Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

2 cups warm water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil

2 t. salt

Heat above ingredients in a sauce pan until sugar is dissolved. Cool. Then in a glass measuring cup put 2 packages of yeast, 1/4 cup warm water, 1t. sugar. Set the measuring cup to the side. Add 4 c. of flour and 2 eggs to the water mixture. Beat for 5 mins. Stir in yeast mix and 3 cups flour. Stir until the dough is soft. Cover in bowl with towel and let rise 1 hour over warmed oven (or until it is doubled in size). Punch down the dough and roll out into a rectangle. Cover with 1 stick of soft of butter after the dough is rolled out thin. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a bowl (to the consistency of cinnamon sugar) and spread thick over the butter and dough. Cut into long strips and roll up each strip (about an inch thick). Put rolls in a pan (not touching). Cover with towel and let rise 1 hour over the stove or until they have doubled in size. Bake 20 minutes at 375.

Icing

3 cups powdered sugar

2 1/2- 3 Tablespoons sugar

1.2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the above ingredients. Add more milk if mixture is too thick until the consistency is what you want then spread over warm rolls.

The Sewing Saga Begins

Let the sewing begin! After New Year's was finally here and gone, I got

to thinking and realized I hadn't made a New Year's Resolution. What in life did I want to learn, change, or do differently?! I pondered the idea of working out and then quickly came to my senses. Me, working out, with two kids, a full time

teaching job, Master's classes online, and eMINTS training? No, working out was not an attainable or realistic goal. After all, I look at it this way... my work out is running up and down the stairs on a daily basis at work(because I teach in the basement) and doing laundry constantly at my own home!!! What was it that I wanted to accomplish I thought and then it came to me...

learn how to sew!

So, after not much thought at all and deciding I was going to learn how to sew, I googled fabric stores and ordered two yards of material. One of the yards was the adorable pink and white polka dot fabric that is shown above. I then googled how to sew a pillow dress and got great results. There were tutorials, pictures (in steps), and even videos! Wow I thought; I can do this (even though I didn't own a sewing machine and had NEVER threaded a machine). I then borrowed a machine and couldn't figure it out so my aunt graciously offered for me to borrow her machine. I didn't want to buy a machine without knowing if I could sew (the doubt started to kick in). Well after a ten minute "lesson" from my aunt, I got busy and after taking 3 stops to feed the baby, play with the two-year-old, and change the laundry, this is what I created....

The oh-so-cute pink polka dot pillow case dress was born!!! Now that I have achieved what I set out to do I decided I would tackle another pillow case dress in the 2nd fabric that I bought which is below. Pictures to come at a later date!!!

P.S. This fabric is MUCH, MUCH, more adorable in person!!

Let it snow, let it snow!

The girls wearing one of their many Pampered Princesses Boutique Bows

Wow! The last few days have been spent at home because of all the snow and the cold weather that we received the last few days! The girls and I have been busy baking, catching up on laundry, and a few other things that was needed to be done! Staying at home is NOT good for the "biggest loser diet" that I started at school in order to get back to my before-baby-size!!



While at home I have been searching the Internet for neat items that are homemade for the girls. I decided that sometimes when I post, I will feature a certain website for you to check out! Today I am featuring one of my all-time favorites!

http://www.pamperedprincessesboutique.com/store/Default.asp



The mother who owns this boutique has three little girls of her own and she makes the cutest hair bows! I have MANY of the bows and always am looking at what other bows the girls NEED! :) These bows are cute when the girls dress up and even when they are wearing their play clothes. I love them because I am able to comb their hair, throw a bow in and they are good to go!! Here is another link which connects you to her Facebook page if you want to follow her and check out any new items she posts on her Facebook page! http://http//www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pampered-Princesses-Boutique/104604956249845

2 Months Old Tomorrow

It's hard to believe that our baby is 2 months old tomorrow... it makes me so sad! Here's a picture that was taken recently. The girls are both doing great and we are getting ready for the upcoming holiday!! Christmas is my favorite time of year!!!

M-I-Z...Z-O-U

GO MU!!

Tiger season has definitely started and we have been supporting our favorite team! We are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby number 2! We are going in on Saturday to have her if she hasn't arrived before then! I will post pictures as soon as we have exciting news!!

Above are a few pictures of L in her "MU gear"!

Easy Chicken Parmesan & Italian Parmesan Noodles

Easy Chicken Parmesan & Italian Parmesan Noodles

This recipe is super easy and very tasty! Below are the recipes for both the noodles and the chicken!

4th of July is just around the corner. We are preparing for Grandpa H's big 4th of July Party! Sunday will be spent eating good food, hanging out with lots of people, and watching J's firework show! We are very excited!!!

We have also been getting ready for the new baby! We have lots left to do as far as the room goes, but her room is definitely in progress... she will be here before we know it.

I make the noodles first and let them soak in the dressing while I am making the chicken...

Italian Parmesan Noodles

1 bag of tri colored noodles (any brand works!)

1/2-3/4 bottle of Italian dressing

1 cup Parmesan Cheese

Cook noodles as directed on the package. Strain. Cool by running cold water over the noodles. Add other two ingredients to the noodles in a bowl. (You can add more or less of either ingredient... you CANNOT mess this up... if it doesn't have enough taste, add more of the parmesan cheese!!!) Mix with spoon and let sit and soak in the refridgerator.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
6 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.)
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

HEAT oven to 375°F. Pour sauce into 13x9-inch baking dish. Stir in 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp.) Parmesan. Add chicken; turn to coat both sides with sauce. Cover with foil.
Bake 30 min. Uncover. Top with remaining cheeses; bake 5 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF) and cheese is melted.

We hope you like this recipe as much as we do! VERY quick and VERY easy!!!

Easy Oven-Barbecued Pork Chops

Easy Oven-Barbecued Pork Chops

I found this recipe online at http://southernfood.about.com/od/porkchops/r/bl10201b.htm

These pork chops are delicious and very easy! They are baked in the oven so this is a great recipe for summer or winter time. I have been looking for a great pork chop recipe that isn't bland and I finally found it!

Ingredients:
6 pork chops, 3/4 to 1-inch thick
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/4 cup vinegar (I didn't use vinegar, so I added 1/4 cup more water)
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
dash cayenne, optional (I didn't use the cayenne)

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°.Place pork chops in bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Place sliced onion over the pork chops. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over pork chops. Bake uncovered for 1 hour, or until chops are tender.

Serves 6.

I didn't take a picture of the pork chops, but I am attaching a picture of L at Grandpa H's farm with Daisy!