"Meals in Minutes" Gooseberry Patch Giveaway! -- Chicken & Bowties

Another wonderful pasta recipe from the latest edition of Gooseberry Patch "Meals in Minutes"!

Another thumbs up from the family!  This recipe was super easy to make and paired wonderfully with my Simple Garlic Bread.

Chicken & Bowties  (pictured on the right side of the plate)

16-oz. pkg. bowtie pasta
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 lb. chicken breasts, cooked and chopped  
                            (I used 1 can Hormel chicken)
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 T. dried parsley
1/4 c. olive oil

Prepare pasta according to directions on package; add asparagus for the last one to 2 minutes of cooking time.  Drain.  Place pasta, asparagus and chicken in a lightly greased 13"x9" baking pan; mix in remaining ingredients.  Broil for 5 minutes, or until top is crisp.  

Serves 6.  

Want to win a free copy of "Meals in Minutes"?  

Go HERE to enter!

Want to purchase "Meals in Minutes"?  Go HERE.

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 Check back in next week for the Spring Cleaning Series (start reading HERE) and for a wonderful pasta dish recipe that was everyone's...
"Most absolute favorite pasta dish in the whole wide world!"  
(words from my 11 year old)

"Meals in Minutes" Gooseberry Patch Giveaway! -- Easy Cheesy Manicotti

The kind folks at Gooseberry Patch are sponsoring a giveaway here at the 'ol bloggy.  "Meals in Minutes" is a 10th anniversary edition cookbook recently added to their collection.  Go HERE
  to order!  Details for the giveaway are below, but first I need to share a delicious recipe with you!

I fell in love with a lot of the pasta dishes in the cookbook so I claimed last week's menu as "Pasta Week".  I was super excited!  I love pasta!  Some members of the family weren't so excited.  However, this one got a thumbs up from most of the family! I'll post the recipe with my notes where appropriate.

I must apologize for my (a-hem) lack of food staging talent.  A talent I have yet to acquire.  *wink*

Easy Cheesy Manicotti

4 to 6 qts. water
1-1./2 t. salt, divided
1 T. olive oil
12-oz. pkg. manicotti
                    (our store was out so I used large shells instead)
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 c. cottage cheese
12-oz. pkg. shredded Monteray Jack cheese
12-oz. pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 T. fresh parsley, chopped
                     (I used 1-1/2 t. dried)
1 clove garlic, minced
                     (I used 1/8 t. garlic powder)
24-oz. jar spaghetti sauce
                     (I like Hunt's Garlic & Herb)

Bring water and one teaspoon salt to a boil; add olive oil and manicotti.  Allow to resume boiling; boil for 6 to 8 minutes.  Drain boiling water; fill with cool water and set aside.  In a bowl, blend cheeses, egg, parley, garlic and remaining salt; set aside.  Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce in an ungreased 13"x9" baking pan. Spoon cheese filling into each manicotti until about 3/4 full; arrange on top of sauce.  Pour remaining sauce over manicotti; bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.  Let cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

Serves 6. (Fed all 9 of us just fine!)

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HERE'S THE GIVEAWAY SCOOP!

*  *  *

**GIVEAWAY**

*  *  *

Please be sure you leave something that distinguishes you from other
comments like "Carmen from northern Indiana". 

*   *   *

Entry 1

Since I chose mostly pasta dishes to review, 
leave a comment (in the comments at the end of the post) with your favorite pasta dish ever (not just my blog...your favorite pasta dish you've ever had).

Entry 2

Share the link for this giveaway on Facebook.

Leave a separate comment (at the end of the post) telling me so. (Another entry)

Entry 3

Blog about this on your own site.

Leave the web addy in a separate comment (at the end of this post).

(Another entry)

Please be sure you leave something that distinguishes you from other comments like "Carmen from northern Indiana".

**All entries need to be a separate comment for drawing purposes.  I count up the total number of comments and then enter it into random.org.  Random.org picks a number then I count down to that number in the comment section.  If all entries are left in one comment unfortunately you will only get one entry.**

**Prize**

One blessed reader will win a copy of Meals in Minutes!

** Giveaway ends Saturday April 7th at midnight EST **
(winner will be announced on Monday April 9th)

  
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Tune in Saturday for another amazing pasta recipe!

Resurrection Rolls - repost

Now's the time to start thinking of purposeful Easter activities. This is reposted...enjoy!

I thought I'd post this in time for you to assemble the goods and make for your children for Good Friday or Easter weekend.

Resurrection Rolls

8 large marshmallows
1/4 cup melted butter
sugar/cinnamon mixture (approx. 2 T each)
1 10 ounce can of crescent rolls

1. Open can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles.  
The rolls represent the linen cloth used in covering the dead.

2. Dip and roll one marshmallow (representing the body) into melted butter.
The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.

3. In a small bowl, mix the cinnamon and sugar together. Roll the marshmallow in the mixture.
The mixture represents the spices used in burials.

4. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent triangle and carefully fold the dough around the marshmallow. (Pinch the edges tightly to seal in the marshmallow as it melts.) Put each crescent-wrapped marshmallow on a slightly greased cookie sheet or in a greased cupcake pan.

5. Bake the rolls in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes or until they are golden brown.  
The oven represents the tomb.

Let them cool. When the kids bite into them, they will see that the inside is empty!   
Just like the tomb was empty that wonderful morning!!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!   HALLELUJAH!

For more information on this wonderful Easter miracle read more HERE.

Spring Cleaning Series: Week 2

How did ya'll do on your Week 1 of Spring cleaning?  Last week's Spring cleaning chart break down is HERE.  Honestly, I'm a bit behind.  I had a sick little guy for part of the week and I've been working on my ebook so time was scarce.  Plus in our neck of the woods it was so stinkin' hot outside that it warmed up the house, too, especially the upstairs (where all of last week's cleaning was to take place!).  So this week will be a catch up week of sorts.  Ah well...it's all good.  Good to have a goal at least, right?  Because if you aim for nothing you'll hit it every time!  *wink*

Tackle the chores one step at a time...like doing all closets on the list at one time, all ceiling fans on the list at one time, etc.  Break it up into doable lists. Go through and decide what you need to get done this week and divide it up into however many days this week you have time.  A lot of the items on the list are done on a regular basis on the Motivated Mom's Planner.  If you've been keeping up with that then you don't have to do as much. *wink*  Go HERE to order the planner.  It's only $8!

I have the entire five week Spring Cleaning Check-List over HERE for you to print out. But if you have issues with that please email me and I'd be happy to send it to you.

I'll go through the list and share ideas for this week's chores...

UPSTAIRS BATHROOM

declutter room

vacuum ceiling and corners -- work from top to bottom

vacuum valances (wash if needed)

wash lights

wash windows -- I use either the blue ammonia product or vinegar and water in a spray bottle.  I like to spray the window, wipe the window with crumpled up newspaper to loosen the dirt then wipe with a sheet of paper towel, then spray again and use a squeegee as a final non-streak step.  It really doesn't take as long as it seems and it has quite the nice result. (Don't forget to take the screens out and give them a good scrub.  You may have to wait for a really nice day to take them outside or if they are small enough they can bathe in the tub. )

wash walls  -- use either a Magic Eraser or some baking soda/water paste on a dampened rag to wipe away difficult marks.  Be sure to follow after with a clean damp rag...both processes leave a residue.

wash rug and decorative towels

scrub tub -- sprinkle the tub with baking soda.  Dampen a rag with vinegar and scrub the tub.  Inexpensive and not a chemical that can harm you!

vacuum floor edges and baseboards

scrub floor -- Use a rag, an old toothbrush, a bowl of steaming hot water, and some elbow grease.
 

DINING ROOM

declutter room  -- Use 3 trash bags to divide up clutter (trash, donate, keep) and work around the room clockwise from the door

clean lights

vacuum corners and ceiling  -- Work from top to bottom

dust greenery -- Put greenery in a paper sack with a handful of table salt.  Close up bag and shake well.  Take greenery out, shake off extra salt.  Voila!  Dust-free greenery!

wash windows

clean china cabinet -- Take pieces out carefully and hand wash if necessary.  Vacuum out the cabinet and dust shelves with a rag dampened with water (use a wood oil if necessary).

dust mantle, bakers rack and piano (or whatever pretties you have)

vacuum lamp shade

vacuum floor and  baseboards 

spot mop -- Use a damp warm rag. 

