Last day of August

In honor of this being the end of August I am burning my margarita candle and it smells yummy. I am ready for summer to be over. It has been a long hot summer for us. It was nice to get to take the boys to the beach and the mountains but time for school to start and some routine to be back in the house. Plus I am ready to have my husband home on the weekends. Plus we are on the down slope for Christmas. Now we have a holiday every month and the next few months will fly. Better get going on the Holiday Grand Plan and Holiday Housework plan to get prepared for the holidays. I am ready are you?

Last day of August

Today is Aug 30th and I am glad to see August end. It has been a long hot summer. We have had some fun and am very thankful that the boys and I got to take a trip to both the mountains and the beach with my parents this year. But it's time for school to start and thigs to go back to some version of normal. Time to put the Holiday Grand Plan and Holiday housework Plan to work and start with some meal planning. My goal this year it to stock my freezer with frozen meals. That was my plan last year and I never made it. This year I am planning beter and will get some stuff put up.

Simple Sunday

Today is the start of a 1/2 week of August and 1/2 week of September. That means school will be starting soon (yeah), hubbies summer job will be comming to a end soon (yeah for us, not so much for him) and hopefully coolet weather. Plus its the start to our Holiday Grand Plan prepping ourselves and our house for Christmas.
Not too much going on here in our hosue today. I, as always, have the usual stuff to be done like putting away laundry and cleaning the kitchen. I decided to try the coconut bread from my Gooseberry Patch Quick and Easy 2 cookbook for Christmas gifts. I like the way it taste, it's similar in flavor and texture to Impossible coconut pie. My only problem w/ it was that it overflowed in the oven and then one side fell some. It may not be pretty but it tasted good.
I took snoopy out for a walk and broke in my Walmart version of shape ups. I guess we will see after using them for a while if they make a difference. At least my knees were not hurting but I took the short circle today.

Coconut Bread
1/2 c butter (1 stick) softened
1 c sugar
2 eggs
2t coconut extract (I didn't have any so I found a alternate where I used 1 1/2 t vanilla and 1/4t
almond extract)
1c sour cream
1 c sweetened flaked coconut
2c all purpose flour
1t baking powder
1t baking soda

blend tog. sugar and butter in a mixing bowl. Beat in eggs and extract. Stir in sour cream; add coconut. Mix well and set aside. in another bowl combine dry ing; stir into butter mixture. Pour in greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 45-50 min.

Happy Rudy Day

Well it's the 25th of the month and that means is Rudolph Day! There are only 3 more left until the big day, so 4 months till Christmas. Wow. This Rudy day also starts the month of the elf over at Magical Holiday Home. After only two years I already need more ideas for those little trouble makers. They always have such wonderful ideas over on MHH that I am excited about this one. Time to break out the Christmas notebook and start making notes.

Terriffic Tuesday. It is amazing outside today! The temps are not going to break the 80's and it's the first time in months for that. It's a reminder that fall is on the way. I have the windows open and the boys and I went to the park so they can run off some energy. Today is day 2 of our walking plan at MHH using one from Better Homes and Gardens. It's nice to have some one else tell me how much to walk each day then I just need to dake the dog out and do it.

I am enjoying some Rudy Day stuff today by printing some pages for my Holiday Grand Plan and Holiday Housework Plan notebook. christmas.organizedhome.com is a great sight for that stuff and those of us that love being organized or need help at it.

My Saturday

Well I got the bread made. It's similar to the texture of a pound cake. It turned out good. I was able to work it so that I put in mini chocolate chips in just half to try it that way. I liked it better, but then again how can you go wrong w/ chocolate chips and peanut butter?

I also got the next name sign done for my nephew. Once I get this darn blog lay out working right. I can see from looking at my Christmas blog 2 yrs ago I can obviously get this all worked out but right now my brain is off and it's just not working for me :)
Happy Saturday.

Christmas Bread trial

So mom gave me her Gooseberry Patch Country Baking book and I am on a quest to make some different breads to try fro Christmas gifts.
Here is the first one I tried:
Cherry-Chip bread
2C all purpose flour
1C sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2tsp salt
1/4 c margarine
3/4c water
1 egg, beaten
3/4 c marashion cherries, drained and chopped (about a small jar)
1/2c mini-chocolate chips

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in margarine until particles are the size of coarse meal. Stir in water and egg. Fold in cherries and chips and pour into a lightly oiled 9"x5" pan (I used a bread pan). Bake at 350 for 50-60 min. Cool in pan for 10 min then removed from pan and cool completly on wire rack

I thought this was really good. I enjoyed the flavor and it had the slight seasonal flavor of Chocolate covered cherries. I think I only quartered the cherries and next time will make them into smaller pieces.

My plan this weekend is to try this one also
*Peanut Butter Bread
3/4 c sugar
1/2c panut butter
1 t vanilla extract
1 3/4 c milk
2 1/4 c all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

in large bowl blend together sugar, PB and vanilla. Gradually stir in milk; mix well. Sift tog. flour, baking powder and salt; add to PB mix. Put in greased loaf pan for 45-50 min at 350.
I'll post after I make this and see how it is. It would prob. be good w/ chocolate chips also.

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