Goal Number 37-New Recipe #13

So, Christmas Eve this year was spent with my sister Annie's family and I made the most delicious and super easy soup.  Seriously, try this tonight!!!!  So YUMMY!!!!!!

EASY CROCKPOT POTATO SOUP


1~ 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns
3~ 14oz. cans of chicken broth
1~ can of cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1~pkg. cream cheese (DON'T USE FAT FREE, IT WILL NOT MELT!)


In a crockpot, combine everything EXCEPT for the cream cheese.  Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.  About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese and keep heated until thoroughly melted.  Serve with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, green onions, or whatever else you think would be good!!

2012 Resolutions

2012 is the year of Cindy!  This year I actually spent some time making resolutions that I intend to keep.  It is all about creating the best life possible.

1.  Have a date for New Year's Eve 2012.

2.  Stop drinking soda.

3.  Find JOY and PEACE in my home and occupation.

4.  Be STRONG and Healthy in body and mind.

5.  Learn to stand up for myself.

I read a quote today by William Jame, American psychologist and philosopher, that I am going to keep in my mind over the coming year.  "The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."

And by the ever poetic Selena Gomez, "You've got every right to a beautiful life."

AMEN!

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #12

Can I say HEAVEN!!!!!!  These cookies are the best new recipe find of the year.  This recipe was delivered right to my inbox this year thanks to Betty Crocker and their 25 days of cookies recipes this holiday season.

 So, without further ado I bring you,

Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Cookies

1 1/2cups unsalted butter, softened

3/4cup sugar

1teaspoon vanilla

3 1/2cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

Topping

1bag (14 oz) caramels, unwrapped

2tablespoons milk

4oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

1tablespoon butter

1teaspoons coarse (kosher or sea) salt

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups butter with electric mixer on high speed until creamy. Beat in sugar and vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour until blended. Divide dough in half. Between 2 sheets of waxed paper, roll 1 portion of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. On ungreased cookie sheet, place cutouts about 2 inches apart. Repeat with second portion of dough. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until set and just barely light golden (do not overbake). Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks; cool completely.

In medium microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and milk uncovered on High 2 minutes 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Frost each cookie with about 1 rounded teaspoon caramel mixture.

In small microwavable bowl, melt chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter uncovered on High 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drizzle chocolate over caramel on each cookie. Sprinkle generously with salt. Let stand until set

Makes 3 dozen cookies

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #11

 This recipe may sound a little strange but I promise you it is delicious!!!!!!!  My sister and I had a bake-a-thon before Christmas and I will be posting several of the recipes that we tried.  This was so delicious and super easy!!  This recipe is courtesy of a super fun blog I found called A Southern Grace.  Check it out!!

TERRIBLY TERRIFIC TOFFEE

1 cup unsalted butter (no margarine allowed)

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

40 saltine crackers

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray.  Lay a flat layer of crackers out on the foil.  Melt the sugar and butter until a boil is reached.  Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 minutes or until mixture is thickened and sugar is completely dissolved.  Pour this mixture over the crackers and spread to coat evenly.  Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until the toffee becomes bubbly.  After removing the pan from the oven, let it sit for 3-5 minutes.  Sprinkle on the chocolate chips, let them soften and melt, and then spread them into a even layer.  At this point you can add nuts, crackers crumbs or anything else your heart may desire.  Let cool and if desired refrigerate until hardened.  Break into pieces the size of your choice.  ENJOY!!!!

Goal 38 FINISHED!!!!

Okay everyone, I am pleased to report that I have finished one of my goals and this one is a huge one.  I have been working on it since I first made my list of goals.  I MADE A QUILT!!  I made this quilt mostly by myself with a little help from my mother .  I got the inspiration from a this blog and while it took  my MUCH longer than it did her I FINISHED.  Somewhere along the way I discovered that I enjoy creating things and have completed several other sewing projects.  My family now accepts me as a crafty woman and thanks to my brother Jens' family I have a brand new sewing machine.  Check out the pictures of my quilt and feel free to tell me how awesome it is.

Quilt Top

Quilt Bottom

Baby Quilt

Not sure when I became the crafty, sewing girl but I recently was invited to a baby shower and my first thought was "I should make a quilt!" Well I made a quilt.  In just 3 short evenings I made the most adorable (in my opinion) rag quilt.  Go me!!

Breakfast Disaster!

It has been a little while since I last posted and things in my life have been semi-chaotic and of course my blog is the first thing to go. This morning I decided to make breakfast and felt really good about that decision.  A yummy hot breakfast burrito sounded really great on this cold fall morning.  Well, turns out I need to slow down and start enjoying my life because my attempt at breakfast was a DISASTER!!!  The only thing I could do was take a picture and throw it away.  SAD!!

I like a little pepper on my eggs but not quite that much!!  Maybe I will try again tomorrow. (I am thinking I will probably be sticking with my cold cereal!)

My take away lesson for the day is that I need to slow down and enjoy life.  I will probably need to keep reminding myself.