Ultimate Blog Party! Day 2

Well, here we are in day 2 of our Ultimate Blog Party! Step on in, take a look around.

Here is a little treat to start your day with.

Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Cups

2 Almond Biscotti
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup frozen raspberries, unthawed (or any type of frozen fruit)
4 teaspoons orange blossom honey
4 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted

Coarsely crumble the biscotti into 2 small bowls. Puree the yogurt and frozen raspberries in a blender until smooth and thick. Spoon the yogurt mixture over the biscotti. Drizzle each bowl with the honey and sprinkle the almonds on top. Serve with a cup of Americano coffee, if desired.

(recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentis)

I personally prefer semi-homemade chocolate almond biscotti. They taste so good crumbled with the frozen fruit and yogurt, and then the honey and almonds... Mmmmmmm!

1 box Devil's Food or Chocolate Fudge cake mix
1 cup all purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 stick melted butter
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup sliced almonds.

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Pour your cake mix and flour into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the eggs, butter and vanilla. Mix on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in nuts. This dough will be very stiff but will not stick to the bowl when properly mixed. The consistency will be like children’s play dough. Divide dough into two halves. Roll each half into a log, and place on a lined 11” x 15” x 1” baking pan. Gently press the top of the cookie log into a rectangle, about 3 inches wide. Repeat with the second half of the dough. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove cookie pan from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Do not turn the oven off. Remove cookies from baking pan and cut into 1 inch piece logs. You will be cutting this on the width. Place cookies on their cut side on the lined baking pan. Place pan back into the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove cookies to cooling rack to cool completely. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.


While you're here, check out some of these other great sites!

Karla at Looking Towards Heaven. She even has a prize on the list! So check her out!

Lauren at Baseballs and Bows. Check out her birth story here.

Milehimama at Mama Says... is expecting very soon, so go wish her happy delivery!

That's all for now, so come back later in the party and look for more!

Ultimate Blog Party: Who's Pregnant?

So, after reading the wonderful news about our expectant hosts, I got to thinking. How many of us out in Blogland are expecting? So as my first post for the Ultimate Blog Party, here goes! Leave your blogsite in the Mr. Linky, linking to your announcement. If you don't want to leave your announcement on your blog, then just leave a comment in the comments section.

Don't forget to stop on by 160 Acre Woods for some party favors!

Known Expectants,

Susan and Janice, of 5 Minutes For Mom, expecting around Christmas

Me! MommaBlogger, of Homemaker's Guide To The Galaxy, and I'm due in late October.

Anyone else?

Pregnant Again!

Yes, I am expecting another child. This will be number 6 for us. We are hoping for the little one to come around the end of October-ish. I'm hoping maybe for November, since we already have a baby with a birthday in October. Gotta go for one in every month, right?

We're hoping for a girl this time, and my husband actually wants to get the ultrasound and find out what it is. He hasn't in the past, and last time, I begged for a week to find out. He finally conceeded, and the little bugger crossed his legs on me! We couldn't figure out whether I'd be having a boy or girl. So hopefully this time, baby will be a little more cooperative.

So here's to hoping for a healthy pregnancy, and a little girl.

Ultimate Blog Party Starts Tomorrow!

Don't forget to stop by 5 Minutes For Mom and check out the Ultimate Blog Party! There will be prizes galore, and lots of great moms (and others!) to chat with!

Get on over there!

Tasty Thursday

Oh, what to share? There are so many recipes that are my favorite, but I think I'll share something good for a cold, windy day. Visit The Pumkin Patch for more great Tasty Thursday recipes!

Awesome Chicken Soup

• 1 to 2 pounds cooked chicken, diced or torn, or white meat from a whole roast chicken, torn off by hand (original recipe suggested a few raw chicken breasts, cut)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 to 3 ribs celery and greens from the heart, chopped
• 1 medium white onion, chopped
• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
• Salt and pepper
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup shredded potatoes, ready to cook hash browns, or frozen shredded hashbrowns
• 1 pint whole milk, or half-and-half or cream
• 1 quart chicken stock, available in boxes on soup aisle
• 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg, a healthy grating
• 1 cup frozen green peas

In a medium pot over medium to medium high heat, cook chicken in butter for a minute or two, then add veggies and season with salt and pepper and poultry seasoning. Cook 5 minutes more, add flour cook another minute. Add potatoes, then whisk in half-and-half or cream and chicken stock. Add nutmeg. Bring soup to a boil by raising heat, then turn heat back to simmer and cook soup another 10 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Add peas. Stir in to warm them through for about 5 or 6 minutes.

Why We Homeschool 4

4. Who wouldn't want their child courted by a college because they were homeschooled?

3. Our children are less likely to have this happen.

2. Our children won't have to witness terrible crimes like this.

1. Our children are less likely to be sexually assaulted.

Why We Homeschool 4

4. Who wouldn't want their child courted by a college because they were homeschooled?

3. Our children are less likely to have this happen.

2. Our children won't have to witness terrible crimes like this.

1. Our children are less likely to be sexually assaulted.