Goofy Baby

Here is my goofy baby!!! Enjoy!!

Please note that she put the basket on her own head, and then posed for the picture! She is so silly!!!

Playtime Fun

We are very lucky and have a nice playground right outside
our library!! It is always fun to run off some energy either
before or after reading books!!!

Chocolate Streusel Bars

I do not remember where I got this recipe, but I do remember the first time I made them! I was like 10 or 12 years old and made them for a potluck dinner to welcome our new pastor. The pastor's wife was SO impressed with them and wanted to know who made them! She couldn't believe it was a kid!!!! Just goes to show anyone can cook....you just have to want to do it!


Chocoalte Streusel Bars

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup cold butter
• 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a large mixing bowl (or your kitchen aid with paddle attachment) mix flour, cocoa and powdered sugar. Cut in cold butter until coarse crumbs form. Set aside 2 cups of crumbs. Press remaining crumbs in bottom of 13X9 pan. Bake for 10 min in a 350 degree oven. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in mixer until soft. Add sweetened condensed milk, egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture over chocolate crust. Mix chocolate cihps, and walnuts in with remaining crumbs and spread evenly over the top of cookie. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

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Camera Kitty

I finally have some photos (not the best I feel) of my beloved cat Pieki. We call him our Hawaiian kitty because we bought him for $12 at a pet store in Wahiwa Hawaii. He is a good kitty who loves to be loved on. He can even play fetch....much better than my dog I must add!!! Hope you enjoy the photos!!

Our Hawaiian kitty dressed in his native clothes!

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Making your own pie dough!

I am seriously trying to save money!! The other night, I really wanted chicken popeye, but had no pie dough! Rather than running out to the store and buying the pre-made stuff, I decided to make my own! I have watched countless episodes of Martha Stewart Live where she made her own pie dough, and tried my best to remember all her tips and tricks. I decided to make a double batch (why not? had all the stuff out) to save time and money. Click here to see my  pie dough recipe! Below are some money saving pie crust ideas!!

• Make a double recipe, use one today, freeze the other in a tin foil pie pan. By Christmas, you will be ready for a baking marathon and have some money left in your grocery budget!
• When your favorite fruit is on sale, make ahead some pie and freeze them!! Just think about your favorite Mrs. Smith pies, any of those varieties will work just fine! Great for when your mother-in-law drops in unexpectedly.
• Freeze your extra pieces of pie dough. Get the cookie cutters out and let the kids have fun!

If you have any other great ideas for pie crust, please leave a comment!! I am sure I haven't thought of it all!!

My untrimmed pie dough!

Pie Dough Recipe

This was my Grandma's pie dough recipe! Great for sweet pies...almost taste like shortbread! Super yummy! Click here to see some money saving ideas for pie dough.

Pie Dough

2 1/4 cups flour
1T sugar
1t salt
1/2 cold butter
8 T shortening
4-5 T ice water

In a food processor (or large bowl) mix together flour, sugar and salt. Scatter pieces of cold butter over the flour mixtures. Cut in butter by doing 1 second pulses with the food processor. Add shortening. Continue pulsing the food processor until coarse pale yellow crumbs form. Slowly add ice water one tablespoon at a time until a ball of dough forms. Turn out onto a large piece of either press n' seal or saran wrap. Form into a ball. Divide into two equal pieces. Wrap each piece in press n' seal. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling out.

Tip: When working with dough, work with it on press n' seal or saran wrap on the bottom instead of flour. Only lightly flour your rolling pin to keep dough from sticking. Once rolled out to desired thickness, place (while still on press n' seal) back in the refrigerator for at least 15 min. Turn out into pie dish and peal off press n' seal. It will transfer perfectly every time and keep your counter top much cleaner!!!

My Sweet Savannah

I have always loved this picture of my daughter! Of course I snapped in on my cell phone because my regular camera was no where near by (the story of my life) and you know how one year olds are, they can't hold still for 5 seconds while mommy gets the "good camera".





Sunglasses!!

This weeks photo challange is "Got to wear shades"! I love this photo of Savannah and her daddy at the beach. Gotta love living in Florida!

