But back to the “putting away the groceries”… I need to buy a few more canning jars so I can make some more salsa. I am pleased with how it turned out and want to have plenty on hand for the winter. Along with the salsa, I want to try my hand at making pickles. I will have to get my hubby working on those shelves in the basement, as I want to stock them up!!

1 c. flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. oatmeal
1/3 c. firm butter
1 egg
1/4 c. milk
2/3 c. strawberry jam (I used a jar of my homemade strawberry jam)
Powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and granulated sugar; mix in oatmeal. Cut in butter until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Beat egg and milk. Gradually add egg mixture to flour mixture, mixing until well blended.

Spread about half of the dough in a greased, paper lined or non stick 8″ square baking pan. Spread evenly with jam. Drop remaining dough evenly by spoonfuls over mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees until well browned, 35 to 40 minutes.

Cut into bars, about 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ while still warm. Sift lightly with powdered sugar.

About 1 1/2 dozen.

Cookies
1 box (18.25 oz) Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® chocolate fudge cake mix
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Frosting
1 1/2 containers (12 oz each) Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 teaspoons milk

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, 3/4 cup peanut butter, the water, vanilla and eggs on medium speed about 2 minutes or until blended. Gently stir in chocolate chips. Onto cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart.

3. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.

4. In medium bowl, stir together frosting ingredients. Frost cookies with frosting.

Some friends of mine just stayed at the Outer Banks vacation rentals and loved it. After looking at the website, I am “in love”! Ocean front rooms with a gorgeous view. Nothing like waking up and watching a sunrise while still in bed! Or we could have our coffee and cocoa out on one of the decks.

We could do some site seeing, and possibly visit some friends of ours who have moved down there. I may even allow my hubby to teach me how to golf. When we are done with all there is to do in the Carolina’s we can head back to the house and lounge around the pool.

Our 15th wedding anniversary is coming up soon and I would like to go away for a week, I just wonder if the East Coast will be warm enough in March? Carolina Designs will be getting a phone call soon, as I am ready to pack my bags!

They looked so cute on her. But the years have flown on by and now she is looking at polo boots. Really, she’s only 5! When and where do they learn about name brands? I guess having an older sister gets them thinking about this stuff at an early age.

I am going to have to dig up the pattern and made a few of these, as I have several friends who have had or will be having babies. These would make a cute “welcome baby” gift. My needles won’t have time to cool down with all of the projects I have in the works!

1/3 cup A.1. Original Steak Sauce
1/3 cup Barbecue Sauce
2 tsp. Prepared Horseradish
1 Beef top round steak (1-1/2 lb.), cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
9 Pearl onions
1 large Red pepper, cut into 9 strips

Directions

MIX first 3 ingredients until well blended.

THREAD meat onto 18 skewers; place onion or pepper strip at end of each skewer. Place kabobs in shallow glass dish. Pour steak sauce mixture over kabobs. Refrigerate 1 hour to marinate, turning occasionally.

HEAT grill to medium heat. Remove kabobs from marinade; discard marinade. Grill kabobs 4 to 6 min. or until meat is done, turning occasionally.

Kitchens Tips
Use Your Broiler ~ Broil kabobs, 6 inches from heat, 4 to 6 min. or until meat is done, turning occasionally.

Substitute a green pepper for the red pepper.

Note ~ If using wooden skewers, soak skewers in water for 30 min. before using to assemble kabobs to prevent them from burning on the grill.

Its always the hardest to buy for my inlaws, as if they want and or need something they just go out and buy it. I think for my mother in law I am going to get her a digital photo frame. Its something she doesn’t have, and I know it would be something she wouldn’t go out and by for herself.

I have plenty of pictures that I could download to the memory stick. It will be another one of those gifts that makes her cry. My sister in law and I are good at making her cry over gifts. I have other things planned for her as well, just need to finish them up. I will have lots of time after this Friday. I will be a non working lady then! So excited!

I am having a hard time trying to figure something out for my father in law. He is the hardest to shop for, and the one who gives us the hardest time when we buy him things. I may have to dig deep into my knitting bag to find just the right pattern that will “WoW” him!

What You Need
1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
1 Green pepper, chopped
1 jar (15 oz.) spaghetti sauce
12 Taco Shells, warmed
1-1/2 cups Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
3 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tomato, chopped

Directions

COOK sausage and peppers in large skillet 8 to 10 min. or until sausage is done, stirring occasionally; drain.

STIR in spaghetti sauce; simmer 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

FILL shells with sausage mixture and remaining ingredients.

This lamb is cute:

A couple of cute bunnies:

And this cute little lady bug: