Bacon, Chicken, Ranch Pasta

Bacon, Chicken, Ranch Pasta

For those counting....1 C is 7 points.  This recipe makes 10 servings....you could cut it down or freeze servings.

Boil up salty water for pasta - do not over cook.  Drain and leave small amount of pasta water in pot.

Fry 1 lb of bacon, diced up along with 1 onion.  Drain off grease and set a side on paper towel.  In bottom of pan add a few tablespoons of flour.  Stir around and grab up all the pan drippings in the flour.  Slowly add milk to make a sauce.  Stir till smooth add more milk if too thick - should be on the thin side.  Add 1 1/2 C part skim mozzarella cheese and 1 packet of ranch seasoning.   Pour this over the noodles.  Add some diced broccoli, chicken (2 cans - packed in water) and bacon onion mixture.  Heat through.   Really easy and good.

You can have bacon on Weight Watchers!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

 

Cookie Week 10 - Old Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies

I know it isn't week 10...but, I want to keep in sequence.  Been awhile, but I made these today and they were really good.  I found it on pinterest. 

from:  http://www.thenovicechefblog.com/2012/09/old-fashioned-iced-oatmeal-cookies/

Old Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies

note:  butter cookie sheet to encourage spreading

2 C old fashioned oats
2 C all purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
1 t fresh ground nutmeg
1 t salt
1 C (2 sticks of butter) melted
1 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
2 large eggs

icing:  2 C powder sugar
            5 T milk

Bake 250 for 15 min.

In food processor, pulse oats until partly ground - not fine powder, but coarse meal.  Mix with flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Set aside.

Cream together melted butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.  Mix in the dry oat mixture until thoroughly combined. 

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto sheet.  Bake, let cookies rest on sheet before moving to wire rack to frost. 

For those counting,  1 large cookie 2 points.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Pumpkin Dump Cake - Bars

I have cooked up some of my home grown pumpkin.  All I did was cut, peel, chop into chunks and fill my pressure cooker.  I cooked at 5 lbs for pressure for about 10 minutes. 

Then I made a puree with my hand blender. 

From this you can make so many things. 

I made this one up.  I really just wanted to use up the pumpkin and extras from my pantry.

Pumpkin Dump Cake - Bars:

2 C pumpkin puree
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 t. pumpkin pie spice
1 C sugar

Mix all of this well on low with mixer.  Pour into a 9 x 13 pan sprayed with "Pam".  Dump on top a cake mix.  I used a yellow one but I think a spice cake would be good too.   Sprinkle with chopped nuts.  Drizzle over the top of all with one stick of melted butter. 

Bake @ 350 till knife comes out clean - I didn't keep track - my nose usually tells me to look...  :)

This is before baking.  I sprinkled some pumkin pie spice on top too. 

 

For making this up, I think it turned out really good.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Vintage Holiday Event - Grand Repeats

I've been busy digging up some vintage Christmas items for my booth at Grand Repeats.  Our holiday open house is early this year, but I will be restocking each week till Christmas.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Getting Ready for Winter - Garden

2012 was not a good year for my garden.  We had very little measurable rain for most of the Summer.   A majority of Wisconsin was in a drought.   Our well couldn't handle us, the animals and the garden....so, the garden went without.

Thanks to our heavy clay soil...we still had some hardy plants produce for us.  I had a bumper crop of sunflowers, squash, gourds and pumpkins. 

With plans and dreams for next year, we set out to increase my garden size.  Al really wanted to try out his new plow...but, he did more than double my garden for me.  

When you live on a farm of any size with animals, you have an abundance of...manure.  We had a huge manure/compost pile that Al spread on the new garden. 

Look at that rich soil - aged for a year or so - organic and natural.  He did about 12 loads on the new and old garden.  With this goodness on top, snow cover and Spring melting and rains, hopefully, I will have some really fertile ground to dig in. 

