One trick I’ve learned to stop the “Water, again?” whining is to bypass the cheap plastic cups they’re used to and serve it up in a cute little glass.  A real glass.

Yes, even for the two-year-old.

Plain ol’ water becomes “Can I have some more, please?”  They’re happy.  I’m happy.  A water win-win works for me!

Do your children drink enough water?  What tricks do you use to get them to drink more?

I was thrilled to be in the city today to take advantage of an amazing deal going on at Toys R Us.  Right now, when you buy $25 in Hasbro games, you receive a $10 gift card.  Also, there is a Hasbro games rebate available.  And, the Hasbro games are on sale for about 1/2 off!

Here’s what I bought:

• Cootie, $3.99
• Don’t Break the Ice, $3.99
• Hi Ho Cherry-O, $3.99
• Memory, $3.99
• Chutes and Ladders, $3.99
• Candyland, $3.99
• Disney Princess Chutes and Ladders, $3.99

Total, $29.69 (with tax)

Minus the $10 gift card

Minus $12 rebate on 6 of the games

Total out of pocket for 7 games = $8.11 (factoring in postage)

Not too shabby!

I’ll use some of the games for Christmas gifts, but my daughter helped me pick out two (that we already have) to give to Toys for Tots, completing Day 9 of the 30-Day Giving Challenge.

If I happen to make it to town again while this deal is going on, I’ll use my $10 gift card toward another $25 in games and do it all over again.  Hopefully, the curious little 1st grader won’t be with me so that I can get a couple of the games she was interested in today!

Layered Chocolate Pie Dessert

Crust:

• 2 c. flour
• 1 1/2 sticks butter (softened)
• 1/2 c. nuts

Mix flour, butter, and nuts.  Press into the bottom of a 9×13 pan.  Bake 20 minutes at 350°.  Allow to cool.

Filling:

• 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 c. powdered sugar
• 4 1/2 oz. tub whipped topping

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and whipped topping.  Spread over cooled crust.

Pudding:

• large (6 oz.) box chocolate instant pudding
• 3 c. milk

Mix pudding and milk according to package directions.  Pour/spread over cream cheese layer.

Topping:

• 9 oz. carton whipped topping
• nuts, chopped candy bars, chocolate shavings

Spread pudding with whipped topping.  Sprinkle your choice of nuts or candy on top.  Refrigerate until serving.

**For Easter, my grandma likes to make it with lemon pudding, sprinkled with pecans.

**Fantastic way to use up some Halloween candy!

Does your family enjoy this dessert?  What’s your name for it?

This post is linked to

• Tasty Tuesday
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
  

No, my family didn’t go hungry.  We didn’t even have to get creative!  Thanks to a frozen cavatini made several weeks ago, they got along just fine.  Even if you’re not a big fan of once-a-month cooking or any type of cooking ahead, you might consider doubling your recipes every once in a while and freezing one batch.  It is just so nice to be able to pull something out of the freezer on a hectic day!

Sunday, November 8

• crescent sausage wraps (made with homemade crescent rolls – a gift from my mom), scrambled eggs with cheese
• cavatini, sweet corn, cheesy Texas Toast
• popcorn, apples

Weekday Breakfasts – oatmeal with raisins, lazy granola, eggs (fried or scrambled) and toast or muffins, French toast

Weekday Lunches – leftovers, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, grilled cheese, fresh fruit and veggies, cheese and crackers, quesadillas

Suppertime

• sloppy joes on homemade buns, deviled eggs, carrot sticks
• cream of potato soup, french bread
• chicken and black bean quesadillas with lettuce/cheese/sour cream, fruit
• chili frito pie (chili with corn chips and cheese), apples
• barbecue beef brisket, twice baked potato casserole, green beans, homemade bread (inviting friends for supper)

Saturday, November 14

• waffles with homemade pomegranate syrup, scrambled eggs, bacon
• sandwiches/snacks on the road to a football game
• clean out the fridge

Have a great week!  All the best menu plans are over at OrgJunkie.  Be sure to visit!