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Ducks, Birds and Fun!

One way to spot a tourist from a mile away here in Florida is to see the goof ball taking pictures of the birds! My Uncle and Aunt come to visit from Ohio every year, and every year he must take 20 pictures of our "exotic" wildlife!! Well, I felt like a tourist the other day when I took these pictures of Savannah at Lake Pasadena (right by my house!) The lake is a bird sanctuary and there are many varieties of birds, ducks and turtles. I only captured a small portion in these photos. Enjoy!!!

Egrets (I think?) and these weird ducks..not the prettiest ducks I've ever seen!

Ducks...they followed us around the lake!

Central Park, NYC

I feel that I have been very blessed because I have had the opportunity to see a lot of our large nation. On two occasions I got to visit a very dear childhood friend of mine who lived near New York City!! I can not take credit for this photo, as my husband does all the photo taking while we are on vacation. I personally thought he did a great job capturing the city, nature and the sky in the photo! I hope you enjoy!!!

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Delicous Dairy Free Ice Cream

As I have said in previous posts, my daughter had a milk protein allergy. Rather than choosing NOT to continue breastfeeding, I chose to cut dairy completely out of my diet! I was very sad that I couldn't have ice cream, yogurt and all the other foods I loved that contained dairy. I decided to be "brave" and try some dairy free ice cream. After some trial and error, I found that Turtle Mountain made the BEST ice cream and yogurt. I even made a dairy free "ice cream" pie for a family get together. I didn't dare tell anyone it was dairy free....seriously nobody could tell!!! It is that good!! So if you are a vegan, have a dairy allergy, or just want to try something different...check these products out!! Oh..and no...I am not getting anything for free writing this, I just hope this helps someone out!!!

You can click on the picture, it will take you to their website.

Printable coupons are on their website!

My World Tuesday

Welcome to my world!! I had no idea what I was going to write about or what pictures I was going to use. So, I started thinking, if this was really about my world I would post some average everyday photos of my world!! These will be by no means award winning photos, but they give you a glimpse of my life.

Feeding the dog! Every day in my world I have to tell her
not to feed the dog!!

In my world there is never a dull moment. Great Pepsi ad huh?

"Helping" with laundry! In my world, lauundry is a never
ending task!

Chocolate is always present in my world. Savannah
likes to "help" bake chocolate cookies!!


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Surprise!!

This weeks photo challange was "surprise"! I thought this would be an appropriate photo!! I do not remember what she was looking at that made her make this face...perhaps I should have written that down!!!

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Wild Florida Peacocks!

As a Florida transplant, there is a lot about the wildlife down here I do not know. One thing was that Peacocks run wild in rural parts of Florida! A friend of mine lives way out in the country and hates peacock mating season because the huge birds run around and make crazy sounds all through the day and night! These pictures were taken at a farm called Uncle Donalds Farm. These were NOT part of the farm, they were wild peacocks who call the farm home!! So they were not caged in any way !!! Hope you enjoy!!!

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Skywatch Friday - Hawaii

This photo was taken on top of Mt. Kilauea. Behind us is the caldera, it was amazing!! It was like walking on another planet!!! It had to be one of the best vacations we ever took. We got to walk on top of an active volcano! So beautiful yet so dangerous!! ENJOY!

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Mom's Apple Crisp (Dairy Freee)

This recipe is 3-4 generations old..my mom would ONLY make this version of Apple Crisp, I never knew another recipe exsisted until I learned how to cook!! I have noticed the recipes that come from my Grandmother and Great Grandmother are very simple, basic and CHEAP to make!!! They usually use pantry staples. If you make this when apples are in season, it will not cost much!!


Mom's Apple Crisp

1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup crisco
6 medium granny smith apples
1 t cinnamon
1/2 cup water

Combine sugar and flour, cut in Crisco (I use my kitchen aid) set aside. Peel and cut the granny smith apples. Place in baking dish. Add cinnamon and water to apples, mix. Cover with sugar mixture. Bake for 40-45 min at 350 degrees. Enjoy!!

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