Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Five convenient ingredients and just 25 minutes stand between you and a homemade pot pie dinner for two

You need

1 can Progresso Rich and Hearty chicken pot pie style soup
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen broccoli cuts
2 buttermilk biscuits
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

Heat oven to 375. In microwaveable bowl,micro soup and vegetables uncovered on high for 5 minutes. Divide soup mixture between 2 oven proof baking dishes. Top each with 1 biscuit. Place dishes on cookie sheet with sides

Bake 22-25 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Sprinkle with parsley

October's Thought of the Month

Think big,for there's no greater delight than living
your dreams.

Anonymous

Day at Grandma's and Grandpa's

Ok Pat here are your pictures.

These activity mats are cool!!

Nap time !!

Candle Crafts

Snuggly Sweater Candles- Repurpose old sweaters as candle wraps. Use sharp scissors to cut cuffs off sweaters. Slide the cuff pieces over glass votive holders, leaving some of the glass exposed for safety

Candle Greeting- Share greetings anywhere in the house. Stick adhesive scrap booking letters to small candles. Line up the candles to spell a message

Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes

Dress up an all time favorite comfort food with savory fixings. This is an easy recipe that delivers big flavor.

You need

2 1/2 pounds potatoes peeled
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter melted
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
5 bacon strips cooked and crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

How to

Boil potatoes and drain

In a large bowl,mash potatoes. Add the sour cream, milk, butter, and 1 cup cheese. Stir in onion,bacon,salt and pepper. Spoon into greased 2 qt baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until heated though

Mexican Bubble Pizza

In this easy casserole style pizza,strips of biscuit dough bake right in with taco seasoned ground beef

You need

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 package seasoning mix
3/4 cup water
1 can tomato soup
1 can Grands refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
2 cups shredded cheddar
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 medium tomatoes chopped
1 cup Salsa
1 can sliced ripe olives
1 container sour cream
3 green onions sliced

How to

Heat oven to 375 In skillet cook beef and drain. Add taco seasoning water and soup mix well. Heat to boiling. Reduce to low and simmer 3 minutes

Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 8 pieces. Add pieces to beef mixture;stir gently. Spoon mixture into ungreased 13x9 pan

Bake 18-23 or until sauce is bubbly and biscuits are golden brown. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 8-10 minutes longer

To serve cut pizza into 8 squares. Top each serving with remaining ingredients

Gourds and Pumpkins for Fall Decorating

Hollow out tall squash and use them as vases for your favorite fall blossoms. White gourds make a beautiful pairing with pink and orange flower

Create a vase with a gourd that stands upright. Slice off the stem and use a long,slender knife to widen the opening if necessary. Add a handful of bright mums.

Tuck a dainty nosegay of mums into a tiny gourd or squash for each guest at your table. Cut a small opening in the top of the gourd,add a little water to extend the life of the flowers and fill with a few stems.

Hook a swan gourd over a balcony rail to create a hanging vase. Cut a 1-2 inch hole near the neck of the gourd,remove a bit of the pith, and insert mums, black eyed Susan's, and a length of Virginia creeper

Illuminate a fall night with candle holders fit for the season. Carve a small hole in the top if a miniature pumpkin-wide enough to hold a votive candle and deep enough so the can can be nestled in securely.

Helpful Tips

Embroidery Organizer- When working on a project you will save time if you keep the needles and threads you're using neatly sorted and separate from the rest of your sewing supplies. File them in a clear 9 inch loose leaf binder with plastic pocket envelopes to hold various threads, small scissors, patterns and instructions. A hole punch is used to make a page of heavy felt to hold needles. Choose a larger loose leaf binder for your more elaborate projects.

Measuring Table- Any table or counter top used for crafts or sewing projects will be improved by the addition of a measuring tape along the edge, just as you see in fabric stores. Purchase a metal measuring tape backed with peel off adhesive from a home center. Apply tape around the perimeter of the work surface, uncovering the adhesive as you go. Snip excess tape with utility scissors.

Easy Decorating with Pumpkins

Pretty Pumpkin Garland - Use a small drill to pierce a hole though an assortment of mini pumpkins. Use a toothpick to pierce fall leaves. Next, string several leaves through twine, followed by a single pumpkin. Make sure to tie a knot after each element so it stays in place.Display your creation above a window, across a mantel or around a banister

Pumpkin Presentation- Place pumpkin candles along the inside of a rake hanging upside down for a simple and unexpected presentation that is sure to be a hit all fall.

Natural Touch - At the dinner table, delight guests with an easy and unique alternative to a place card. Use a paint pen to write the names of dinner guests on fresh or dried fall leaves. Then punch a small hole in each leaf and tie them individually around the stems of green striped cushaw pumpkins

Puffed Pancake Brunch Casserole

This sounds like a good Sunday breakfast!!

