Football Cupcakes~ Broncos Jello Buttons

I should have named my blog A Day Late and A Dollar Short!  I was baking our pizza yesterday and kept thinking of great snacks for the game.  I have to tell you that in our house we are Raven's fans, but since we live in Bronco's county I thought we would go blue and orange for our game day snacks. 

First we have football cupcakes. 

 I took a plain yellow cake mix and added blue food coloring.

Bake according to the package.

Let cool.

Frost with Chocolate Frosting.

Add White Frosting for the lacing on the football.


Done! 

The best part is that little ones can help you get ready for the party.  My little helped me decorate and take pictures for you! 





On to the Broncos Jello Buttons.  You can substitute different flavors of jello and fruit for your favorite team.

Jello Buttons
2/3 c boiling water
3oz box of gelatin
fruit (I used cuties)
Egg Mold


Oil egg mold. 

 Peel tangerine, and place 3 segments into each egg cavity.

Boil water.  Combine with gelatin, stir for 2 minutes.

 Poor over fruit. 

Let sit up in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

To get buttons out of the mold: Take a spoon and carefully slide it around the mold till the gelatin releases.

This is a great snack and doesn't have to be made for a big game. 

The recipe only makes 6 Buttons!  If you are making this for a party you will need to make several batches or have more then one mold. 

Wheat Bread~ Book Announcement

This wheat bread is heavenly on a cold winter day!  This bread uses part wheat and white flour to get that wonderful light texture.  The best part is that this recipe is going to be included in my new cookbook:
bread, Bread, BREAD!  I'm very excited to be publishing a second cookbook, and this one will be longer then the last.  So enjoy this sneak peak, and this wonderful recipe.


Wheat Bread
2 ½ c warm water
1 pkg yeast
3 Tab sugar
1 tsp salt
3 Tab oil
2 c flour
3-4 c wheat flour

Add yeast, sugar and water to glass bowl.
Let sit 10-20 minutes till foamy.

 Add salt, oil and flour.

 Let rise till doubled, then knead.

 Let rise again, knead, then from loafs.

 Put into loaf pans and let rise.
Bake in preheated oven at 350°F for 35 minutes.

Wheat Bread

2 ½ c warm water
1 pkg yeast
3 Tab sugar
1 tsp salt
3 Tab oil
2 c flour
3-4 c wheat flour


Add yeast, sugar and water to glass bowl.
Let sit 10-20 minutes till foamy.
Add salt, oil and flour.
Let rise till doubled, then knead.
Let rise again, knead, then from loafs.
Put into loaf pans and let rise.
Bake in preheated oven at 350°F for 35 minutes.

Six Minute Caramels

I love this recipe!  I can not tell you how many times I've been asked for the recipe.  I've even been requested to make them for fundraisers!  This easy recipe will have guests oohing and ahhing over your baking skills.  This is one of the recipes in my new cookbook 20 Favorite Homesteading Recipes
although in the cookbook it is named Microwave Caramels. Enjoy~

Six Minute Caramels
¼ c butter
½ c white sugar
½ c brown sugar
½ c corn syrup
½ c sweetened condensed milk

Butter 9x9 inch pan.
Dump all ingredients in to a big casserole dish. Microwave for 2 minutes.

Stir till completely combined.

Microwave for 2 minutes.
   

Still till smooth.

Microwave for 2 minutes.












Still till smooth.

Pour into pan.
Let cool.
Cut wrap in waxed paper.
Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.









6 Minute Caramels

¼ c butter
½ c white sugar
½ c brown sugar
½ c corn syrup
½ c sweetened condensed milk

Butter 9x9 inch pan.
Dump all ingredients in to a big casserole dish.
Microwave for 2 minutes.
Stir till completely combined.
Microwave for 2 minutes.
Still till smooth.
Microwave for 2 minutes.
Still till smooth.
Pour into pan.
Let cool.
Cut wrap in waxed paper.
Store in airtight container for up to 1 week. 

Loaded Broccoli and Cheese Soup

 September is National Preparedness month.  All month I've been thinking of being prepared.  All I can thinking of is prepared for what?  I live in the high desert of Colorado.  I live on a hill so no flooding here.  Tornado,ummm unlikely.  I do have to cross a bridge to get into town, and if all 4 bridges out of here fail I could be in trouble.  The biggest threat?  A massive blizzard.  That is a real possibility.  We have had snow day's around here.  Wet snow two feet deep.  Not bad, but if the conditions were just right I could have to deal with a blizzard.  So in light of National Preparedness Month I've decided to use some of our prepping items, and then tell you about them.  We love Augason Farms Cheesy Broccoli Soup Mix.  It is wonderful to have on hand, and has a shelf life of 10 years.

Tonight for dinner I used up the last of my Cheesy Broccoli Soup Mix.  I hope you enjoy this recipe for Loaded Broccoli and Cheese Soup. 

Loaded Broccoli and Cheese Soup
4 Servings.
2/3 cup Soup Mix
3 1/2 cups Water
1lb Ground Beef
1 cup Green Beans
1/2 cup Carrots

Mix water and soup mix.  Turn stove on and bring to a boil.
Add green beans and carrots.
Boil 13 minutes.
Brown ground beef. 