OFFICE and FOYER

declutter room -- Use 3 trash bags to divide up clutter (trash, donate, keep) and work around the room clockwise from the door

clean light and ceiling fan  

vacuum corners and  ceiling -- Work from top to bottom

vacuum valances (wash if necessary)

dust hutches and desks

vacuum computer keyboards and the vents on the hard drive

wash windows -- see above

vacuum floor and baseboards

wash walls -- see above

This post is part of The Morristribe's Homesteader Blog Carnival.

 

This post is also part of Homestead Barn Hop at

Homestead Revival. 

Griddlemeister Meistergriddle

My hubby can't cook much to save his live, but he has become quite the proficient griddlemeister! He can griddle up some meat, cheese, bread and a few other secret ingredients that come together for a wonderful mouthwatering feast!  They have become a Sunday night tradition. (Am I the only one who can't say "tradition" without belting it out like in "Fiddler on the Roof"?)

I watched him griddle to his little heart's content the other night.  I took notes, carefully watching his sleight of hand and I think I managed to capture the recipe for you!  It's really quite simple, but complex all at the same time!  Ready? Here we go...

First you must don an adorable apron.  Hubby likes to wear an apron.  He looks rather cute, don't you think?  It's actually my mom's apron.  Nice, huh?  He doesn't like to wear mine because mine is all nasty and stained. Can you blame him?  I'll get around to making a new one for myself some day year.

Then you need two griddles.  Probably not, but I think he likes to use two.  Makes him feel like he's the master of the kitchen I think.


One griddle is for eggs, the other for meat and bread.  Yes, I said "eggs".  And yep, they are going on the sandwich.  I didn't think it would be good at first, but it's indeed a lovely addition to the sandwich!

For the egg hubby brushes a bit of olive oil on the griddle so the egg doesn't stick.  He cracks the egg in a bowl (so he doesn't have to pick shell out from off the griddle) and then he gently slides it on the griddle. He cooks the egg until the edges start to look firm then he carefully flips the egg over.  It's a personal preference whether you cook the egg all the way through or leave some of the yolk runny.  (I like mine cooked fully for the sandwich...I like the yolk a smidge runny for an egg and cheese sandwich.)
 

Hubby then warms up/browns the meat a bit on the griddle.  He puts salami on first then he does the turkey and ham to soak up some of the salami juices/oils.  He sprinkles Italian seasoning on the griddle then he butters the inside of a bun and puts that on the griddle.  Topping it with cheese, provolone or colby-jack.  Or both ... Yum!

He assembles the sammies (that's what we call them) and we add whatever condiments we like.  I put on a pickle, lettuce, tomato, mayo and mustard.  It's mmm mm good!  Try it!  You'll like it!  Promise!

Spring Cleaning Series: Week 1

I know, I know, you looked at that list and thought "How in the world am I going to get all that done in one week?", didn't you?   That's what I thought, too.  Just imagine how nice it will be to have the bedrooms and hallway clean by the end of the week?  It'll feel really good!  Just do a bit at a time...like doing all closets on the list at one time, all ceiling fans on the list at one time, etc.  Break it up into doable lists. Go through and decide what you need to get done this week and divide it up into however many days this week you have time.  A lot of the items on the list are done on a regular basis on the Motivated Mom's Planner.  If you've been keeping up with that then you don't have to do as much. *wink*  Go HERE to order the planner.  It's only $8!

Another great idea...have your family help you.  Have a pow-wow at the beginning of the week and see which chores they would be willing to help you with.  You may have to barter cleaning for extra computer time or some other incentive, but whatever works for you!

I have the entire five week Spring Cleaning Check-List over HERE for you to print out. (If it doesn't print out for you send me an email and I'd be happy to email you a pdf copy.

I'll go through the list and share ideas for this week's chores...