Honestly, this is probably too much garden for me.  I'm up to the challenge - just don't ask me next July about the weeds.  :)

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
 

http://www.backyardfarmingconnection.com/

Day Trip - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We went to Milwaukee to visit Jon.  He is going to the University of Milwaukee.  We promised Anna that after Ringle Harvest Day, we would take her to visit him...awww...

So, while we were there, we went to Rummage O Rama held at State Fair Park.

We bought some post cards, books, CDs, costume jewelry, candles and food.  This was the first one of the season.  The other shows are:  http://www.rummage-a-rama.com/Home.html Dec. 8-9, Jan. 26-27, Feb. 23-24, April 6-7.  I would like to set up sometime...I have a feeling we will be visiting Milwaukee a few more times this school year.

Then, we hit a few thrift shops - where I bought this really nice pine, early American hutch.  I will have that in my room at Grand Repeats. 

After that we went to the Potawatomi Casino (for those that don't know, I am a tribal member) for the Hunting Moon Pow Wow.  I love the drumming and dancing! 

 

 

 On the way out, I put a $20 in a Lucky Penguin game...I actually was pretty lucky as I hit some bonus spins that won me $114.   Now, I can't be a tribal member, visit our casino and not play.

We also went to a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives stop:  Comet Cafe.  I just did a post about it. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

 

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - Comet Cafe, Milwaukee, WI

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - Comet Cafe, Milwaukee, WI.

This cafe is known for adding bacon to everything...yes, bacon.  When I saw this episode, I knew I had to go.   We went to visit Jon (going to school at U of M) and we took him out to eat here. 

I had what they featured on the episode, open faced meat loaf sandwich with beer gravy.  They make this gravy like 3 days in advance and let it reach this deep rich flavor.  It was absolutely delicious!

Al had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, with their Cajun spiced fries with cucumber dip.  He LOVED it.

Jon had macaroni and cheese and Anna had the leghorn sandwich.  They really liked it too.

I really liked this place.  I know we will be back.  I have to try the Thanksgiving dinner deep fried balls.  An eclectic setting with delicious, reasonably priced, gourmet food ...yes, huge portions.  Guy was right on this one!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

October 19th - Evaluate Your Life Day

I just had to post something about today, as it is "Evaluate Your Life Day."  (I know it is actually tomorrow)  I recently came to the conclusion.... sometimes, I really don't like me....I know, hard to believe, cuz I'm so lovable all the time and keep ALL of my opinions to myself....ha HA.

I grew up in a Christian home.  My parents weren't the most faithful to a building or church, however they were faithful in how they raised their 6 kids.  Both of my brothers and 3 nephews are ministers.  Several family members are Sunday school teachers.  That isn't a coincidence, that is a commitment to the Word of God.

I don't use my talents "in the church" but I do in my community and 4-H - because, they LET me.  I thought this was about change....I know that last comment didn't sound like it....but, I'm getting there really.

I have learned recently, that you can "say" more by not saying anything.  It's only taken me 46 years to figure it out!   

I don't need to list all my flaws, to let you know that I'm glad to change them. Change really is growth. If you are mature enough to see and strong enough to change - you will.

True change will happen from the inside and reflect on the outside.  So, biting my tongue, praying continually for strength, attending weekly Weight Watcher's meetings, counting my points, painting and being more creative is what I've been doing this past month.   I'm looking forward to a new "reflection". 



Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

2 Cups of This and 2 Cups of That Bars

2 Cups of This and 2 Cups of That Bars

2 Cups Cheerios
2 Cups Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
2 Cups Banana Chips
2 Cups Broken Pretzels
2 Cups Butterscotch Chips
2 Cups M & M's
2 Cups Omega Trial Mix

Combine all the dry ingredients in a big bowl.

In a large kettle, melt 1 stick of butter and 1 cup of peanut butter.  When melted add 2 bags (10.5 oz.) mini marshmallows.  Pour over dry mix, stir together, pour into a large pan (spray with Pam).

It doesn't matter what you put in it, as long as you have 7 different 2 cups of something. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.