Momentum is building as the 30-Day Giving Challenge is well underway!  It’s so much fun to look at a new day and a new week and think “How can I give today?  Who can I bless?”   Here’s how we gave this week.

Day 1 – Donated to an area church turkey dinner and raffle.

Day 2 – Gathered goodies from our stockpile for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.  The kids helped sort the treats into two bags (to take to two different churches).  They even dug through their Halloween candy and parted with about 1/2 of it!  It was a wonderful family activity, and we were thrilled with their willingness to share with less fortunate children.

Day 3 -  Baked 5 mini-loaves of Poppy Seed Dessert Bread to give away.

Day 4 – Donated 20 Huggies Enjoy the Ride reward points to KaBoom.

Day 5 – Wrote (as in handwriting on a card that you hold in your hand) a note of encouragement to a friend who is currently in a tough situation.  Mailed it with a prayer card.  (How long has it been since I’ve handwritten a card and mailed it?!  So sad!)  Also, had a fall plant delivered to my Mother-in-Law, who was spending her birthday sick in the hospital. 

Day 6 – Delivered cinnamon rolls to two different friends.  One just because and one for a new baby/new house gift.

Day 7 – Gave my boy’s baby clothes to my sister to use for my nephew.  I’m really hoping to need those back someday, but if I never need them, I’m glad she has them!  Also, gave a birthday gift to another nephew.

And just in case I needed a reminder that I can’t out give God…

As we sat down with our trays of food last Sunday at the church dinner, I was happy that we were there and that we gave, but a little down about spending the money to “eat out.”  I sometimes have an issue with enjoying a treat without feeling the guilt.

Anyway, as we began to eat they began calling winners for their raffle.  The best prize is drawn first, and… you know where this is going, right?  Our two-year-old won a hand-made queen-sized quilt! I have no idea what that quilt is worth, but the money we donated for dinner and our raffle tickets pales in comparison. Oh, the humbling!

That’s not all.

On Thursday, when I walked to the post office to mail the card for my friend, I also picked up our mail.  In it was a card addressed to my hubby and me.  I normally wait the two-block walk to open my mail, but this was a real card from a real person. So I opened it and read it (and cried) on my walk home.

One of my hubby’s freshman football players took the time to write very long (very well written!) thank you notes to both of us!  And, there was a gift card involved.  So unnecessary. So generous. So making us hope that our tiny school will be here forever and ever.

We canNOT out-give God, people!

Are you taking the 30-Day Giving Challenge?  There’s still time.  Jump in there and give. You will be blessed!

This post is linked to

• Gratituesday
• Your Life, Your Blog
  

I’m not sure how many of the 3 and 4 year olds grasped the concept, but there were few dry eyes amongst the parents.  The gist of it is that each one of us carries an invisible bucket around all day, every day.  We are unable to fill our own bucket; others have to do that for us.  We also can’t fill our bucket by emptying out another bucket (hurting someone else).  We have to fill each other’s buckets.

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? Do you speak kindly?  Go out of your way  to brighten someone’s day?  Give of your time, talent, and treasure?  Carry the load of a friend in need?  Hug your hubby and your kids extra long before they leave for the day?  Cut your children’s sandwiches into special shapes just because it’s fun?  Smile often?  Read one more story before tackling your to-do list?  Get up early to make a warm, healthy breakfast for your family? Stumble or otherwise promote a blog post you enjoyed?  Leave a comment on a inspiring website?  Bucket-filling opportunities abound!

As I was tucking my boy in the night that we read the story, I told him he did a great job of filling my bucket.  He’s complimentary of my peanut butter and honey sandwiches “You da best cooker, Mom!” and he loves to sneak up behind me, slipping his hand into mine “You like my soft hands, Mom?” and he asks for bear hugs throughout the day “I need a hug, Mom”.

His response?  “I know that, Mom.”

A Full Bucket is a Finer Thing.  Go be a bucket filler!

What Finer Things are you celebrating this week?  Link up and let us know!  If you find that your link has been deleted it is most likely because 1) You linked to your homepage and not your post (permalink) or 2) You didn’t leave a link back here.  Feel free to email me if you have questions!

