remove foil and continue baking at 350 for 10-15 minutes. (I did 10 minutes).
This was a huge hit and everyone thought it was one of the best they have had! I cut down on the butter and cream cheese because some of the reviews I had read said it was too rich… and I think I made the right choice! It was delish!!!!
These are cookies my Nana made when we were little and I never forgot them! I finally broke down and got her to give me the recipe and I have never met anyone who didn’t love them! They are light and crispy and super yummy… but, definately not cookies that can be rolled out
Nana’s Sugar Cookies
1 cup Butter
1 cup Oil
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Powder Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp Baking Soda
4 cups Flour
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp salt
Directions:
- Cream together butter, oil and sugar.
-Add in powder sugar, vanilla, eggs.
-Sift together BS, flour, cream of tartar, salt and add into mix.
-Chill for at least 30 minutes in freezer.
- Roll into balls and roll in sugar. Place on cookie sheet and flatten.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7-9 minutes until edges are a golden brown
Icing I used tonight:
2/3 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vailla
food coloring ( I divided mixed icing into 3 bowls and then added in 3 different colors)
These are the cookies my 4 year old made for Santa:
And these are the ones my 9 year old son made!
And these are mine that I quickly did so I could have the kitchen clean when Phillip comes home! 