MASTER BEDROOM

 declutter room & closets -- use 3 trash bags to divide up clutter (trash, donate, keep) and work around the room clockwise from the door

 clean ceiling fan  -- if your ceiling fan is really dusty then you may want to use the hose from your vacuum to suck off  excess dust before you use a damp rag (I save old towels and dish rags as they get unsightly from the kitchen and bathrooms cut them up to usable sizes)

 wash bedding/turn mattress -- air dry your quilts and mattress covers outside if it's a nice day

 vacuum corners/ceiling (closet) -- work from top to bottom

 vacuum valances

 clean off and dust furniture

 vacuum under bed and furniture, baseboards

 vacuum lamp shades

  

 wash windows -- I use vinegar and water in a spray bottle.  I like to spray the window, wipe the window with crumpled up newspaper to loosen the dirt then wipe with a sheet of paper towel, then spray again and use a squeegee as a final non-streak step.  It really doesn't take as long as it seems and it has quite the nice result.

    vacuum floor 

  wash marks from walls -- You can use either a Magic Eraser or some baking soda/water paste on a dampened rag to wipe away difficult marks.  Be sure to follow after with a clean damp rag...both processes leave a residue.

GIRLS' & BOYS' BEDROOMS

(Make a separate list for each room for checking-off purposes if you like.)

 declutter room & closets

 clean ceiling fan

 wash bedding/ turn mattress

 vacuum corners/ceiling (closet)

 vacuum valances

 clean off and dust furniture

 vacuum under bed and furniture, baseboards

 vacuum lamp shades

 wash windows

 vacuum floor

 wash marks from walls

UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

 vacuum ceiling and corners

  wash lights and walls (Be careful not to clean the lightbulbs when they are hot.  Not only is it dangerous, but the coolness of the rag may blow the bulb.  Not that I would know from experience or anything. a-hem)

 dust pictures  -- I usually just use the soft brush attachment on the vacuum or a feather duster. If the glass is really bad I might use a paper towel dampened with window cleaner (or vinegar and water solution).

 vacuum hampers, baseboards

 vacuum floor and landing

Think of how clean and nice these rooms will look and feel when you're done!  You'll be a fifth of the way done with finishing your Spring Cleaning! 

This post is part of Homestead Barn Hop.

Shamrock Shakes!

I posted this last year and thought ya'll would enjoy it again! I know we will! *wink*

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We aren't big fans of the double arches but boy do we love our Shamrock Shakes!    I found this recipe at Saving Dollars and Sense.
Enjoy! 

Photo Credit

Shamrock Shake Recipe

2 c. vanilla ice cream
1 1/4 c. milk (we use 2%)
1/4 t. mint extract
8 drops green food coloring


Blend it all together until it has a nice creamy texture and all of the food coloring has been evenly mixed in to give it that nice green tone.  This will make enough for two people.

Spring Cleaning Series

This is a repost from last year.  I was going to write a new spring cleaning series, but why reinvent the wheel, right?  Read on and enjoy!

 

This month is what we've all been waiting for!  The month that we can finally say the "S" word.  No, not Snow...the good "S" word!  SPRING! 

There's a light at the end of the tunnel!  We can almost smell it!  Remember what it smells like?  Bliss!  The green grass, the fresh dirt to dig our hands into, the flowers!  Then there are the sounds.  The sounds; birds chirping, animals scattering about, lawn equipment breaking out of their winter homes.  You can almost hear the buds popping out of the barren tree limbs.  Oh and don't get me started on the sights of Spring!  The baby animals, the bulbs popping from the earth, the small light green buds peaking their way through the brown branches, the greener than green grass.  O.K. so I got started on the sights.  You know you wanted me to.  *wink*

With Spring comes all of the fun activities.  Going to the parks for picnics, long walks down lonely country roads, bike rides, playing outside, and just soaking all the yummy sunny goodness that we've been missing all winter long.

Since we've been cooped up all winter long along comes the "C" word.  *whispering*  "Cleaning"...as in "Spring Cleaning".  It's not as bad as it could be.  Really.  Before all those fun aforementioned sights, sounds, smells, and activities start beckoning you from your home we need to get a heads-up on the cleaning.  It's not that bad.  Really.  I'll hold your hand along the way. 

Staring today I will get you started on the easiest Spring cleaning ever.  Just do what I say every week and everything will be alright.  Pinky promise!  *wink*

Below you'll find my Spring Cleaning Check-List.   Each page is a week of spring cleaning chores.  In five weeks, by the end of March, you'll have your house sparkly clean and ready for Spring!  If you are using the Motivated Moms planner (post on it HERE and purchase it affordably HERE) you may skip over some of the items on the check-list since you're doing those items regularly on the list anyway.

Spring Cleaning Check-List

Each week on Monday I'll post my list on the blog and give you some tips and how-to's.  Are you ready?  Let's get started! 

