Thankful Thursday

Time for another Thankful Thursday and this week I want everyone to know how THANKFUL I am for my hubby. He is my rock, my strength, my support and most of all he is my best friend. I am THANKFUL for everything he does for me and the kids. He works long hard hours but I am THANKFUL that he still takes the time to be with the kids and interact with them daily.I am THANKFUL for everything he has provided our family with. I am also THANKFUL that we have such an awesome relationship.

I Love him so much and I am THANKFUL he is a part of my life!

What are you THANKFUL for? Go check out Lead Me to see what others are THANKFUL for and share with us what you are THANKFUL for.

Thankful Thursday-Week One

I know I am a little late but I think it is a good post, plus I have been working like crazy this week, I have worked about 84 hours since last Friday and I am THANKFUL that I have a job and I will have extra money to go towards Christmas. Since I have been working so much my MIL stayed this week at my house to help with the kids and I am THANKFUL for that. Last Thursday the school nurse called and said she thought Cristian may have a staph infection, I am THANKFUL he did not. I am THANKFUL for my family and friends.

So what are you Thankful for? Share with us and link up over at Lead Me

Pumpkin Muffins

I have been ready for fall for a few weeks now and it seems the weather may be deciding it is time too. Last week we were still in triple digit weather and this morning it was cool enough to open the windows, so I am enjoying fresh air and the sound of birds chirping. Fall to me is a time to celebrate Pumpkins (and many other things) so I decided to make Pumpkin Muffins last week.

This recipe came from Joanna at This Southern Girls Nest, she was a guest blogger at Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM and that is where I found this wonderful recipe. She made a loaf of bread and a few muffins, I made all muffins and I used Splenda instead of sugar. My muffins turned out very dense and they were super yummy!

All the ingredients:

3 cups flour
1 tsp cloves (I used pumpkin pie spice because I did not have cloves)
2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups sugar ( I used about 1/2 cup Splenda)
1 cup butter
3 eggs
16oz can pumpkin puree {not the pumpkin pie blend}

What do you do:
Combine the sugar…butter and eggs in a large bowl. Cream them together.
Add the pumpkin and mix until combined.
Toss in your cinnamon and cloves.
Add 1 cup of flour at a time letting the mixer combine one completely before adding the other.
Add to your greased loaf pans {2} or to your muffin cups. Or both. We always make one loaf and 12 muffins.
Bake at 350 degrees. Now if your doing the loaf you’ll bake it for an hour. If your doing muffins..you’ll bake at 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Baby Girl even helped :)

Pumpkin Cookies

These pumpkin cookies were so good, nice soft airy cookies. They are great with milk, as a matter of fact my hubby is not so crazy about my pumpkin addiction because he does not like pumpkin as much as I do (crazy I know) but he poured himself a glass of milk and ate almost a dozen at one time. If you are not big on sweets these cookies are great without any glaze/topping but the white chocolate drizzled on top kicks it up a notch or two.

Pumpkin Cookies
Adapted from: Very Best Baking
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 stick butter (room temp)
1 cup Pumpkin Puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle white chocolate over them.

These cookies do not spread, they pretty much keep their shape, the pic on the left is before being put in the oven and the pic on the right is done.

Original recipe says this makes 36 cookies but I got 60 small cookies(about 2 or 3 bites).

Menu Plan 9/25/11-10/1/11

Wow, it has been awhile since I have done a menu plan, I am happy to get back to it.

Sunday-Beef, Bean and Cheese Nachos
Monday- Spaghetti and Meatballs with green beans and garlic bread
Tuesday-King Ranch Chicken(using Sticky Chicken) with salad
Wednesday-Chicken, Mushroom, Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Thursday-Breakfast for dinner
Friday- Leftovers
Saturday-Grill something
Sunday- Bobby and I will be at the Cowboys game so not sure, the kids will eat at my parent's house

Well I hope I can stick to this plan, I know when I do it makes things so much easier! What is on your menu this week?
To see more Menu Plans check out I'm an Organizing Junkie

Secret Ingredient Brownies

Don't they look tempting? These brownies are so good, very dense and they melt in your mouth. I made these the other night when I invited my parents and brother over for dinner and they were a hit. I did not tell anyone what they were made of until everyone had tried one, even after I told them what the secret ingredient was they still had seconds and even thirds. I will be making these again.

So do you want to know what the secret ingredient is?

Would you believe me if I said it is Black Beans?

Yep that is right all you need for these brownies is a brownie mix and a can of black beans!

First you want to rinse your beans really well,

also rinse the can out because you will be putting

the beans back in the can.

Once the beans are rinsed

put them back into the can and fill with water

just enough to cover beans.

Pour the can of beans and water

into food processor and process

until smooth like the picture on

the left.

Next you need to mix your dry brownie mix and pureed beans,

mix well. Pour into a greased brownie pan. Bake according to directions on the brownie box and enjoy!

Menu Plan 5/23-5/29

So I have not done a menu in a few weeks and I can really tell a difference, we eat out more and spend way more money! So I am going to try and get back into my menu planning and I am even thinking about doing some freezer cooking/OAMC. Do you freezer cook? If so please share ideas with me or tell me your favorite things to cook ahead of time.





Monday-Leftover meat and corn on the cob that we grilled this weekend, with mashed potatoes and watermelon

Tuesday-Grilled Chicken with rice and green beans

Wednesday-Easter Pork Loin with corn, deviled eggs and rolls

Thursday-Leftovers or Fish Sticks with mac and cheese

Friday-Frito Pie with fruit

Saturday-Probably grill something??

Sunday- Tatertot Casserole with ranch style beans