This afternoon I wanted something peanutbuttery (ya I am using that as a word) so I made my own peanut butter cups.
I can create a recipe all by myself - I'm normally afraid to do this but these turned out super well ! The kids loved them, the hubby said they were "really good" and I thought they were yummy !
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter plus 1/2 teaspoon (not light - crunchy or smooth)
1 cup icing sugar
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix peanut butter, icing sugar, graham crumbs and salt until mixed well - it should be the consistency of cookie dough. Roll about 1 teaspoon worth each for 24 into balls, set aside.
Melt chocolate in microwave on half power, stirring frequently so it doesn't burn (this takes about 2 minutes)
You can use the double boil method but honestly the microwave is just easier. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon peanut butter and stir until smooth.
Using mini muffin liners spoon a small amount of chocolate into each liner and spread to coat sides.
Place the balls of peanut butter filling you have made into each muffin liner and flatten slightly.
Reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds or so and top each mini liner filled with peanut butter centre with chocolate, smooth it out so it looks pretty.
Refrigerate for about 1 hour and eat them all at once :) (or not cause you might get sore teeth because they are so decadent)
Enjoy !
These are so so good, they are so close to reeses peanut butter cups - you will be amazed !
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Spring is around the corner !
The little ladies and I were doing some house cleaning this morning (me cleaning them helping to make more messes) and I realized that the girls need shoes for the spring and summer that is fast approaching. I figured we'd head out to Walmart or the mall and see what was available in the next couple of weeks.
I sat down to enter a few contests for the day and came across a great giveaway over at Family Focus Blog
Umi - shoes look fantastic and comfy and they are oh so cute ! We looked through the styles and the girls found a couple pairs each that they like.
We are hoping for a win on this one so we can give the shoes a try, who knows they are so cute I may just have to order a couple sets before the nice weather arrives.
I sat down to enter a few contests for the day and came across a great giveaway over at Family Focus Blog
Umi - shoes look fantastic and comfy and they are oh so cute ! We looked through the styles and the girls found a couple pairs each that they like.
We are hoping for a win on this one so we can give the shoes a try, who knows they are so cute I may just have to order a couple sets before the nice weather arrives.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A Curvy Review - Gerry Bartlett - Real Vampires Have Curves
Gerry Bartlett's Real Vampires Have Curves was a whim choice from a list of books available at my library via E-borrowing.
I was immediately hooked on Glory - a humorous independent vampire with a beautiful size 12 waist line with clearly far too many choices in the handsome men department, 1 book would not do, I NEEDED more.
Not only did I borrow and read this book in less than 2 days, I immediately went back for more and read the first 5 novels in a little more than a week.
Bartlett has a real talent for making the reader see a part of themselves in the beautifully developed characters she writes about -from Glory (Glorianna St.Clair) the strong willed trouble attracting made vampire to Valdez her companion and body guard shifter labradoodle you fall in love over and over again.
For anyone that loves a good romance/mystery with a healthy dose of laughs added into the mix, these books are for you.
I would absolutely recommend these to lovers of the genre and to any woman that wants to get lost for a little while in a wonderfully woven world of paranormal intrigue and romance.
Check out Ms. Bartlett on her website http://www.gerrybartlett.com/
I was immediately hooked on Glory - a humorous independent vampire with a beautiful size 12 waist line with clearly far too many choices in the handsome men department, 1 book would not do, I NEEDED more.
Not only did I borrow and read this book in less than 2 days, I immediately went back for more and read the first 5 novels in a little more than a week.
Bartlett has a real talent for making the reader see a part of themselves in the beautifully developed characters she writes about -from Glory (Glorianna St.Clair) the strong willed trouble attracting made vampire to Valdez her companion and body guard shifter labradoodle you fall in love over and over again.
For anyone that loves a good romance/mystery with a healthy dose of laughs added into the mix, these books are for you.
I would absolutely recommend these to lovers of the genre and to any woman that wants to get lost for a little while in a wonderfully woven world of paranormal intrigue and romance.
