2009 Recipe Round Up

I love the posts at the end of the year where they list the top favorites things from that year. I've decided to do a recipe addition. Here are some of my favorite recipes from this year. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Favorite Chicken Recipe

This Chicken California recipe is easy to make and delicious. It has become a new family favorite in our house.

Favorite Easy Cookie

This Lemon Cake Mix Cookie is simple to make and delicious. It's a nice change from the chocolate and sugar cookies.

Favorite New Vegetarian Meal

We LOVE these Black Bean and Brown Rice Burgers at my home. I am so glad I found them. They are fast and easy to prepare and a nice healthy change from a regular burger.

My New Favorite Cookie

I think the title says it all. I LOVE these cookies.

Favorite Noodle Dish

We can not get enough of this Thai Peanut noodle dish. I love the flavor and that it isn't spaghetti, again.

Favorite Bread Dough

This is the best pizza dough recipe if you want it think and delicious. You cook the pizzas in cake pans instead of of a cookie sheet or board. It makes it thick, chewy, and delicious.

Free Shipping Today

If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping today is the day to do it. Over 700 stores are giving away free shipping today. Plus it will be here by December 24th. Click Here for a list.

Pretty Earrings

I love the look of these earrings from Down East Basics. Can't wait until they're in stores.

Photography Week 6

This is what you find looking through your window when you live on the mountain.

Wish I could have taken more closeups but I guess I make too much noise.

Week 7: Shooting Outdoors

Giveaway Winner

The giveaway is over. Thank you all for entering. The winner was choosen by using Random.org.

The winner is.......


Sarah!


Stay tuned for the next giveaway that will be coming up. I'm REALLY excited about it!

Easy homemade gift bows

Have you been wrapping all your gifts? I've started and I'm about half way done, now I just have to wait for the rest of them to arrive. My favorite tip about wrapping presents is making your own bow for the top. My mom has made these bows for as long as I can remember and her mom before that. It is one of those things I just kind of thought everyone did, until people started asking me how to make them. So here is the easy bow tutorial.


First use a scrap of wrapping paper that you have left over. I always use a square and fold it in half.

Now just start cutting strips, you can make them as wide or as thin as you want. Making them thicker or thinner will change the look when you are done.

When all of your strips are cut, open the scissors up and glide the paper across the blade. I always start in the middle and go in opposite directions. As you glide the paper it should curl the paper. You may have done this with ribbon, its the same thing. Don't push to hard because you could rip the paper.

Now group all of the strips in the middle.

Secure with a peace of tape with the edges hanging over the paper to attach to the box.

Tada! You're done. Easy, beautiful, and inexpensive.

Click Here for more DIY projects from A Soft Place to Land, and Works for me Wednesday. Click Here for more frugal Christmas ideas of Life as mom.

Menu Plan 16th week

Click Here to enter my giveaway. It ends Monday night!

My favorite meal from this past week was this Thai Peanut Noodle dish. We love to eat this in our house because it is a little different from our normal and very delicious. I always wish I had more the next day so I'm going to start doubling the recipe.


Monday: Breakfast for dinner

Tuesday: Christmas Party

Wednesday: Beef Enchiladas

Thursday: Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup

Friday: Guiltless Fettuccine Alfredo

Saturday:Date Night

Sunday: Shepard's Pie

For more Menu Plans visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Coupon Codes

Are you still doing Christmas shopping? I know I am. Here is a list of some coupon codes that I have found very helpful in saving money. Also if you do shop online don't forget to use Ebates, to get cash back for each purchase. Click Here for more info about Ebates.

• Old Navy: Additional 20% off with code ONSAVE20 valid until 12/15
• American Eagle: Additional 15% off with code 96852031
  
• Barnes and Noble: In store only, 25% coupon Here
• Bath and Body Works: In store only, Free item with any $10 purchase Here.
• Express: $15 off of $30 purchase with code 4493 valid until 12/13
• Ann Taylor Loft: $25 off $30 purchase with code 106020084 valid until 12/24
• JoAnn Fabric: 40% off one item with coupon Here valid until 12/31
  
• Gap: 20% entire purchase with code GAP20 and Here for in
  
• Borders: 30% off one item with code BSL7021A valid until 12/14
• REI: 15% off one REI brand or Novara item with code GPMSN9

Click Here to enter my giveaway! It ends this Monday night!

Delicious Thai Peanut Noodle

This meal has become one of our family favorites. I love the taste of the peanut butter sauce and lime. Sounds strange but they taste so good together. I usually don't add the cilantro because I don't like the flavor and we usually don't have peanuts but it is good without them.

This is also a very easy meal, and most of the ingredients you probably have on hand. It is also awesome the next day for lunch.

Thai Peanut Noodles

1/2 c. chicken broth
3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
1-2 tsp. Sriracha chili sauce (I use WAY less of this stuff, it Spicy. I only use about 1/4 tsp.)
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh minced ginger
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
8 oz. Udon or linguine noodles
Chopped green onions
Chopped cilantro
2 limes, cut into quarters
Chopped peanuts

Cook noodles in salted water. In the meantime, combine chicken broth, peanut butter, chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until smooth and remove from heat. Toss cooked noodles with sauce and divide among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with green onions, cilantro, chopped peanuts, and garnish each serving with 2 lime quarters. Before eating, squeeze lime juice over noodles and stir to combine.

I got this recipe from Our Best Bites. I love their blog, they have tons of great recipes.

For more quick recipes visit Life as Mom for the Ultimate recipe swap.

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!

Photography Week 5

Did you all read last weeks lesson? I think it had some great information that everyone can use, with any kind of camera. The lesson was all about composition and how to frame your subjects in the picture. Here is a picture my husband Reed took of his two favorite ladies. If you missed that lesson click HERE.

Week 6: Shooting Indoors