Christmas Printables and an EGGmazing tip!

So, our house is in Christmas overdrive! I still need to finish decorating the house...and if you must know it is in Autumn/Winter limbo. I have worship team practice tonight at our home and I know they are all going to think, "what is going on?!" It's like Autumn and Christmas had a bunch of kids and some look like Dad and some look like Mom. So, I guess John is Autumn and I am Winter...our kids are all so different! Anyway...that was random and weird! Sorry, I do that sometimes! I am so glad I have friends and family who love me! As I am preparing to finish decorating this weekend I was perusing Pinterest and found an AWESOME link to 35 free Christmas printables from Sassy Sites. They are all so cute, I had a hard time choosing which ones to print. Here are 3 that I chose for our home:

Christmas Tree Scripture from Betty Crocker Wannabe...this one is so adorable:

http://adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-scripture-word-tree-

Simple and Elegant. From Simple As That Blog:

http://www.simpleasthatblog.com/2010/12/free-christmas-printables.html

Subway Art from Eighteen25. I am SO into these lately!:

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-subway-art-banner.html

They have so many cute things on their blog. Including these amazing Glitter Christmas Trees:

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/11/glitter-trees.html

I want to make them...I think I might HAVE to make them!

Here is the link from Sassy Sites to all the great printables:

http://sassysites.blogspot.com/2011/12/35-free-christmas-printables.html

Ok, and I know this is totally random and has nothing to do with Christmas, but I found the perfect way to boil and peel eggs! I have been eating a lot of these lately because I went back to my Paleo diet since the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays. So, I was trying to find out the best way to cook them and came across this info from Mom on a Mission. You have to try this! So, so easy and they peeled perfectly! I did not even do the ice bath, just soaked them in cold water.  It is EGGmazing! ;)


http://momonamission.me/?p=649

Hope your Holidays are starting off with a bang! Remember to Count Your Blessings...and Your Boybarians!

~Gillian

Monday Memories...on Wednesday...

I once again have failed to keep up with my posts.  So, today "Monday Memories" will be "Witty Wednesdays".  I guess it work out this week, because the things the boys said this week, were pretty witty! :)  I will also catch-up on a few recipe reviews...so prepare for a lengthy post.

Owen (6): As we were enjoying a family breakfast on Saturday in celebration of my Mr. Townsley's birthday, I was astonished that I have 5 boys! 5 boys! I was just looking at them and thinking "how on earth do I have 5 boys? If you know me at all, I am very girly and it is almost comical that I have 5 dirty, gross, loud, messy, barbaric boys. So, I said in a teasing sort of way, "I cannot believe we have 5 boys! Why, Why?" Owen then said in a very confident tone, "Mom, you know why, God gave them to you"...slight pause..."and you need to be thankful". We of course started laughing as it sounds like something I frequently say...then he kind of laughs at himself at his great accomplishment of erupting laughter from Mommy and Daddy, smiles, puffs up his chest and says "I'm a Smart Aleck!".  My stomach hurt from laughing so hard. He certainly is that and so much more. That boy cracks me up!

Asher (5): Can't think of anything in particular, but there was a moment in the car, where we was very sweet and kind to one of his brothers. That always warms my heart.

Knox (4): I can't believe he is 4! He always has this sweet, joyful smile and it just kills me! He also is constantly asking me for a drink or a snack...quite annoying...but then he smiles...and it's all ok. :)

Reichen (2): We are teaching our boys chatechisms and they are so good at it, it's crazy! We also try to do them with Reichen, but most of the time it just goes over his head. Well, I asked him, "Who made you?"...his response, "God". "Good job Reichen!,what else did God make?"..."ummm"..."Target!".  I guess I have a problem?!  Yep, I do.  If Costco and Target are your 2 year olds favorite places, you might too. :)

Paxton (2 months): He is just a love bug!!  I can't get enough of his sweet face!

