• Thanksgiving Recipe: Mandarin Avocado Tossed Salad

    We all have a recipe for the Green Bean Casserole and other family favorites.  I am going to share a Salad Recipe for a side dish at Thanksgiving dinner.  We adopted this recipe several years ago thanks to Taste of Home!  It has a mix of colors, shapes and textures that the everyone enjoys.  The whole family, including the kids, love this delicious salad.  Sometimes with add in halved grapes for an extra touch to the salad.

    Mandarin Avocado Tossed Salad:

    • 1/2 cup Sunflower Kernels
    • 1/2 cup slivered Almonds
    • 2 tablespoons Butter or Margarine
    • 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
    • 3 tablespoons Cider or Red Wine Vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
    • 2 teaspoons Sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground Mustard
    • 1 Garlic Clove, minced
    • 4 cups torn Leaf Lettuce
    • 1 can (11 ounces) Mandarin Oranges, drained
    • 1 ripe Avocado, peeled & cubed
    • 1 to 2 Green Onions, chopped

    Directions:  in a small skillet, saute sunflower kernels and almonds in butter.  Cool. Meanwhile, in a jar with tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt, mustard and garlic; shake well.  In a large salad bowl, toss the lettuce, oranges, avocado, onions and sunflower kernel mixture.  Drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

    We usually prep everything the night before and add the dressing when you are ready to serve.  A wonderfully refreshing salad for any meal.

  • Thanksgiving Recipe: Hendrich & Kejr Family Dressing

    My Grandma Willa gave me the family recipe for the Hendrich & Kejr Dressing for our first Thanksgiving together as a couple.  You can do several steps the night before to save you some time on Thanksgiving day.  We have enjoyed a lot of wonderful meals and created many memories at Grandpa and Grandma’s.  Thankful for a family that celebrates together.

    • Cook Giblets with a little salt and pepper, 1/2 cup of onions, 1 stalk of celery in enough water to cover, until tender. (It works well if you do this piece the night before Thanksgiving).
    • In a large bowl put 12 cups of crushed dry bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon sage, 2 tablespoon of caraway seed, add 1/2 cup melted butter.  Pour over the bread crumbs and stir.  (This can be done the night before as well).  If using seasoned bread cut back on seasoning all but the caraway seed.
    • Add 1 to 2 cups of hot broth and stir together. (You can use giblets for gravy use water or canned broth) stir together all of the above and add 4 eggs beaten lightly with 1/2 cup milk and stir into the above.  If dressing seems dry add more liquid. (You want it to be soft yet hold together slightly).
    • Sprinkle turkey inside and out with caraway seed.  Stuff bird and cook according to directions on the bird.  (You can bake separately as well if you choose).
    • A 10 to 13 pound young bird usually takes 3 1/2 to 4 hours to cook.  For gravy use chicken broth and drippings or Giblet broth and pan drippings.  I go either way.

  • Thanksgiving Recipe: White Cranberry Brined Turkey

    The turkey is a great part of the Thanksgiving dinner.  There are so many different ways to cook a turkey……smoke, bake, or fry.   If you are looking for delicious new way to cook the turkey try this one out.  We have tried several great recipes for the turkey.  I found this several years ago in a Ocean Spray booklet.

    • 128 ounces of White Cranberry Juice
    • 1 gallon of Water
    • 2 cups of Kosher Salt
    • 1 cup of Sugar
    • 2 tablespoons Whole Black Peppercorns
    • 8 cloves Garlic (crushed)
    • 8 Bay Leaves
    • 8 to 12 pound Whole Turkey

    Mix together all ingredients (except turkey) in a 13 to 14 quart stockpot until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Place the turkey in the brine.  Refrigerate turkey in the covered stockpot for 12 to 18 hours.  Discard brine.  Dry turkey with paper towels. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Roast unstuffed turkey for 2 3/4 to 3 hours or until internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees.

  • Ouchy Toy Box

    As our kids got bigger we began to notice a trend pop up.  Their toys began to break, batteries died, books got torn and so forth.  Almost daily (or at least it seemed) our girls were bringing “broken” toys to have us fix for them whether it was gluing a broken toy, taping a book, sewing, or replacing batteries it took time to get fix them.  The girls would often hover around during the fix up process causing more delays in getting them fixed or shedding in tears when the toy truly was broken beyond repair.

    In our effort to streamline the toy repair in our house we created an “Ouchy Toy Box”.  When a toy, book, or game broke, required repair, or was due for new batteries they would bring it to us like in the past but instead of fixing it on the spot or having it sit on our desk for days we would put the toy in the Ouchy Toy Box.  Once a month or when the box was full we would set aside time to fix the toys in the Ouchy Toy Box.  The best sight to see is an empty Ouchy Toy Box!

    To create an Ouchy Toy Box find a cardboard box, crate, or any container that will hold a dozen or so toys.  We use a small cardboard box with the words Ouchy Toy Box written on the outside.  When a toy is broken the girls ask to put it in the box.  Our box is up high on a shelf in the office so they cannot look into or dig through the box. The saying “Out of Sight Out of Mind” works well in this situation.

