Rum Balls

MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......... yummy !!!!!

1 cup icing sugar
1 cup ground almonds
9 Tbsp cocoa
3 Tbsp melted margarine
1/3 cup rum (I used Captain Morgan's Spiced)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles

mixing icing sugar through vanilla extract.
chill about 15 minutes or firm enough to roll
roll by the heaping tsp into balls and roll in spinkles.
chill and enjoy!

Kiva

My feel good loans

 

 

Léa is part of the group Twizerimana and lives in Gitega. She is a widow of 50 years old with three children aged 11 to 17 years. She has been a merchant selling beans, bananas, and corn for the past three years. She is currently on her tenth loan with Turame. Léa plans to use this loan from Kiva to increase her capital. She will do this by purchasing a large quantity of rice, beans, and bananas and reselling them, thus earning more income.

 

Lorenzo is married with four children. Lorenzo is 37 years old and lives in Namnama, Titay, Zambonaga Sibugay. Lorenzo is a rubber broker to earn a living. He has been doing this for five years. He has requested a loan of 50,000 Philippines pesos to purchase rubber for his business.

Lorenzo is a new member of PMPC. In the future, Lorenzo hopes to expand his business.

 

Mor is a young, 28 year old shopkeeper who sells notions (sewing supplies). He is single and has no children. Mor has a shop in the market in his neighborhood. He has been running this shop for 5 years. This is his second loan, and he's asking for 250000F CFA to buy accessories. Mor is single, but takes care of his mother and brothers. He would like to grow his shop and diversify his business.

Nelly works raising animals, such as chickens and guinea pigs. She fattens them and later sells them in different markets. She also still has a minibus with which she provides [transportation] services to the public. Through these two businesses, she helps her son get ahead. Her dream is to grow her animal-raising business. Nelly is requesting this loan to purchase chickens and guinea pigs and also to buy feed for the animals. She is happy about the loan and committed to making her loan payments.

 

Mzia is 50 years old. She lives in a small village of Dmanisi District with her husband Tariel. Mzia and Tariel run an agricultural business. They have 2 milking cows and sell milk in nearby villages. Also, they have 6 sheep and sell lambs. In addition to livestock, they have bee-hives, with bee colonies which produce honey. They also own a plot of land, where they grow wheat, maize and haricot beans. Mzia and Tariel are especially busy with the plot during spring and summer seasons in order to ensure a good harvest in late summer, which they sell on the local open market. In addition to their agricultural activities Mzia works in the village school as a primary teacher. Total average monthly income of the family is 1000 Lari. Mzia requested credit for expansion of the dairy farm. She will purchase an additional milk cow, and will be able to produce dairy food, mainly cheese and curds. Mzia will sell additional produce on the local open market, where her products are quite popular among consumers. The income of the family will increase. With increased income they will be able to reinvest in the family agricultural business. Due to the above mentioned, living conditions of the family will improve.

Saidikhon has been growing and drying apricots since 2007. She is married and has three sons. Her children and husband help Saidikhon in her business. Every year she buys several hectares of apricot orchard and during the fruit season her and her family drive to the orchard and pick, de-pit and dry the apricots for Saidikhon to sell at the market. The family also receives monthly money transfers from their two other sons who left to Russia for work. Saidikhon's husband raises and fattens cattle for meat sales. Saidikhon would like to take out this loan to purchase an apricot orchard so that she can pick and process fruit from it for resale.

Ajibu is 38 years old and lives in the town of Soroti in the Mbale region of Uganda. She is married and has 4 children with 3 of them currently in school. For the past ten years, Ajibu has been working hard to manage her bar, which sells local beers for drinking. To help expand her business, Ajibu has requested a loan of 3,000,000 Ugandan Shillings from BRAC Uganda. The loan will be used to buy more items for making the local beers like Sorghum for resale, and will help Ajibu to generate greater profits and increase stock. Ajibu hopes that in the future she will be able to get more money from BRAC to improve more on her business.

 

 

 

Christmas Cookie Countdown

So I though it would be fun to keep a log of the cookies I make this year for Christmas just to see what I made. What was loved and not. A little reference for future years.

So here it goes......

Pfeffernuesse - 20 dozen
Rum balls - 3 dozen

Smack Yo Mama Ribs

So I can't claim these ribs as mine.  The original recipe can be found here on the BlackandMarriedWithKids.Com website.A big thanks to them and to pinterest for allowing me the pleasure of dining on such yumminess.  I have copied and pasted it on my site just so I don't lose it. I am making batch number two right now for the gang going camping this weekend.

SMACK YO MAMA FINGER LICKIN GRAND MARNIER BAR-B-QUE PORK RIBS
RIB INGREDIENTS:
Nice Slab of Pork Ribs
¾ cup of chicken broth
Garlic and salt water for brining (brining means to soak in)
Sea Salt (to taste)
Ground Pepper (to taste)
Herb & Garlic seasoning (to taste)

GRAND MARNIER BAR-B-QUE SAUCE:
1 cup ketchup (I use Heinz)
¼ cup Country Dijon mustard
¼ cup honey
¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp. Grand Marnier (liquor – you can omit and add extra sugar)
1 tbsp. sea salt
1 tbsp. ground pepper

READY, SET GO:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
2. Clean ribs
3. Place in huge container and submerge in water and add granulated garlic and kosher salt – cover container and allow meat to brine (to soak in the garlic and salt water) for at least 1-2 hours (the longer the better – you could even let it brine overnight)
4. Remove ribs from the brine and rinse off
5. Lay the pork rib slab on a cutting board bone side up
6. Remove the membrane off the bone (membrane is a super thin layer of skin on the bone – you can just put your finger under the skin and pull it off)
7. Cut ribs into portions between each bone and season with sea salt, ground pepper and herb & garlic seasoning
8. Pour chicken broth in a baking dish/pan (use a big enough dish/pan so you do not over crowd the ribs) and add seasoned ribs
9. COVER and cook for 1 ½ – 2 hours or until meat is cooked through
10. Let’s make the Grand Marnier Bar-B-Que Sauce (yeah baby)
11. Put a medium sauce over high heat, add the ketchup, Dijon mustard, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, ground pepper and Grand Marnier
12. Whisk sauce ingredients together, once it comes to a boil, turn it down to low to simmer for 5 minutes then set aside away from heat to thicken for about 5 minutes
13. Once ribs are cooked remove from oven and base ribs with half of the Grand Marnier bar-b-que sauce and put ribs back in the oven for another 10 minutes UNCOVERED
14. After 10 minutes take the ribs out again and pour the rest of the Grand Marnier bar-b-que sauce over the ribs and put back in the oven for another 10 minutes still UNCOVERED
15. After the last 10 minutes remove ribs from oven and allow to rest untouched for 5 minutes

Meat Loaf

As made tonight. Will cut back on the cayenne next time - a bit too much spice for meatloaf - not burn your mouth but just not quite right for comfort food.

2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
1 1/2 Tbsp Worchestershire
1/3 cup red onion
3 slices bread crumbled
1 egg
2 lbs extra lean ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup

Topping:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp ground mustard powder

Mix ingredients together and place in pan. Bake at 375 for 1 hour. Pour topping over and bake for 10 minutes then serve.

Notes for next time. Less cayenne. Add some garlic.

Easy Play Dough Recipe

So I can't take credit for this recipe but I will say that it really is super easy.
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 Tbsp cream of tartar
1.75 cups very hot - almost boiling water
1 Tbsp oil
Food colouring

Mix dry ingredients together. Mix the liquid ingredients together and add all at once to dry ingredients. Stir until well combined and then put on the table and kneed until cooled. Do not put in sealed contained until completely cooled. Will keep for weeks in a sealed container.

Scattered Fortunes

Chinese fortunes found around the house yet again.
Music is the soul of language

Enthusiasm is contagious. Not having enthusiasm is also contagious.

Emotion hinders your true self.

Life is about making some things happen, not waiting for something to happen.

It is sometimes better to travel hopefully than to arrive.

Express yourself now

Enjoy your good company, they are true friends.

Where there is a will, there is a way

Hug's are life's rainbows.

Sometimes I wonder if we are eating out to Chinese a bit much.

A Touch of Reality

A shoeless child - not by choice - simply does not have any

The sandwich and orange may have been her most substantial meal that day

Cleaning her "front yard"

Home sweet home

Their day job.

I went on a tour of some of the hidden parts of life in Mexico. A simple drive through the unseen parts of town. Homes that were made from whatever materials people could find placed on land they hoped not to be evicted from. Children awaiting their parents return from the garbage dump where they hoped to have found enough salvaged materials to sell to afford food for a meal. It truly was a wake up call.

Some of the sights

Cathedral

Theatre

Turtle

Hours of Fun!

Run from the waves and jump over the waves.

Favourite activities for the PK.

and I always love the tropical plants!

and last nights sunset

In 24 hours a lot can change

From this

To this

Sing a Song

"Birthday Party to You
Birthday Party to You
Birthday Party Little Mister
Birthday Party to You"

So it isn't anyone's birthday nor has it been one in a while but someone starting singing at the breakfast table this morning his own little rendition of a well known song. I just had to share cause it was so super cute!

Hoo Hoo

Little Man PK likes to wander around the house saying

"Hoo Hoo Me an Owl Hoo Hoo"

A Fundamental Parenting Rule

I am currently reading Children at Play by Heidi Britz-Crecelius. I came across this quote and thought that it was such an amazingly worded piece of advise that I had to post it for everyone.

There is nothing bad, terrible or humiliating that can happen to a child that would not become worse, more terrible or more humiliating, if it were concealed from his parents.

She goes on to tell of a late night fire-bug whom crept home to tell his parents of the fire and was praised but his parents. We as parents much be constantly aware of how we react to the actions of our children. By having a child come to us when they have done something "wrong" we can help them correct the situation before it becomes worse (put the fire out before it spreads). They already know they have wronged and don't require a lecture but do need assistance to rectify and make ammends.

I can recall a day not too long ago that PK came to me to show me that he had drawn on the windowsill. Together we got out the cleaning supplies and washed it off the sill - no lectures - no upset by the end we were laughing together and the crayons have stayed on paper ever since.

I know I for one want to try to always remember this in my reactions in hopes that it will keep PK coming to me when the mistakes in life occur.

Fortunes fortunes all around

Doing some cleanup of my sewing table and here are some of my fortunes that I have found in the process

In the midst of a busy life, take some time to be a kid again.

Money is gratifying, not satisfying.

You have all the assistance and luck this month to succeed.

Your self-confidence is warranted.

Fortune smiles upon you at this time.

You will live a long, happy life.

Your magnetic personality will draw people to you.

Winter Projects

So here is what kept the hubbie busy over the winter break this year.

New washer and dryer. Hubby had to re-vent for the new dryer and we had to redo some of the plumbing to make it fit which was actually to our benefit as it will be nicely finished now rather then pipes just sticking through drywall. Still have some drywall patching and painting to do but it looks way better and works wonderfully.

I labelled the storage containers as someone else

was always asking "where do I find....".

The new fridge and stove. I am loving the induction cook top. I have noticed that someone else is cooking hot breakfasts more often too which is an added bonus.

And lastly the gate which I am in love with. Not to be too boastful but I think I have the best gate in the valley now. So inviting and beautiful but keeps the wandering woof woofs and horned critters on the outside.

A close up of the sun and mountains.

I think they did an awesome job!

Peanut Butter Balls

2 cups peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
3 cups confectioner sugar
3 1/2 cups rice crispies
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Melt peanut butter and butter over low heat.
Remove from heat and mix in sugar, rice crispies and vanilla extract.
Form into small balls - chilling for 15 minutes may help if too sticky.
Melt chocolate over low heat. Place into plastic sandwich bag, seal and snip corner.
Drizzle over balls.
Chill until ready to serve.

Update -  I was invited (see comments below) to post this to the party on Lisa's site.  I did and what fun. A ton of yumminess going on in her world. Stop by her site  Sweet As Sugar Cookies for some great inspiration.

Our Ski Bum

Just got home from four days of fun on the mountain. Took little PK for his first experience on the skis. Little dude loved it! We were so surprised at how well he did. Actually managed to stay balanced for several metres at a time.

Showing off how well he can stand on the skis

Wipe out

Sledding with Daddy

Christmas is coming....christmas is coming

So little PK is getting excited about Christmas. He obviously isn't to the oh goodie presents stage but he senses that there is excitement about this event. He is very into turning on 'my christmas light' (snowman lamp) and plugging in the christmas lights (bannister is decorated). He is also newly attached to 'my christmas bear'

He has helped me make him a stocking as we used a christmas fabric bag for him the last two years and we thought perhaps a proper stocking was in order this year. Here he demonstrates what a smartie pants a two year old can be - stocking looks like a sock so it should go on ones foot shouldn't it?

Greetings from snowland

Well they said it was coming but I'm not sure I actually believed it. Here however is the proof.

And the littlest PK helped out with some sidewalk clearing.

It started Friday evening and as I write this on Monday at 3pm it is still snowing!