Photo credits:  Country Living, Carmen Hyde

This post is part of Homestead Barn Hop at

Homestead Revival.  

Taco Chicken Soup

As promised on my Facebook page, the winning category of Rush Hour Recipes would be the topic of a new recipe post!  Slow Cookers to the Rescue won and I've chosen Taco Chicken Soup as the recipe to try.

This recipe was super easy...especially since it cooked all afternoon while I tidied up the house, ran a kiddo to a friend's house, and did school with a few kiddos.  I tweaked it a bit, so I'll post GBP's version and my own.

Taco Chicken Soup  (as appears in Rush Hour Recipes)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
15 - 1/2 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
15 - 1/2 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
16 oz. can fat-free refriend beans
15 - 1/2 oz. diced tomatoes, plain or with green chiles
1 - 1/4 oz. package taco seasoning mix
15 - 1/4 oz. can corn, drained

Place chicken in a slow cooker; add beans and tomatoes with juice.  Sprinkle with taco seasoning; stir to mix in.  Cover and cook on low setting for 6 to 8 hours.  Remove chicken and shred with 2 forks.  Return chicken to slow cooker along with corn.  Cover and cook on low setting an additional 20 to 30 minutes, until warmed through. Serves 4 to 6.  

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Taco Chicken Soup  (my tweaked version)

2 lbs. of cooked chopped chicken
15 - 1/2 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
15 - 1/2 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
16 oz. can fat-free refriend beans
2 quarts canned tomato sauce from our pantry
4 tsp. of my bulk taco mix
8 oz. frozen corn

Place chicken in a slow cooker; add beans and tomatoes sauce.  Sprinkle with taco seasoning; stir to mix in.  Cover and cook on low setting for 3 hours until warmed through. Serves 8-10 (since there's more tomato sauce it will feed more).


Enjoy!

hApPy BiRtHdAy!!!

Today our Lydia Grace turns 8!  She's super excited because here in Indiana she doesn't have to use a booster seat in the van anymore!  It's the simple things, I guess.  *wink*

From our fall photo shoot in '10.

Blowing out her number 8 candle on her Littlest Pet Shop cake her big sissy made her!

She was super excited about her gifts!

Lydia with her daddy and I.

Happy Birthday, Lydia Grace!! 

We love you!

Simplify Your Life Series: A Greener Life

If you're looking to simplify a little bit of your life or achieve a major overhaul then join me for our last installment of the ten part series as we work alongside Country Living's Simple Country Wisdom: 501 Old-Fashioned Ideas to Simplify Your Life by Susan Waggoner.  I pick a few points in each chapter, expound upon them and share some of my own tips.  Grab your favorite cuppa and join along!  (Start at the beginning HERE.)

HARMONY

A Greener Life

"It's the twenty-first century.  Do you know where your energy dollars are?  Living greener isn't a punishment, nor is it a fad.  It's the smart thing to do, and no matter who you are or where you live, you can find as many reasons to go green as there are ways to do it."  -- Susan Waggoner

Green at Home

Install a programmable thermostat or get into the habit of lowering the heat before bed.  Cutting back by ten degrees overnight in winter, and raising it by ten degrees in the summer could cut your annual bill by as much as 20 percent.  (This is something that is our intention when our littlest is a bit bigger and can stay covered up during the night...right now he's a four month old roly-poly.)  If you don't have a programmable thermostat and plan to buy one, call your energy provider first.  Many utilities are now offering them free to customers.  Use your windows to help control the temperature indoors. If your windows are well-insulated, take advantage of them -- keep curtains open on sunny winter days to get the benefit of the sun's heat.  In summer months, lower the shades on all but north-facing windows during the day.  Use a humidifier in the winter months.  Cold and furnace heat dry the air, but returning it to normal levels will make the house feel warmer without raising the temperature.  In the summer months, keep rooms at 78 degrees or warmer.  Below 78 degrees, energy consumption begins to skyrocket, and can increase fuel use by 40 percent.  

In the Car

When miles per hour increase, miles per gallon decrease. Peak operating efficiency for most cars (including hybrids) is in the 30-55 mph range, with gas use steadily increasing at higher speeds.   Above 55 mph, each additional 10 mph will burn about 15 percent more gas.  Don't floor it.  Sudden, all-out accelerations and abrupt stops are hard on your car and burn fuel unnecessarily, so keep a light foot on the accelerator and get into the habit of breaking gradually. (Hybrids require a different approach so consult your owner's manual.)  Before you get in the car, consider the alternative.  Ask yourself,  "Is this trip necessary?"  Hike it on feet or trek it on bike if you can.