Ok...on to recipes!!!  Here were the recipes from Pinterest that I still needed to review:

French Dip Crescents
Easy Creamy Enchiladas
Garlic and Lemon Chicken

French Dip Crescents: These were a snap to make. However, they were a bit mushy and salty for mty taste. The kids weren't thrilled with them either. I think if you were to try them, I would double up on the crescents, by pressing 2 triangles together. I would use a different cheese...maybe cheddar. I would add some type of spread...the recipe called for horseradish, but most children and some adults don't care for that. Maybe a mustard/mayo combo with some thyme? Or this yummy spread from Trader Joes...
http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Aioli-Garlic-Mustard/dp/B00714H77W/ref=sr_1_78?ie=UTF8&qid=1348679659&sr=8-78&keywords=trader+joes

Overall they were just ok.


Easy Creamy Enchiladas: These were fantastic! Full of flavor, easy to prepare, tons of leftovers, and taste better the second day!  I did add some Salsa Verde to the sauce for more flavor and it gave it the perfect zip. I use TJ's Salsa Verde.

http://pinterest.com/pin/20195898299840260/

Garlic and Lemon Chicken:
This was pretty easy and very flavorful. A quick, healthy weeknight meal.  I might marinate the chicken beforehand though, just to add a bit more flavor. But all in all, you can't go wrong with roasted chicken and veggies.

 

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/pan-roasted-chicken-lemon-garlic-green-beans-10000000780291/index.html









That's it for now, but I have a few more recipe reviews, some beauty product tips and tricks, a guest blogger, and a really neat fall tutorial all in the works. So stay tuned! Until then...

Keep Calm and Count Your Blessings...and your Boybarians!

The Arrival of Autumn

Autumn...my favorite season! Although it is not here yet, it is September, and in my house that means we begin the preparations that usher in the beauty that is Fall. Yesterday it was overcast and drizzly and even though it was still 88 degrees outside, it felt like Fall inside. So, I got the hankering for Pumpkin Bread. Pumpkin Bread is one of my favorite things to eat in the Autumn. It is yummy for breakfast paired with a warm cup of cinnamon coffee. Perfect in the afternoon with a hot cup of tea...best enjoyed with a book and napping children! And one of my favorite ways is for dessert smothered with my buttercream frosting! The problem that I have come across with most pumpkin breads is they are too dry, too bland, and don't scream Pumpkin! So, after a few tries I have come up with what I think is THE BEST Pumpkin Bread ever! It has the perfect balance of sweetness, pumpkin flavor and is perfectly moist. This is achieved from using a mix of butter and oil and a good amount of pumpkin. The spices are not overwhelming but accentuate the pumpkin flavor nicely. Citrus peel adds depth while the cinnamon adds heat. It is like eating a slice of Autumn! So start the season off right with a big slice of this and a cup of hot cider! Enjoy!

Gillian's Pumpkin Bread

3 1/2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. Trader Joes Pumpkin Pie Spice (their version has citrus peel, which is key!)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. salt (don't skip this step because it's a sweet item! It adds flavor!)
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup water
2 1/4 cups pumpkin
1 cup nuts...optional (I did not use nuts this time)

Preheat oven to 350*. Stir together the flour, sugars, soda, and spices. Mix in the eggs, butter, oil, vanilla and water. Stir in the pumpkin (and nuts if using). Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter softened
2-3 cups Powdered Sugar
1 Tbsp. 1/2 and 1/2
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt

Whip the butter until creamy. Add in powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the 1/2 and 1/2, vanilla, and salt. Spread on cooled, sliced pumpkin bread.

Meals Continued...

Ok, so it took me a bit longer to get back on here to update my meals from last week. Due to an unexpected visit to my parents over the weekend, I didn't end up preparing what I had planned...which was so nice, because my Dad made an amazing dinner of Fried Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, and Green Beans! Yum! My Dad sure knows how to make me smile...Gravy! So for now as I salivate in remembrance of Saturday night dinner, I will update you about the Forgotten Chicken and the Creamy Tomato Pasta.

The Forgotten Chicken was just ok. It ended up being a bit dry and bland. The dryness could entirely be my fault as I left it in the warm oven a little longer than planned...but then again, that's why it's called Forgotten Chicken...right? :) I think that I am going to attempt it again with the following changes:

Add an extra can of soup...Cream of Chicken
Add 1/2 can more liquid...I will use milk this time
Mix in and extra packet of onion soup to the rice mixture
Drizzle the top with some butter
Turn the chicken 1/2 way through
Make sure to not "forget" it!