    Here are our steps to repairing the toys (once a month or when the box was full):

    1. The night before, after the kids are in bed, we go through the Ouchy Toy Box and clean out all the toys that were broken beyond repair and throw them away.  Many times they have been in the toy box for at least a couple weeks and the girls no longer remember them or ask about them.  This helps us clean out the broken ones without the trauma and tears over the broken toy.
    2. The next day we set aside time in the evening to fix the broken ouchy toys, usually after dinner and baths.  We begin the process while the girls are awake so they can see what we do to fix the toys.  It gives us the opportunity to talk about why the toys are broken and how to take care of the things God gives us.
    3. We lay the toys out on the table or desk with a combination of tools such as glue, batteries, screwdrivers, tape, needles, thread, scissors, and anything else that we may need so we are ready to fix the toys.  (This allows us to get all the repair tools out only once a month instead of getting them out and putting them away every day).
    4. We begin fixing the toys.  As they are fixed the girls have an opportunity to play with them and then put them away in the toy box or book shelf.  Depending how many toys you have to fix and the extent of the repairs we do several while they are watching us.  We often start on the minor repairs first in case not all of them are fixable.  (ie. taping a page in a book, sewing a button back on a stuffed animal, etc…)
    5. We tuck the girls in bed before finishing all of the toys.  Typically, it is much quicker to repair once they are in bed especially if you need a steady hand, are using a drill or other sharp tools.
    6. Once the toys have been repaired we line them up on the table or fireplace for them to enjoy in the morning.  It spreads the excitement and they have fun reunited with their toys.  It helps teach them that it takes time to repair the toys, to trust us to fix their toys, and an appreciation for what they have.
    7. They will often play with the toys for hours after being fixed  Which is another added bonus.  Rarely do we have to fix the same toy multiple times.

    One of the most interesting effects of this system, which we didn’t anticipate happening when we first started doing it, was that they have fewer and fewer toys that need to go into the Ouchy Toy Box.  It could be that they have learned to take better care of their toys (turn them off after using so the batteries don’t wear down, be gentle with their books, pick up the toys so they are not stepped on), maybe they don’t like going without them for several weeks, or it could be something entirely different.  Whatever the reason, it is has worked at extremely well with our kids.

    Doing this monthly or regularly once the box is full streamlines the process especially if you have all the tools ready to complete the task at hand.  It prevents the tear shed of toys that have to be thrown away and it allows an opportunity to teach a lesson about taking care of the toys.  You are not pressured to fix it now since you have a system in place.  Many people that have come into our home office have laughed initially at seeing a box labeled Ouchy Toy Box, however, several of them have since adopted the system for their own families.  It works, try it!

  • Too Much Candy!

    Hope everyone had an amazing Holiday weekend.  Halloween is a great time to create memories with your family.  The Fall Festivals, pumpkin carving, hayrides, dressing up and candy…..sometimes too much candy.  Every wonder if you’ll be able to eat, share and giveaway all the candy before the next Halloween hits.

    Dentists all over the country are participating in a Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. They buy the kids Halloween candy then donate it to the groups that send it to those in Military Service.

    • Example:  Holly Tree Pediatric Dentistry in our area is Buying Back Halloween Candy and giving the kids $1 per pound ($5 max per child) and a Treat bag.  The Buy back dates are Monday 11/1 to Thursday 11/3 between 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.  All the candy will be donated to Troops overseas.  Also, Dr. Ann will match every dollar given and donate it to a local charity “Let There Be Mom.”

    If it is something you interested in participating in you can read more about on the FAQ page and search for locations near you!

  • Ruby Tuesday: Buy 1 Entree, Get 1 Free Coupon

    Ruby Tuesday currently has a great coupon if you are looking to eat out!  

    • We received the same coupon in our November Better Homes & Garden magazine as a postcard tear out and used it last night on our Date Night.  Check your magazines too!

    If you have not eaten at a Ruby Tuesdays it is a great time to check out their  menu and find a location near you.  Enjoy a night out!!!

  • Easy Recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

    Jake made some amazing roasted pumpkin seeds during our evening carving the pumpkins.  Here is a super easy and great recipe for roasting pumpkins seeds:

    • 2 c pumpkin seeds
    • 2 T butter
    • Sprinkle Seasoned Salt (or substitute a 1/2 package ranch package mix)

    Rinse the pumpkin seeds.  Saute pumpkin seeds in the butter for about 5 minutes (until they start to turn brown).  Sprinkle the Seasoned Salt or Ranch Mix on the  seeds.  Spread seeds into a shallow baking pan and baked at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until crispy.  Stirring every 10 minutes.

    We made half with the sprinkled seasoned salt and half with the ranch package mix this year.  Delicious snacks for the whole family!

  • Fall Festivities – Pumpkin Carving

    Our family enjoys celebrating the different seasons, Holidays, and events throughout the year.  It has been a blast going to a variety of family friendly Fall Festivals in our area.  The weekends are full of horse back riding, playing in the leaves, hayrides, bonfires, pumpkin carving and all the other fun activities while creating wonderful memories with the family.

    The girls have been asking for over a month to carve pumpkins and since they were on sale recently ($3.99 for a 12 ++ pound pumpkins at BiLo) we decided to have a family night together.  We had a great evening of carving pumpkins, roasting the pumpkin seeds, drinking hot apple cider and eating caramel apples.  Daddy free handed the designs the girls drew out on the disposable table cloth.  Everyone had a blast!

    If you are wanting to find some great carving patterns that you can download here are a couple websites to check out:

    Most of the designs are kid friendly (however there are a few frightful designs).  There is a range from easy to difficult ones depending on what you want to do.  Enjoy time with together and make it a fun celebration while creating memories together.

  • Book: “The Power of a Positive Mom” by Karol Ladd

    This is my second time reading the book Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd.  As a Mom of twin daughters it is important to me to be the best Mommy I can.  Life is full of surprises and I want my home to be a fun, safe and enjoyable place where the girls will continue to grow and flourish. The author, Karol Ladd, has a series of books on the “Power of Positive”.  In this book Karol Ladd offers positive ways we can make an impact of the lives of our children.