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Okay, this isn't my absolute favorite dessert recipe. I don't have just one. If it is dessert, there's a good chance I'll like it. LOL! Anyway, here is one of my favorites, and it's a cinch to make, too. If only they were all this easy to make.
I wish I had a picture to share. Trust me, these are so worth it. Give them a try sometime. Oh, and head on over to Kelly's Korner to see what other dessert recipes are being shared.
Easy Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients:
8 oz. pkg refrigerated crescent rolls
8 oz. cream cheese (or Neufchatel), softened
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, separated
Directions:
Unroll dough to create a 9X12 rectangle. Press seams closed. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg yolk. Spread filling over crust. Roll the dough on the long seam to create a log. Slice into pinwheels, about ½” thick. Arrange on baking sheet. Brush pinwheels with egg white. Bake at 350F for 15-18 minutes, until brown. Serve warm.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Creamy Shrimp with a Kick
I made this yummy dish the other night. It was a hit with the family, so I thought I'd share the recipe here.
Ingredients:
1 lb raw shrimp, shelled and deveined.
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup sour cream (I use light sour cream)
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
tabasco sauce
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cornstarch
water
Directions:
Melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute a minute or two. Reduce the heat to low-medium. Add the white wine and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Dissolve the cornstarch in a little water, just enough to make it pourable. Pour the cornstarch mixture in the pan and stir it up. Add the shrimp. Keep stirring until the shrimp is cooked and the sauce it fairly thick, about 5 minutes. Add the sour cream and stir. Lower the heat to make sure it doesn't boil. Add a few shakes of the tabasco sauce. I used about 10. That gives it a little kick without making my ears burn. Add more or less to your liking.
Serve with pasta or rice.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Happy 8th Birthday, Princess E!
Princess E turned 8 this week. We had quite the celebration! We gave her the choice of a birthday party with friends or a family trip to the Lego store where she could pick out her own present, with cake and ice cream for just family. She chose the latter. (Smart girl!) So, several days before her birthday, we took her (and her cousin who was also having a birthday) on a trip to the big mall where they have a Lego store. They each filled a "Pick-A-Brick" bucket with whatever bricks they chose from the big wall of Lego's. Here she is, sorting through her collection.
We also bought her a flat board to build upon and let her pick one kit. Being a bit of a tomboy, she chose the tractor trailer, motorcycle and helicopter kit.
This past Saturday, we had her little cake and ice cream party for the family.
On her actual birthday (September 14th), she had a special surprise from Daddy. He took off work to spend the day with her. We had a few errands to run in the morning; but then the fun began. First, we visited one of her TeamKID leaders at home. They recently moved here from Alaska and were gracious enough to show us many of their treasures from their former home.
Then, it was off too lunch. She chose T.G.I.Friday's. The food was yummy, as always, and they brought her a hot fudge sundae to celebrate her big day.
After lunch, we hopped over to Chuck E Cheese. What child doesn't love that place? It wasn't a surprise when she made a bee-line for the horse. If she had her way, we'd have a horse in our back yard. Somehow, I think the neigbors wouldn't be too thrilled about that...nor would the county.
Chuck E. Cheese himself made an appearance to greet the birthday girl.
For dinner that night, we met up with Grandma and Grandpa for dinner at Cracker Barrel. She picked the restaurant. At the end of the meal, they allowed her to select any dessert from their menu. She chose the Double Fudge Coca-Cola cake. Oh my, but was it yummy!
How did she get to be eight years old? Time has flown by so fast. She is growing up too quickly.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
New Blog Design
For the last few weeks, I've been learning about redesigning my blog. I found a great design from Free Blogger Skins and modified it for this blog. I'd love to hear what you think of it!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Remembering...
I've received several emails in the last few days asking me to share my story from September 11, 2001.
My phone rang about 10 minutes before 9:00 that morning. It was my aunt. "Are you watching the news?", she asked. "A plane has crashed into the World Trade Center in New York." I hadn't been watching the news. I had been asleep. We had a big day planned and were up until 2:00 am that morning. I flipped on the TV and watched, assuming it was a freak accident. Somebody was traveling too close the city. Moments later came the news that a second plane had crashed into the other tower. I remember exclaiming "That's not an accident! We're being attacked!" I woke my hubby, who had already started to stir when the phone rang. We continued to watch the news unfold.