Here is the recipe:
http://www.darlingdoodlesdesign.com/2012/04/forgotten-chicken.html

The Creamy Tomato Pasta was delicious! My Mr. Townsley (what I affectionately call my husband...well one name anyway), loved it and said it was "a make again" item! He said it tasted like Olive Garden (in a good way), which I concur...although fresher. The preparing of the tomatoes for the sauce, and making 2 separate sauces was a little much for a regular weeknight rotation, but once in awhile it will be in the mix of dinners! It was even better the next day! I think you could use the leftover sauce and bake it with some chicken, throw on some parmesan and basil and that would be a yummy leftover dinner too!  Here is the recipe:

http://kitchentrialanderror.blogspot.com/2010/08/creamy-tomato-pasta.html

Here is what is on the Menu for this week:

French Dip Crescents
Easy Creamy Enchiladas
Garlic and Lemon Chicken
Beef Stroganoff

Stay Tuned.....

Meals

So, my hubby and I decided to re-format our budget to make saving a little easier and spending a little harder...or should I say more mindful. :)  I now get "my" cash budget from my working man once a month...or every 4 weeks to be exact. This eliminates multiple grocery store trips and impulse spending. So, I planned out a month's worth of meals, shopped for it, and filled our pantry, fridge, and freezer to the brim. It was a lot of work for 2 days trying to make lists, shop ads etc., but now it is done for 4 whole weeks! I am anxious to see how this plays out in the months to come and not only stay within our budget, but maybe trim it a little as well!  So, I thought I would post my meals for each week and tell you if it was yummy or just so-so...a lot of this months meals are new ones from Pinterest! :)

Week 1:

Chicken Spinach Salad w/Dijon Dressing
 *This was light and flavorful! So easy to throw together in a pinch! I changed it up a bit and swapped feta for the goat cheese and almonds for the pine nuts.
http://www.recipegirl.com/2012/04/02/spinach-salad-with-chicken-avocado-and-goat-cheese/

Slow Cooked Beef Fajitas
*This was so easy to prepare! In fact, I made 2 batches in about 20 minutes. One to eat and one to freeze for later.
http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/02/freezer-meals-part-2.html

Forgotten Chicken
*Made this in less than 5 minutes today! Will update on taste!
http://www.darlingdoodlesdesign.com/2012/04/forgotten-chicken.html

Still to come:
Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Beef Stroganoff
Creamy Tomato Pasta

Hope you find this helpful! Happy Tuesday!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• This was a big hit with my hubby! The Boybarians tried it and like it too! So fast and so easy! I love the Crockpot!
• 
  
• 1 pound cubed, cooked chicken
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
• 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups water
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
• Garnish:
• Tortilla Chips
• Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Avocado, sliced
• 
  

Directions

1. Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water, chicken broth, corn and seasonings. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
2. Garnish with chips, cheese, sour cream, and avocado Enjoy!

Cranberry Orange Bread

4 cups flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 beaten eggs

2 Tbsp. grated orange zest

4 Tbsp. hot water

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup fresh orange juice

2 cups chopped cranberries

1cup chopped pecans

Melted Butter and Sugar for top

Stir dry ingredients in large bowl. Set aside. Beat eggs, add in butter, juice, and water. Stir egg mixture into dry ingredients and add orange zest, cranberries and nuts. Stir until moist. Pour into floured, greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 to 70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. After 10 minutes brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Wrap in wax paper when cool-refrigerate. Enjoy!

4 recipes makes 20 small loaf pans to give as gifts! I like to wrap in paper and then tie with a pretty ribbon and tag.

Aunt Teen's Fudge

• This is my go-to holiday fudge recipe. It is rich and has a silky smooth texture. You can add in crushed candy canes or nuts for a festive flare! Enjoy!
• 
  
• 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Line an 8x8 inch pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt. Bring to a full boil, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Remove from heat and pour in semisweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in nuts and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours, or until firm.