Check out Ms. Bartlett on her website http://www.gerrybartlett.com/
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Food Costs Just Keep Rising
I work in a grocery store in a small town. When I moved here with my family I noticed that because we are a tourist area prices were higher than most other shops in the bigger cities, having moved from a large city I had a bunch of stores to compare prices too. As well as being a frugal shopper I felt prices here were just too high.
Over 12 months later I am now employed at the grocery store I once believed was over priced, not the case anymore.
Prices are insane for healthy food items such as iceberg lettuce and celery ($3.49) for either one, Avacado ($2.49) each, but hey you can pick up a bag of chips for .99 cents or a box of Joe Louis for $1.50. Milk just went up in price 40-60 cents per 4 liter bag, a 1 litre carton went up 10 cents - so 1 litre of whole milk is $2.49 - I can purchase 1 litre of cola for $1.19 - something about this screams wrong to me.
How are parents supposed to stay within a budget and feed their families a well balanced diet when it's becoming more and more difficult to purchase healthy items for their families?
As a family of 5 our average grocery bill excluding cleaning supplies and toiletries and baby items (diapers and wipes) is approximately $250.00 every 2 weeks. We do not buy much in the way of ready to prepare foods such as boxed potatoes, rice mixes, frozen dinners etc, 85% of our purchases are items that we use to prepare home cooked meals from scratch.
Forget about baking, making a batch of cookies or muffins is far more expensive than buying ready made packaged items. I've priced it out - it's scary.
We have decided as a family to plant a small vegetable garden this summer and see if we can keep our produce costs down by growing our own food. On the list so far are zucchini, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, peas/beans, herbs of all sorts and we are trying to come up with more ideas so we don't necessarily have to purchase them on a regular basis. In growing our own I am hoping we can take even a small amount off of our grocery bills each month July - September, that's only 3 months but every little bit helps when you are trying to stick to a budget.
What do you grow at your house? Do you have any hints or tips for us? This will be our first foray into the gardening world and we don't want anything too difficult to grow or cultivate.
Wish us luck - and let us know what grocery prices are like where you live! How do you and your family save money in the grocery store ?
Over 12 months later I am now employed at the grocery store I once believed was over priced, not the case anymore.
Prices are insane for healthy food items such as iceberg lettuce and celery ($3.49) for either one, Avacado ($2.49) each, but hey you can pick up a bag of chips for .99 cents or a box of Joe Louis for $1.50. Milk just went up in price 40-60 cents per 4 liter bag, a 1 litre carton went up 10 cents - so 1 litre of whole milk is $2.49 - I can purchase 1 litre of cola for $1.19 - something about this screams wrong to me.
How are parents supposed to stay within a budget and feed their families a well balanced diet when it's becoming more and more difficult to purchase healthy items for their families?
As a family of 5 our average grocery bill excluding cleaning supplies and toiletries and baby items (diapers and wipes) is approximately $250.00 every 2 weeks. We do not buy much in the way of ready to prepare foods such as boxed potatoes, rice mixes, frozen dinners etc, 85% of our purchases are items that we use to prepare home cooked meals from scratch.
Forget about baking, making a batch of cookies or muffins is far more expensive than buying ready made packaged items. I've priced it out - it's scary.
We have decided as a family to plant a small vegetable garden this summer and see if we can keep our produce costs down by growing our own food. On the list so far are zucchini, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, peas/beans, herbs of all sorts and we are trying to come up with more ideas so we don't necessarily have to purchase them on a regular basis. In growing our own I am hoping we can take even a small amount off of our grocery bills each month July - September, that's only 3 months but every little bit helps when you are trying to stick to a budget.
What do you grow at your house? Do you have any hints or tips for us? This will be our first foray into the gardening world and we don't want anything too difficult to grow or cultivate.
Wish us luck - and let us know what grocery prices are like where you live! How do you and your family save money in the grocery store ?