Jim Miklaszewski was reporting from the Pentagon. He said there was a loud noise and the building shook. Later, we learned it was another plane crashing. For a while, we sat and watched, dumbfounded by the events. I don't remember when I heard about the plane crashing down near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That part is a blur. I remember watching smoke and flames shooting out of the twin towers and the Pentagon. At some point that morning, my Dad called. He was at home in Florida. Mom was here, helping us prepare for our big day. Like so many, he just needed to talk to his family. I woke Mom to tell her he was on the phone. Not too long after, the towers fell. They were saying the death toll could be as high as 100,000 people. My heart was breaking. We turned off the TV. I had to get away from it. (I'm sure Mom and King J continued to watch elsewhere in the house.)
We both struggled with guilt over not being able to go help. We were active in EMS at that time, and our squad was asked to send crews to assist. We couldn't go. We had to be selfish and stay here. Guilt.
We prepared for our big day with a heavy heart. We had been so excited. It was going to be Princess E's birthday! What better day could we have chosen for a birthday for her. Two EMS providers with a daughter born on 9-1-1. We called my OB for guidance. I'd been on modified bed rest for a while, trying to hold on until 37 weeks. Pre-eclampsia threatened to bring her too early. We were scheduled for induction that day. Since no one knew what the day would bring, whether hospitals would be attacked too, or if local hospitals would be needed for patients from the crashes, all elective procedures were cancelled. I was seen by my OB to weigh the risks of waiting another day. Princess E and I were deemed stable enough to wait another day...but I was instructed to stay away from the TV and radio in the meantime. I did just that. We would not have done anything to stop her from coming on her own that day; but we really didn't want to induce that day.
The next day, labor was induced. Over the next few days, I caught very little of the news. King J continued to follow during times I was asleep. I knew there were memorial services planned for Friday, September 14. Princess E arrived early that morning. Exhausted, I slept most of that day, when I wasn't nursing her. I do remember wanting to attend a memorial service.
We finally did...a year later, on the first anniversary. Actually, we attended two of them. In the morning, there was a service for the community. That evening, we attended a smaller memorial service at a local church, where people were invited to share their memories of that tragic day. It was our first visit to that church. Today, we call it our church home.
Eight years later, my heart still breaks for the families of those lost that day. I don't want to ever forget.
My phone rang about 10 minutes before 9:00 that morning. It was my aunt. "Are you watching the news?", she asked. "A plane has crashed into the World Trade Center in New York." I hadn't been watching the news. I had been asleep. We had a big day planned and were up until 2:00 am that morning. I flipped on the TV and watched, assuming it was a freak accident. Somebody was traveling too close the city. Moments later came the news that a second plane had crashed into the other tower. I remember exclaiming "That's not an accident! We're being attacked!" I woke my hubby, who had already started to stir when the phone rang. We continued to watch the news unfold.
Jim Miklaszewski was reporting from the Pentagon. He said there was a loud noise and the building shook. Later, we learned it was another plane crashing. For a while, we sat and watched, dumbfounded by the events. I don't remember when I heard about the plane crashing down near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That part is a blur. I remember watching smoke and flames shooting out of the twin towers and the Pentagon. At some point that morning, my Dad called. He was at home in Florida. Mom was here, helping us prepare for our big day. Like so many, he just needed to talk to his family. I woke Mom to tell her he was on the phone. Not too long after, the towers fell. They were saying the death toll could be as high as 100,000 people. My heart was breaking. We turned off the TV. I had to get away from it. (I'm sure Mom and King J continued to watch elsewhere in the house.)
We both struggled with guilt over not being able to go help. We were active in EMS at that time, and our squad was asked to send crews to assist. We couldn't go. We had to be selfish and stay here. Guilt.
We prepared for our big day with a heavy heart. We had been so excited. It was going to be Princess E's birthday! What better day could we have chosen for a birthday for her. Two EMS providers with a daughter born on 9-1-1. We called my OB for guidance. I'd been on modified bed rest for a while, trying to hold on until 37 weeks. Pre-eclampsia threatened to bring her too early. We were scheduled for induction that day. Since no one knew what the day would bring, whether hospitals would be attacked too, or if local hospitals would be needed for patients from the crashes, all elective procedures were cancelled. I was seen by my OB to weigh the risks of waiting another day. Princess E and I were deemed stable enough to wait another day...but I was instructed to stay away from the TV and radio in the meantime. I did just that. We would not have done anything to stop her from coming on her own that day; but we really didn't want to induce that day.
