Gooseberry Patch Early Bird Review #1!!!

I have received the newest cookbook from Gooseberry Patch to do an Early Bird Review! So, I've picked out 3 wonderful recipes to make! I've already made the first recipe, and it was delicious!

The cookbook, due in stores in January, is called 101 Cupcake, Cookie & Brownie Recipes.

The recipe I've made for today's blog post is called "Luscious Banana Bars". The recipe made about 3 dozen, and guess what?? We ate them all by that evening!! I had planned on saving some to give out with my usual cookie trays. They were so yummy! The best part, they were so easy to put together, and turned out so pretty!

Luscious Banana Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups bananas, mashed

1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 cup baking cocoa

Beat together butter and sugar; add egg and vanilla. Blend until thoroughly combined; mix in bananas. Set aside. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; blend into banana mixture. Divide batter in half; cocoa to one half. Pour vanilla batter into a greased 13x9 inch baking pan; spoon chocolate batter on top. Cut through batters with a knife to swirl. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool; cut into bars. Makes 2-1/2 to 3 dozen.

This is a wonderful cookbook! I think I could make each thing that is in it, and I most likely will, and my goal is to make many things from this book for my cookie trays next week!

Keep checking this blog over the weekend! I plan on doing the next two recipes soon!

You can also try to win this cookbook! Just post a comment to this blog post and/or the next 2 blog posts that is about the review recipes, and your name may be picked and you will get this cookbook sent to you!

Giveaway starts....now! It will end on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. Drawing will be 7 p.m. Sunday evening.

So make sure you leave a comment and enter to win this Gooseberry Patch cookbook!

Meatloaf...Perfect Comfort Food!

Gooseberry patch has reached 50,000 fans on Facebook! So, that means the 3rd chapter in their printable online free cookbook is available! I can't wait to try some of these recipes, and for me, fall and winter is the perfect time to cook up comfort food!
Hope you enjoy these! And if you get a chance, stop by their Facebook page and become a fan! :)


25 Meatloaf Recipes by Gooseberry Patch

Thanksgiving is Getting Close!

Thanksgiving is close, and it's good to take a day to be thankful. But, I really like to think of the whole month of November as being a good time to be thankful. Even during tough times, there is always something to be thankful for. 

We've had a rough year. But I can think of so many things that I am thankful for.

Last night, as I walked to the kitchen to get a drink, I stepped on a toy dinosaur, a marble and various stuffed toys. Our house looks as though Toys R Us exploded. I could see the toys as clutter and messy. But, I'm thankful that I have a wonderful daughter to scatter her toys out. And, thankful that I have a house that can get messy.

We still have our farm, and are doing what we love. Although some changes had to be made this fall, they seem to be for the best, and we'll continue hanging in there, and we'll see how we do things come spring.

I have a job, and it's close, and enjoyable. I am able to be home with Emily for the most part. And even on my latest night working, I'm usually home no later than 8:30. That's a blessing!

Our pantry is full. We even splurged and got a turkey early for Thanksgiving. And my dad will be coming this year!!

After several years of not speaking, my dad and husband have made peace and have a good relationship.

That is just a few things that I am thankful for. I really could go on with my list.

Of course, since Thanksgiving is getting close, I'm going to share a recipe that my Grandma made every year. As a kid, I did not like sweet potatoes, so I never ate this as a kid, but remember it was something that was made. Now, I love it! Not the best for my diabetes, but I'll just have a tiny bit!

Sweet Potato Casserole

1 (16 oz. can) sweet potatoes

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 egg

4 Tbsp. melted butter

1 pkg. mini marshmallows

Grease a baking dish (8x8). Mix all ingredients except marshmallows. Place 1/2 of mixture in baking dish. Dot with about 1/2 marshmallows, then add remaining mixture. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and dot top with remaining marshmallows. Return to oven and bake about 10 minutes.

A Good "Go To" Recipe!

I have been out of the blogging loop lately! Between working and having a stomach bug and then, most recently, a cold bug, I've just not really been up to doing much online.

I posted on Facebook that we were having Delicious Drumsticks tonight for dinner, along with mashed potatoes and a veggie. I've been asked for the recipe for those drumsticks. If you like Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, you'll find this recipe in their Farmhouse Kitchen cookbook. 

Delicious Drumsticks

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. pepper

6 chicken drumsticks

1/4 cup melted & cooled margarine

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix flour, salt, paprika, and pepper in a bowl (I usually use a large Zip-Loc bag). Dip chicken drumsticks into the margarine and then coat with the flour mixture. Arrange in an ungreased 8x8 baking pan. Bake uncovered for about 50 minutes.

Makes 6 drumsticks.

This is a great recipe to put together when you are in a pinch, or just want something easy. It's a definite favorite in our house!

Who Likes Chocolate Chip Cookies??

Or should I say, who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies? They are my favorite! And with holiday baking coming up, cookie recipes are a must!

Gooseberry Patch has the newest chapter of their printable cookbook online!

25 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes by Gooseberry Patch

Where did September go???

I can't believe that tomorrow is October! I'm excited! I really like the month of October. Fall is officially here, the leaves are starting to show their colors! Our anniversary is tomorrow. It's been 10 years! Al's birthday is October 4, and my birthday is October 8. On October 10, Emily and I will be traveling to my dad's to visit with him. That week will also be the Fairfield Co. Fair, and we will be going to that while we are there.

A lot of stuff going on around here this past month.

Emily is loving school! They had "picture day" yesterday, and I'm anxious to see her pictures! Along with her class picture...I may be able to put faces to the names that she chats about when she comes home. 

I have also taken on a part time job, outside of the farming and cheese business. We're still doing what we've always done...just in this economy a part time job may add a little more income and we won't have to worry so much this winter about groceries and utilities.  I'm working at our local diner, Beallsville Diner, which in my opinion is the best place in our area to eat! I have been trained as short order cook, but am going to be trained in everything... so that I can help out wherever I'm needed. I have to say, short order cook is not easy! On a busy lunch, dinner or football Friday night, it makes milking cows look easy!  I really enjoy working there, especially since I'm actually getting the hang of what I'm supposed to be doing. During the first week there, I felt totally lost!! :)  I'm thankful that the folks I work for are working with me on my Saturdays, and I'm able to make it to the farm market and sell cheese. 

I received a letter in the mail on Tuesday! It was from Gooseberry Patch!! In January I will be receiving their newest cookbook because they used one of my recipes! I'm so excited! Al doesn't mind my collecting cookbooks when I get a few that feature one of my recipes in it! Although...I have to admit, the size of my cookbook collection is getting a bit much! But, I don't think I could part with the, and I do make use of them.

That pretty much sums up our September so far...
Our weather is really feeling like fall, today it is rainy and cool. Perfect!! And I smell coffee, so I think I'll grab myself a cup of coffee, with pumpkin flavored creamer and then head in to work.

Emily is Officially in Kindergarten!

On Monday, August 30th Emily woke up at 6 a.m.
She wanted to know if the bus was coming. The bus comes by our place at 7:30 a.m. We got her dressed, brushed her hair, made sure her lunch was packed and ready (because the chicken patty on the lunch menu sounded weird) and made sure her backpack was ready. Her backpack is almost as big as her!

We waited in the milk house for the bus around 7:15, early because she kept asking if she was going to miss the bus while we were at the house. 

The bus pulled up, I walked with her across the road and she climbed up in the bus like she had done it every day! The bus driver gave me the look that said "you can go now, mom. She's fine."  I wonder if he has more trouble with us mom's than he does with the kids. 

She's loved school each day. In fact she was really bummed out that she didn't have to go to school this weekend, or Labor Day.