Add ground beef to soup.

Enjoy~

I served our soup with Grilled Cheese Pull-A-Parts.  This was a very satisfying dinner!

Not your Grandmother's Meatloaf

This is one amazing recipe!  Its about 4 lbs of meat, and will keep you full for a while.  Bacon plays a major role in this meat loaf, so I don't make it often, but when I do the left overs are always gone with in a day.  Ok enough about this recipe......  Here it is.

Bacon Meatloaf

 2 lbs Ground Beef
1lb Ground Pork
1lb Bacon
2 Eggs
1 cup Ketchup
1 cup Bread Crumbs
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
Optional
1 cup Onion
1cup Bell Pepper

 Cut the Bacon so that it will cover the meatloaf.  I always have to guess but it will not be directly in half.
Chop up remaining bacon.
Combine bacon pieces, ground beef, ground pork, eggs, ketchup, bread crumbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
I always place 2 pieces of bread on the bottom of my loaf pan to soak up the grease.
Place meat in the pan and make a rounded top. 
Place bacon on top of meat loaf.
Bake at 350° for 1 hour.  Take meatloaf out of the oven and drain the grease.  Bake for another 30 minutes. 

Take out of the oven.
Slice and Enjoy!

Simple Pleasuers~ French Toast Recipe

 I love every other Friday.  Simply because I get to pick up this amazing cutie!  We have split custody, so I only get him every other week.  When he is here I try to make the most of it.  Homemade breakfast, trips to the library, family trips to the Drive In.  This boy is spoiled, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  We enjoy our time together and wouldn't trade it for anything.  He is the best helper, and loves our animals and garden.  So when it comes to making breakfast he is right there in the kitchen helping.  This just happens to be us making french toast.  His favorite part?  Cracking the eggs.

 French Toast
2 eggs per person
Milk
Cinnamon
Vanillla
Bread

Crack eggs in flat dish.
Add a splash of milk, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Coat bread.
Fry.
Slather on your favorite topping.

I haven't learned how to take a good picture with his glasses on.

 Enjoy! 

I like my French Toast with Peanut Butter and Syrup.  I added some cantaloupe, to round out my breakfast.  

                                                     Little guy enjoying his French Toast. 

Blackberry Pie Filling

Blackberry Pie Filling

16 cups Blackberries
3 cups Water
3/4 cup Clear Jel
4 cups water
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon All Spice
1/2 cup Lemon Juice

 Add Sugar, Clear Jel, Cinnamon, All Spice to the pot.  Wisk it together.  Slowly add the water.  Bring to a bubble.  So not quite a full boil, but more then just steaming. 

Its going to look milky for a while.  It freaked me out the first time. 

Add Lemon Juice and boil for 1 minute.

At this point the Clear Jel is starting to thicken, just like in a gravy.  Keep going!

At the boiling point.  

 Fold in Blackberries.  Ladle into jars

Isn't this pretty!


I intended this to fit into 7 quart jars, but my math must be off.  I ended up with 4 quarts, 1 pint, and 1 1/2 pint.

 Wipe rims.  Add lids and rings.  Process for 45 minutes at 6000 ft.  If you are lower in elevation you will have to subtract some time. 

Out of the canner and cooling down.  Label, make sure you put the date. 






Use in between your favorite pie crust, or make cobbler.  Enjoy~

Oven Steamed Green Beans

 I smacked my head when I figured this one out!  I didn't want to microwave, or boil these beauties.  I already had the stove on so I figured might as well give this a try.

Oven Steamed Green Beans
Green Beans
Butter
Liquid Smoke

Wash Green Beans.  Snap off the ends.


Place Green Beans, Butter and Liquid Smoke on aluminum foil.  Close up ends and steam in the oven for about 45 min to an hour. 

Enjoy~

And yes it was that simple!

Roasted Veggies!

 This is today's veggie harvest.  I turned it into two of the most amazing side dishes to go with some home-grown, home butchered chicken.  This post if focused on the amazing roasted veggies. 

Oven Roasted Veggies
Beets
Carrots
Onion
Garlic
Mushrooms(optional)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

 

 Wash Beets Cut off the ends and tops.

 Wash Carrots.

 Cut off ends and tops. 

 Save tops and ends for rabbits. 
WARNING:  If you do not feed your rabbits garden scraps often do NOT toss them an entire bucket to them.  It can cause them to bloat and die.  My rabbits have been given garden scraps since they have started eating, and are use to eating things other then pellets. 

My young does loved these scraps, and had a feeding frenzy!

 I cut my carrots in half length wise and cubed the beets. 

 I broke up some mushrooms.  The only veggie not grown here.  Diced a little onion, and added some garlic.  Drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, sprinkle Sat and Pepper over top.  Bake 350° for about 45 min. 

Finally here is dinner Chicken, Oven Roasted Veggies, and Oven Steamed Green Beans.  

Enjoy~