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Apple Bake

Ingredients

• 5 medium tart apples, peeled and sliced
• 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
• 1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the apples, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Transfer to a greased 8-in. square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and remaining sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples, pressing down to smooth top.
2. Slowly pour water over the top; sprinkle with remaining cinnamon. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm.

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Knorr® Homestyle Stock

Knorr® Homestyle Stock: Thanks Knorr 4 my free sample. Check out celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White in our latest TV commercial. http://bit.ly/A3aN0Q *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

90 Minute Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup margarine, softened
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 egg
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in margarine; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.
3. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, softened margarine.
4. Roll out dough into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread dough with margarine/sugar mixture. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Roll up dough and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls and place cut side up in a 13x9 baking dish. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until browned. 
6. Serve warm

Icing

Ingredients

• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 7 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Beat together the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until creamy. Mix in the vanilla and milk, then gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar and salt until smooth and  fluffy.

Footnotes

• Cook's Note:
• If your cream cheese and butter are cold, it won't cream well. Microwave each separately for about 10 seconds and they will be soft enough to work with.

Crocheting

I remember my step grandmother would Crochet blankets, dolls and clothes for all of her kids, grand kids and great grand kids when I was growing up. As a child, I never put much thought into the amount of time it took to make these items. Now, as an adult, I have a new appreciation for those items, non of which I have anymore. I wish I could have seized the opportunity to learn from her.

I have decided to give Crocheting a try and am teaching myself via videos I am watching on YouTube. Crocheting is not easy, yet, not all that difficult. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot to learn and it can be very frustrating. With anything, practice makes perfect. I do have a lot of learning to do and I am up for the challenge.

My reasoning to begin Crocheting is simple, I have a friend and a family member that are both expecting and I wanted to provide them with something for their little bundle of joy that can lasts a lifetime, is made with love and hopefully will be passed down generation to generation.

Being a first timer I choose to Crochet a scarf for my oldest daughter. I was enjoying myself and thought I was doing a great job, until that dreadful moment when I looked at the 1 1/2 foot long scarf and realized, somehow, somewhere, I had added in an extra Crochet. Then came the time when I had to start pulling apart most of my work. It was not something that I wanted to have to do. One thing about Crocheting, pulling apart your work is something that everyone will do at some point in a project. I have been able to keep count as to not add extra Crochets in and am now well on my way to almost completing the scarf.

It has been a learning process, which I have enjoyed. The satisfaction of taking a skein of yarn and watching it become something is amazing. The best part of it all, is seeing the look on my daughter's face as she sees her scarf and her excitement to be able to wear it soon, weather permitting and all. I am hoping that she will love it and will want to keep it forever as it is my first piece I will have made.

Family Fun Night

Making time for FUN time with the family can be difficult, but making fun time with friends can be even harder. When the kids' sports are in season we are a go, go, go, go family with most of our time being spent at the softball field or the basketball court. Coordinating schedules can be stressful and when invites to parties and gatherings arise, we usually decline because something else is already scheduled for that day.

A few weeks ago, I told my husband I wanted to host a Family Game Night for a few of our friends. I invited 6 families. During the invite process (two weeks before family night was to happen) we received a few declines, which of course, I expected. Remember, these are families, they all have kids and they all have schedules to juggle and prior commitments.

No major prep work was involved. I asked everyone to be here at 6pm and informed them that I would only be serving munchies. Of the three families that had accepted the invite, two actually came. Being the busy family we are, I understand. Final count, six adults and eight kids.

The night was perfect despite the rain trying to put out our bonfire. I had the greatest time. We all laughed so hard and everyone got along great. The kids were running a muck as kids do, played PS3 games, twister, ping pong and whatever else they could come up with. As for us adults, we played Catch Phrase. Catch Phrase is a game where you are given a phrase and you have to use words or actions without using any of the words in your phrase to get your team to guess the correct phrase. It is hilarious the gestures we can make and others know what it is you are trying to say. We played guys against the girls and the girls prevailed. Our guest departed about 10pm.

This idea was a hit. I would like to have Family Game Night with our friends at least once a month. I am thinking for the next one, I will make it a potluck dinner also. Spending time with your family is important, but so is time with your friends. Host your own Family Game Night and have some fun, you deserve it.

Money Saving Laundry Soap

I don't mind spending money when I need to, I just don't like spending MORE than I need to. As a SAHM, I am always trying to find ways to save money and make my pennies stretch. I had heard of people making their own laundry soap and I was eager to try it out.

The first batch I made was on 2/29/2012 and I made 4 gallons, I used the last of it today. There is a total of 5 in our household. My wallet is screaming with savings. My first batch was made using a recipe I found on Hillbilly Housewife. I loved how clean my clothes were. I honestly feel that our clothes were much cleaner than when I used commercial brand soap. Today, however, I am using the Duggar Family (from 19 Kids and Counting on TLC).

I know many will ask, "Why if you loved one recipe would you try another?" It all comes down to my pennies. Each recipe uses slightly different ingredients and amounts. I am trying to see which one stretches my pennies farther and still gives me my desired result. CLEAN CLOTHES.