1. Myra @ Happy Housewife Living Life (Design On A Dime) 2. HoosierHomemade(Baking Day) 3. Lisa@BlessedwithGrace 4. Allyson (Educational Lunch) 5. Shelley @MAHM (Planning for Holidays) 6. Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet (The Challenge) 7. Tara @ Feels like home 8. The Cozy Country Home (Our Anniversary) 9. Diann @ The Thrifty Groove (Being prepared) 10. Prudent & Practical (Pistachio Bread) 11. Allison@Savoring the Moments (Inexpensive Halloween Memories) 12. Jean Stockdale-Fragrance of Christ 13. Angie @ Many Little Blessings (Home Baked Christmas Gifts) 14. It Feels Like Chaos (cookies) 15. Monica@DailyDwelling (homeschool prayer) 16. Stephanie (Our New Additions) 17. Amy @ Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free (Butternut Squash Tart)

18. Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles (Starting The Day On My Knees) 19. Amy Lynne @ Mom*s Balance 20. Kari @ Eating Simply – Warm and Cheesy Sweet Potato Chips 21. Jennifer (When Kids Cook) 22. April @ Frugal Homemaking (Home, Hats, and Thankful Hearts) 23. Audra@ Rediscovering Domesticity – Stress Release! 24. Penny @mylifeonplanetmom 25. Geri@heartnsoulcooking(cranberry pecan pumpkin upside down cake) 26. RuthintheDesert (Almond Butter Soup) 27. Olivia@Of Such is the Kingdom (Doughnuts and Chips) 28. Love Peace and Saving ~ANOTHER BLESSING 29. homegrownstrawberries 30. Jenny @ The Zepf Life(that girl of mine) 31. Melissa Multitasking Mama 32. Kitchen Stewardship – My Little Boy Helps Bake 33. Micha @ Aint Mimi (my granddaddy) 34. Mary Jo @ Covenant Homemaking

Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.

Pan Burritos

• 1 jar (16 oz.) enchilada sauce
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 3 large flour tortillas (or more smaller ones)
• 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can refried beans

Brown the hamburger.  Stir in 1/3 of enchilada sauce.  Spread another 1/3 sauce on the bottom of a 9×9ish pan.

Place a tortilla over sauce.  Spread tortilla with 1/2 of the refried beans.  Spoon 1/2 of the meat mixture over the tortilla; sprinkle 3/4 c. cheese.

Repeat layers:  tortilla, beans, meat, cheese (3/4 c.).

Layer final tortilla; top with the rest of the sauce and cheese.  Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.  Serve with shredded lettuce and sour cream.  Serves 6.

This post is linked to

• $5 Dinner Challenge
• Foodie Friday
• Frugal Friday
  
• Grocery Cart Challenge
  

I had no idea.

Baking special cookies and holiday treats is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  Little did I know, before reading The Gift of the Christmas Cookie, that Christmas cookies were first made in nativity shapes as a way to share the story of Christ’s birth to villagers who couldn’t read.  Did you know that?

Richly illustrated, The Gift of the Christmas Cookie is a Christmas story of giving.  What a great book to read to your children during the holiday hubbub, to remind them that getting isn’t where it’s at.

In the story, Jack’s excitement over the rare smell of holiday baking in his kitchen is quickly turned into disappointment when his mother tells him the cookies are for the needy people at their church.  With his dad gone looking for work, Jack is feeling pretty needy himself.  While rolling out the cookies, Jack’s mother shares with him the story of the Christmas cookie.

Armed with his new lesson, Jack’s heart softens toward a stranger on Christmas Day and he shares a precious gift.

This tender story of giving is not just about cookies – but gifts of the heart that last forever.

Want to win a copy? Leave a comment below telling me either 1) Your favorite Christmas tradition, or 2) Your favorite thing to bake for the holidays.  Leave a recipe, too, if you want!  I’ll let Random.org pick a winner for me on Sunday, November 8, at 8:00 central time.

PS – The winner of The Princess and the Three Knights was #13, MF

Thank you to ZonderKids Publishing!  They sent me 2 copies of The Gift of the Christmas Cookie:  one to review, and one to give away.

This post is linked to

• Things I Love Thursday
  

It’s about that time again.  The time when our grandest holiday intentions get pushed aside by a roaring reality.  Plans of making fancy homemade cookie and candy platters for neighbors and friends.  Plans of wowing teachers with  homemade breads and dessert bars.  I think we can all agree that nothing is going to slow down for the next two months.  Time in a bottle will not be left on our doorstep. What to do about it?

Bake.

Now.

This morning I got a start on my holiday baking during the Twitter #bakingday event.  I didn’t get a stellar amount accomplished, but something is better than nothing.  And in that something I have 5 mini-loaves of Poppy Seed Dessert Bread that can now be wrapped and frozen for giving.  I also have some of these in the freezer, but I know they won’t make it to the holidays!

Today’s Baking Day Accomplishments

• Poppy Seed Dessert Bread
• Wheat Bread
• Hamburger/Hot Dog Buns (with a few healthy adjustments)
• Veggie Chicken Noodle Soup

Right now, while the days are a little less crazy, while the weight of your holiday to-do list hasn’t stripped your holiday cheer, start baking. Works for me!

What are your favorite things to bake for the holidays?

Although not perfect, I have leaned on a few tips for making pretty and tasty cinnamon rolls.  Here’s my Top 10:

1.  Start with a good recipe. My favorites are Mom’s Cinnamon Rolls and Big Batch Cinnamon Rolls.  If you want over-the-top indulgence, go with Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls.

2.  Proof the yeast. Mix the yeast and a little water and sugar from the recipe, and let it sit for a few minutes.  The yeast should activate and “grow”.  This photo had 1/2 cup of water.  The yeast has already made it past the 1 cup line.

3.  Don’t add cold ingredients to the mix. Yeast likes warmth.  Warm any liquid that will come in contact with the yeast.  I even set my eggs in a cup of warm water before cracking and adding them.  Don’t want to shock the yeast!

4.  Let your dough rise in a CLEAN, oiled bowl. I just take my mixing bowl and give it a little scrub.  Then I swirl about a tablespoon of oil before dropping the kneaded dough in to rise.  Makes getting the dough out so much easier! Also, I have less sticky dried-on dough to pull out of the bowl and probably waste.  And the dough rolls out better with that little bit of oil coating!  (Bonus Tip:  Don’t knead the dough too much.  Just enough to handle it easy.  Overworking your dough makes for tough rolls.)

5.  Roll out in a thin, even rectangle. Easier said than done, I know.  If you’re prone to rolling out an odd oval shape, try rolling from the middle to the outside corners of the dough.  Then roll along the edges to even it out.

6.  Use butter. Use butter instead of oil or shortening or whatever in the recipe, and spread your rectangle with a generous amount of butter before rolling it up.

7.  Sprinkle evenly the brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon. Don’t skimp on the edges!  Using both sugars adds a yummy gooeyness.

8.  Squish the roll, then floss your rolls. Once I roll up my rectangle, I squish the ends in.  That makes for a more uniform cut without wimpy, odd-shaped end pieces.  I never use a knife to slice my rolls.  Slicing with dental floss provides a much cleaner cut without squishing the rolls.

9.  Leave plenty of space for the rolls to rise. The pan in this picture is an 11×15 with 12 cinnamon rolls.  If your rolls are too crowded they won’t rise as pretty, and the texture will be compromised.

10.  Use a thinner icing and cover thoroughly. The reason I got a blue ribbon instead of a purple ribbon on my regular cinnamon rolls was that there was a small “dry spot” that the icing didn’t cover.  Yes, I do remember that detail 20 years later.  Humph! 

Dry spot front and center. Oops!

Do you like to bake cinnamon rolls?  What’s your favorite tip for pretty and tasty rolls?

This post is linked to

• Kitchen Tip Tuesday
• Tasty Tuesday
  
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
• Top 10 Tuesday