You need

1/2 cup butter
2 cups Bisquick Mix
2 cups milk
8 eggs
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 lb cubed cooked ham
1 package precooked bacon chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

Heat oven to 375 Spray a 13x9 glass baking dish. Place butter in dish:place in oven until melted.

In bowl, mix Bisquick mix,1 cup of milk, and 2 of the eggs with whisk until tiny lumps remain.Pour over butter in baking dish,. Layer with Swiss cheese, ham, bacon, and cheddar cheese. In large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup milk, remaining 6 eggs , the salt,mustard and nutmeg. Pour over casserole

Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes

Giant Cinnamon Cheese Danish

This easy, king size cream cheese danish is great for breakfast!!

You need

1 can Pillsbury Grands refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
1 package cream cheese softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons sour cream
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla

How to

Heat oven to 350 Lightly grease glass pie plate. Separate dough into 5 rolls. Unroll 1 roll into long strip of dough;re roll loosely and place in center of pie plate. Unroll second roll;loosely wrap around first roll, Repeat with remaining rolls,coiling dough in pie plate into spiral shape.

In bowl,beat remaining ingredients except icing with electric mixer until smooth .Spoon cream cheese mixture into decorating bag with tip or gallon size resealable storage bag with a 1/2 inch hole cut in bottom corner. About half way down the rolls, pipe mixture between strips of dough,starting at center.

Bake 25-35 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool: Meanwhile, remove cover from icing and microwave on medium for 10- 15 seconds and drizzle over rolls.

Modern Fall Wreath Idea

Harvest Horseshoe-- Project a perfectly pastoral look with this horseshoe shape wreath crafted with wheat grass. Purchase a U shape wreath or cut and remove the top portion of a circular foam wreath to create the horseshoe. Next, gather the wheat into small bunches and use wire to bring the stems together. Starting from the top of the wreath and working your way down,use U shape florist's pins to attach the bunches to the wreath.Each bunch should cover the stems and wires of the one before. For bottom bundles,trim the stems short. Finish by attaching a small cluster of nuts,seeds,or acorns to the center of the wreath with hot glue.

Easy Decorating with Pinecones

Decorative Mantle - Pine cones on a fireplace mantle are a simple and elegant way to make your home feel warm and cozy. Start by draping a natural garland across the length of your mantle. Next,lay the pine cones on top of the garland,alternating setting them upright and on their sides. Finish by nestling fresh apples between the pine cones to create a stunning and whimsical display

Small Wonders- Smaller pine cones can be used as ground cover for a potted plant. Simply arrange the miniatures around the plant's base. You can also fill a decorative bowl with the tiny cones. Add your favorite fall potpourri or a few miniature Christmas ornaments during the holiday season

Easy Decorating with Pumpkins

Tabletop Display- Dress up any table with this easy to make tabletop tree. Simply fill a glass cylinder vase with birdseed and stick several sturdy branches inside. Next, drill a small hole in the stem of each pumpkin and string it along fishing line or florist's wire to hang

Pumpkin Pitchfork- To make a pumpkin pitchfork candle holder, cut a hole in the top of each pumpkin with a paring knife and hollow out an opening large enough to hold a battery operated tea light candle. Make a number of pumpkin candles for presentation on a pitchfork. Then push the bottom of each along the spiked portion of a rake. Position the decorative pitchfork against a bare outdoor wall

Fall is Approaching

With Fall just around the corner, I thought that I'd better get busy with my blogging again. It seems like the only thing I have time to do is post pictures of William. That's a good thing !! But I think that I am ready to start sharing all my Fall ideas, for just awhile anyway. Bold Branches-- Ceramic vases filled with festive fall foliage and bursting springs of bittersweet berries can be placed anywhere to create a casual and natural fall look.

Colorful Crop -- Create a harvest inspired table display by filling a basket with Indian corn and pine cones. Finish by tying a seasonally colored bow to the front of the basket

Nature Framed-- Nature displays a rainbow of colors during the fall season. Attach chicken wire to the back portion of any empty wood frame, then hot glue or wire fall leaves, cattails, and bittersweet berries to the wire and frame.

Mommy's "All Star"

I caught William sucking his thumb!! That's very rare.

Life's good!!

Yeah !! Touchdown!!

Family Pictures

These 3 were taken today. I got to watch William while Mom went into work.

Our feast at Pine Valley. We went camping over the weekend with our friends from California

Views from our campsite

Our campsite. We had a huge one.

Our friends from California, Mike and Jennifer. They got to meet William for the first time

Grandpa and William.

Group picture

It started getting cold outside, so William borrowed a hat.

Someone turned out the lights on this little guy. It did not seem to bother him, he slept right thru it

This time when the lights went out, he thought it was funny !!

It was a long day!! Can you tell!! He finally fell asleep at the campground and they took him home and he slept straight thru til 3:30 in the AM It was all that good clean Pine Valley air.

We had a great weekend visiting with our friends. We don't get to see them very often but when we do we always have a good time.