Magnolia Mom

Every year I try to write up what we got just to have it to look at years from now.

Rob
navy blue jogging suit
pocket knife
socks
Panini Press

Me
black jogging suit
Victoria Secret secrets – nothing exciting, I promise
Gravy Boat
Kitchen Spritzer

TV Boy
wallet
Auburn hat
pocket knife
Under Armor Auburn jersey
Silly Bandz
Champion Double Dry Compression T-shirt
Rawlings Baseball Glove
The O’Reilly Factor for Kids

Monkey Boy
Cars & Trucks
Fisher-Price Doodle Pro
Silly Bandz
Underwear
LEGO Camper, MiniFigure Collection, Police Car, Classic Car
Bendaroos Set
I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles
Disney Bedtime Favorites (Disney Storybook Collections)
Webkinz

Family
Double DVD with Mr. Mom & Mrs. Doubtfire
Triple DVD with I, Robot, The Day After Tomorrow, & Independence Day
The Karate Kid
Grease
Wii
Backyard Baseball 2010
Wii Remote Controller (x2)
New Super Mario Bros
Wii Nunchuk Controller
Wii Play with Wii Remote

Popularity: 5% [?]

Yesterday I was able to sit back (for the most part) and enjoy the day. Being observant of my surroundings, I became mindful of how thankful I am for a few things, like:

• great in-laws that I get along with
• a brother-in-law that is quite helpful and enjoys being with his nephews
• making it a family tradition to have homemade pasta every Christmas
• Rob’s Italian heritage, which enables us to have that homemade pasta
• a nice home to be able to host holidays
• 2 healthy boys that have such a sweet heart and I really appreciate when they “show” it

I know there are many other blessings in my life, but those are the ones that came to mind tonight.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Today I spent nearly the entire day making everything for tomorrow:
Oreo balls
Banana Nut Bread Muffins
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookies
Sausage Balls
Sausage-Cheese English muffins (make-ahead snack or breakfast)

After all that cooking, I was exhausted! I relaxed while watching White Christmas, which is not one of my favorite Christmas movies! I need to go adjust my top 10 Christmas movies again. I was dreading cooking dinner after being in the kitchen practically all day, so I was very happy when Rob reminded me that a friend of ours was bringing over some homemade lasagna. Lasagna is one dish that I just can’t get to “work”. So it’s been a tradition for Rob’s coworker to make him lasagna for his birthday, but this year she never did do it with summer being so busy. It worked out great. We popped it in the oven and “wolfed” it down before having to head out the door. It was just SOOO yummy!!!

While we were waiting on the lasagna to cook we got dressed up and went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. Beautiful service as always. Our preacher’s brother, John Ed, preached. He started by talking about instant replay in football and how a coach can throw a red flag to have a play reviewed. His sermon was based on the idea that the devil threw the red flag to have the events of Christmas reversed. He discussed the events of that miracle and nativity scene. I loved the way he did this, because I think it really got TV Boy’s attention right off the bat, being how he loves football. I love Christmas Eve services; communion, singing Christmas hymns, hearing “O Holy Night”, and my favorite part; singing “Silent Night” with only candles to light the room. Just awesome!

We came home and the boys opened their Christmas Eve present, PJs, put those on, and then picked out a couple cookies to leave for Santa along with some milk. TV Boy asked if she should leave Santa a Coke instead in case he’s “lactose intolerant”. Made me laugh!

Popularity: 5% [?]

I love to bake…well sort of. I like to make cookie bars, cookies, sometimes cake. I’m not big on making pies though. So this cookie post was something I was ALL OVER!

Peanut Butter Cookie Candy Bars (click on red titles for recipes.)

Pecan Pie Bars

Chocolate covered Peanut Butter Crackers & Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Here’s a a little different variation I did back in 2006. Here I coated the Chocolate Covered Pretzels with Heath Bar bits. YUM!

Here are my tables of food from last year. Mostly cookies!

Popularity: 38% [?]

The day after Thanksgiving was a day of tailgating, celebrating, and football. For the Iron Bowl, I decided to have to have a Pizza party with mini-pizzas. I kept it simple with minimal ingredients, but for a full fledge pizza party here’s what you will need:

Ingredients:
Mini-Bagels (cut in half)
Soft Dinner Rolls (cut in half)
Pizza sauce
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Mini-pepperonis or Pepperonis sliced in 4ths
Ground Cooked Italian Sausage
Diced ham
Sliced black olives
Slice mushrooms
Pepperoncinis
Banana peppers
Parmesan cheese
Red pepper flake
This list could go on and on. Just put whatever pizza toppings you like. Have a toaster oven near your pizza bar. This was fun and easy and was a crowd pleaser for sure!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Servings: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients:
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts
3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Whipped cream for topping

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray bottom and sides of 13×9-inch pan with nonstick spray.
3. In medium bowl, beat pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice with whisk until smooth. Pour into pan.
4. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle with pecans. Pour melted butter evenly over top.
5. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool 30 minutes. Cut into 4 rows by 3 rows. Serve warm or chilled with dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice. Cover and refrigerate.

~Adapted from Betty Crocker

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving:
Calories 510 (Calories from Fat 250)
Total Fat 27g (Saturated Fat 10g, Trans Fat 1 1/2g)
Cholesterol 90 mg
Sodium 410 mg
Total Carbohydrate 60g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 42g)
Protein 6g

Now available: Printable Version

Popularity: 5% [?]

Monday
Dinner: Pizza Chili with Freeze-Ahead Mozzarella-Garlic Bread

Tuesday
Dinner: Hamburgers

Wednesday
Dinner: Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Thursday
Dinner: Soccer Party

Friday – Sunday

*Recipe with Pics coming soon

Popularity: 1% [?]

Monday
Dinner: Meatloaf & Mashed potatoes

Tuesday
Dinner: Hamburger Bake

Wednesday
Dinner: Lasagna Rolls

Thursday
Dinner: Pork chops & corn

Friday
Dinner: Cub Scout Meeting

Saturday
Dinner: Chicken Pizza-ola

Sunday
Brunch: Waffles & Bacon
Dinner: Tacos

*Recipe with Pics coming soon

Popularity: 2% [?]

Ingredients:
3 cups of mashed sweet potatoes
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup margarine, melted
dash of cinnamon

Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup margarine – slightly softened

Directions:
I start by putting sweet potatoes in food processor to ensure there’s no big chunks of potatoes.
Mix together with other ingredients.
Pour in 8×12 or 9×13 inch casserole dish after spraying non-stick spray to ensure easy clean up.

For topping:
Mix together pecans, sugar, & flour until mixed well then add in butter and stir.
Sprinkle on top.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Originally Posted 5/25/2006

Popularity: 46% [?]

This is very similar to the Monterey Chicken at Chili’s. So yum! And Easy!

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
2 tbsp Olive Oil (I prefer EVOO)
4 boneless skinless chicken breast
8 teaspoons barbecue sauce
8 slices crispy bacon
1 cup shredded monterey jack/cheddar cheese blend
1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup of chopped green onion

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Being by butterlying each chicken breast. Then, place chicken inside a zip lock bag. Pound the chicken breast until it’s about 1/2 thick. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Pour Olive Oil into nonstick skillet. Circle it around to cover pan surface. Cook the chicken breast until done all the way through.
Spray broiler pan with nonstick spray. Place chicken breast on the pan.
Put barbeque sauce on each chicken breast and spread evenly.
Place two pieces of bacon over each breast in an X and sprinkle with cheese.
Broil chicken until cheese melts.
Sprinkle with chopped tomatoes and green onion.

~Adapted from Recipe Zaar




Now available: Printable Version

Popularity: 10% [?]