Reuse and Repurpose:  The Nine Lives of Everyday Objects

Itty bitty slivers of soap can be used up by putting them in a small mesh or organza bag and using them as a loofah in the shower.  Plastic bags from the grocery store are a great lining for waste baskets.  Old toothbrushes, cleaned and sterilized, are wonderful for cleaning small intricate jewelry, graters, garlic presses...anything with a nook and cranny that needs a good scrubbing.  Store extra blankets in your empty luggage.  Tuck in a used dryer sheet so both your blankets and luggage smell fresh!  Old socks make the perfect pet toy or a puppet for the kiddos.  We have a basket on the dryer for those lonely old socks that lost their mate.  My kids love to dive into our button jar to add some eyes, sew on some yarn hair, doodle a face with Sharpies and have a ball!  If you burn scented candles, save the wax that's left when the wick has burned away.  Toss them in a potpourri burner and enjoy the scent once more. My hubby makes a tart warmer that I sell on my Etsy site HERE.

Dryer Sheets:  The Indispensable Disposable

There is a section on dryer sheets and all the wonderful uses for them!  I'll share one with you. When I would go out to the goat barn to milk the goat last summer the bugs would meet me at the mudroom door ready to feast on me.  A friend shared the trick of rubbing a dryer sheet over my exposed skin to repel the skeeters. You know what?  It worked!  If I were working outside for more than thirty minutes or so I would take it with me and reapply as needed.  Give it a try!

  Please share this series by placing the button in the side bar of your blog or share on Facebook by clicking the button at the very bottom of this post.

* photos courtesy of Country Living

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This post is part of the Homestead Barn Hop.

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

Kelly @ The Morris Tribe

and Amy @ Homestead Revival

In Which I Unload ... and Announce the Winner

Can I unload on ya'll?  I'm not usually a Debbie-Downer here, but I just feel the need to unload. (I added some peaceful images from Country Living.  *smile*)

I had to take my oldest daughter to her Orthopedic doctor for a check up.  (She's had Scoliosis since she was 5 and is now 13 and has worn a back brace since then.)  She has a new back brace and we've been hopeful that her back would either stay the same or get better.  Well it's not better.  The curves are worse by a few more degrees.  So she'll wear it some more, continue doing some stretches a Physical Therapist friend gave her to do, pray and hope some more and in four months go back for a check up.  If it's worse then surgery will have to be the answer. 

So we got to the doctor's office and I realized I left my wallet at home.  It was no problem at the office since they had everything on file, but I had hoped to run some errands after the doctor. I wanted to pick up a gift for my soon-to-be 8 year old, pick up some cake making supplies, get gas, etc..  Well that wasn't going to happen (we live 45 minutes from all of those places and I was only 10 minutes away at the doctor's office). So we came home.  I'm kind of glad because I'm exhausted.  Physically.  Mentally.  Exhausted.  I would probably still be gone if I had to go run more errands.  Hubby's going to pick up the slack for me after school and a few other things will just have to be crossed off the list. The family is much better off with me being home, anyway, so it's for the best. 

So ... if you all will pray for Rebekah's back.  Pray for me, too, please.  I think the weather (or it's schizophrenic behavior around here) is dragging on me along with a few other things ... relationship issues between people I love ... are weighing heavy on me lately.   (For the record hubby and I are fine, my children and I are fine, my children and their daddy are fine as well.)  So.  Prayers would be welcome.  

* * *

O.K....on to some fun stuff.  Can I just say I love reading your comments and getting emails about your favorite recipes on the site!  Makes my day I tell ya!  So...with out further adieu the winner of the Gooseberry Patch Rush Hour Recipes cookbook giveaway is...

Comment number 13 ...

Tammy from Jeromesville, Ohio!

Please send me an email with your address and 

I'll get Amazon to pop that in the mail to you right away!

* * *

Thanks so much to all who entered!  

If you didn't win you can hop on over to Amazon to order HERE!

Be on the lookout for another Gooseberry Patch giveaway later this month!!