The other day, {A} asked me if she could make some ice cream.  “Ice cream?” I asked, puzzled.  “Yeah, Mama. Ice cream.  I’ve made it before and it’s really good!”  “Uh huh” I answered. But I was thinking, ‘Don’t you really need an ice cream maker for that?’

So got out all of the stuff, and I started taking photos.  You know, just in case this one turned out ok. Maybe I could use it for the blog.  Even if it was less  for Vittles (as in, edible), and more for a kid science experiment in the Home Schooling section!  So, I found my purpose in sticking around for a bit, and kept shooting.

She got out all she said she… Continue reading

Have you ever seen cookies like these?  They are called Italian Cookies, and maybe they are ordinary to you. But the very thought or sight of them, has always made my heart simply swell.

My Godmother has made these cookies for me, all of my life.  I think she makes them a lot. She may even be known for them in the lives of many people who are in her life. But it doesn’t matter.  Whenever she made them for ME, it always felt like such a  gift of her love for me.

My… Continue reading

Here’s a delicious meatless meal for the Fridays of Lent, or for any day, for either lunch or dinner! My kids love most vegetables, so these pocket sandwiches are always a real hit with them! They always cheer when they ask what we are having, and they always ask for 2nd one!

I didn’t take any photos in the early stages, as I usually do just for fun. But I think you’ll be able to follow along just fine without them.

Ingredients:

• red peppers
• zucchini
• summer squash
• broccoli
• vegetable oil
• American cheese
• whole wheat

That’s MY bread maker!

He’s a fine bread maker.

And a fine bread maker, too. lol

The bread we go through is crazy, and it’s seemed one of those things you can’t buy enough of, and it’ll go just as quick.  We’re not ‘white bread’ people either, so what we spend on bread can get….tiresome.  So a few weeks back, my hubby decided he’d try making some. After all, he makes a mean pizza dough.  And he had a good book that his parents let us have. (I think.  I’m afraid we borrowed it, and never returned it, but he says no.) … Continue reading

After our good-intentioned whining spells as of late, about wishing for more comments, we thought you all deserved some nice treat ideas.  The hot cider was one, and just as soon as we get some “I”s, I’ll be posting the easy recipe to that. (Yes, we are relentless.)  (OH….I double posted. So there is a new post, posted before this one, down below if you want to start there. ) In addition to the cider recipe, we’d like to share some steps to this easy, pretty, fun and festive treat!

Last year for our Christmas gathering with some family, we made these pretty pretzel rods drizzled with chocolate.  Our visiting family even wanted to… Continue reading

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just want something really crunchy.  I have always loved a good granola -as snacks, toppings or cereal with milk.

When we discovered one of our sons is severely allergic to peanuts, that ruled out almost any granola we checked out in stores. If the granola didn’t actually have peanuts as an ingredient, it was still listed as manufactured on machinery of products with peanuts, and therefor may contain traces of peanuts. (In other words, it may be contaminated with peanuts, and pose a life-threatening danger for our boy.)

So it was time to start making our own granola, to be sure it was peanut-free… Continue reading

Here’s a soup recipe that’ll be sure to warm your chilled bones.  If you love tacos, you’ll love this taco soup! I do love tacos, and I also love soup. Good soups – which are usually home made of course. I also LOVE Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup (and so do our kids). I had some today as a matter of fact. It was just the pick-me-up I needed in between the stores of a little Christmas shopping.  Ate it in a quiet van.  It was the weirdest experience! lol

Now I didn’t invent this Taco Soup recipe, but I did revise it a bit to make it…well, better!  No one needs as many beans… Continue reading

Here is the Egg Bake we’ve been making that some of you requested we post.  It’s quick and easy!  Promise!

Ingredients:

• Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (in can)
• 6 Eggs
• 1 C Chopped ham or 5 or so cooked breakfast sausage links, diced
• 1C Shredded Cheddar Cheese and 1 C Mozzarella
• 1/2 C Milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Beat eggs in bowl, adding a 1/2 c of milk. (Or water. Or 1/2 C each!)
3. Pop open crescent rolls can, unroll it, and lay into 9×13 baking dish-pressing edges together. (No need to spray or grease.)
4. Sprinkle ham

I am sure many moms and families out there sometimes get to a point where they are just TIRED of the same meals they always rely on.  Well we’ve recently hit that point – again, with all 3 meals of the day. We’ve needed some new ideas. Some whole new recipes, or at least a new twist on the same old ones. So we’ve been working on it and have come up with a few new things; fresh chicken pot pie (6X HIT!), taco soup (6X HIT!), a delicious egg bake (so easy we’ve made even on school mornings! and also 6X HIT!) , and pigs in a blanket (another 6X HIT!).

It’s not always easy coming up… Continue reading

Over the weekend we decided to look around in The Christmas Tree Shops. If you don’t have one of those near you, I feel bad for you.  It’s such a great, affordable place, and I always come out with more than I planned on getting. So I try not to go in often. : )  But this time we all went in – and being the season to sell autumn decorations and goods, I had to control myself with every turn.  However…..we did let the kids each choose a mini loaf ceramic pan, with the intention of letting them bake some mini loaves on Sunday.

Sunday got away in terms of baking.  So then… Continue reading