The next day, labor was induced. Over the next few days, I caught very little of the news. King J continued to follow during times I was asleep. I knew there were memorial services planned for Friday, September 14. Princess E arrived early that morning. Exhausted, I slept most of that day, when I wasn't nursing her. I do remember wanting to attend a memorial service.
We finally did...a year later, on the first anniversary. Actually, we attended two of them. In the morning, there was a service for the community. That evening, we attended a smaller memorial service at a local church, where people were invited to share their memories of that tragic day. It was our first visit to that church. Today, we call it our church home.
Eight years later, my heart still breaks for the families of those lost that day. I don't want to ever forget.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Show Us Your Life - School Pictures
Ah, school days. Kelly is hosting the blog carnival, Show Us Your Life. This week, the theme is School Pictures. Here are mine for your enjoyment and/or mockery.
Kindergarten and First Grade
Second and Third Grades
Fourth and Fifth Grades
Sixth and Seventh Grades
Eighth and Ninth Grades
Tenth Grade
So, I bet you are wondering why there are no Eleventh and Twelfth Grade pictures. I skipped the Eleventh Grade, so I never had a picture. My Senior portrait is hanging at my parents' house, so I don't have it in a digital format.
You can probably tell my age just by the outfits and hairdos.
Okay, now head on over to Kelly's Korner to see everyone else's school pictures.
And, don't forget to check out the $10 Gift Card giveaway to Stop & Shop here.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Stop & Shop and General Mills Back-to-School Promotion
UPDATE: This contest is now closed. The winner was selected using random.org and is commenter #1 - Sara @ Domestically Challenged. Congratulations Sara! I'll be contacting you by email.
General Mills and Stop & Shop are teaming up for a great Back to School promotion, where you can stock up and save on both groceries and gas! This Back-to-School Saving Event is taking place at Stop & Shop stores September 4-10. Our family travels a lot (yeah, really, A LOT!), and when we are in New England, we pick up our groceries from Stop & Shop.
During the Back-to-School event, Stop & Shop is offering great sale pricing on the participating General Mills brands:
Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Reeses Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Crisp Sprinkles, Cookie Crisp, Fruit Snacks, Old El Paso Dinner Kits, Pillsbury Strudel, Pillsbury Scrambles, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables, Yoplait Yo-Plus Multi-Pack, Fiber One Yogurt Multi-Pack, Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookies, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury Sweet Rolls and Yoplait Delights
Cheerios are a huge hit at my house. I can't keep enough of them for my daughter, who refers to them as "doughnut seeds". Anyway, this week, they are on sale...two (8.9 ounce) boxes for $5.
There are also additional savings for you or your school, depending on which Stop & Shop location you visit.
For example, if your Stop & Shop store sells gas and you buy four (4) participating General Mills items, you’ll automatically earn 100 points on your Stop & Shop card. Then, for every 100 points earned, you'll save 10¢ per gallon of gas (Please note: Total discount cannot exceed price per gallon). All you have to do is swipe your Stop & Shop Card at the pump to redeem your Gas Rewards
Now, if your Stop & Shop store doesn’t sell gas, don’t worry – you’re not left out of the savings – if you buy five (5) participating General Mills products, you will receive 20 Bonus Box Tops for your school! How great is that?!?!?
You know what would make this even sweeter? How about a gift card to Stop & Shop? That's right, the folks at MyBlog Spark and General Mills have given me a $10 gift card so I could enjoy this promotion. (That will be four boxes of Cheerios for me.) In addition, they will provide one of you with your very own $10 gift card to Stop & Shop!
Here is how you can enter:
Visit the Stop & Shop website and look through the current circular.
Leave me a comment and tell me how much money you think you could save shopping at Stop & Shop.
Be sure to leave me your contact information, or make sure I can easily find it in your profile.
You can earn extra entries by:
Following my blog. Be sure to leave me a separate comment.
Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link.
Post on your own blog about this promotion and link back to me. Again, please leave me a separate comment.
This giveaway is open to residents of the United States only. I will accept comments/entries through 11:59 pm (EDT), Thursday, September 10, 2009. The winner of the gift certificate will be randomly drawn from all qualified entries and announced/notified Friday, September 11. The winner will have 48 hours to send me full contact information. After 48 hours, I will select an alternate winner.
*Disclaimer - MyBlogSpark and General Mills provided me with my own $10 gift certificate for blogging about this promotion, and will provide the winner with a $10 gift certificate. The opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own. I am a regular shopper at Stop & Shop, and do participate in their My Stop & Shop program.
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