The Awakened

 This is the latest book I have finished reading.  I have to say that I'm hoping to buy the other two books.  This was just book one.

I am always looking for books that just catch me and this one did.  I tend to lead more toward fantasy when I read.  That or romance.  This one was fantasy and very well written.  He got me hooked before I even started the book by reading his little into about how this book came about and how long it took him to write it.

Where this first one is free from Amazon, I wish I would have know how good it would be because I would have just bought the one book that has all three books in it.

If you are looking to escape the real world for a bit, this book will take you there.

Cookies Anyone?

There are a lot more cookies here than it looks like.

I don't have any paper plates or baggies or tin foil that I could wrap them up in or I would be taking them to neighbors. 

Any neighbors want to come get some? :0)


I used a Mrs. Fields recipe from my Mother-in-law and I think I'll half the batch next time.  Also, I need to work on the time a bit too.  The recipe said to cook them for 6 minutes.  That was very wrong.  I'm thinking 12.  They are a little crunchy on the outer edges but really soft in the middle. 

Monkey Bread

I thought I would share this recipe with you today.  I love this and it is the only way my oldest son will eat chili.  He eats the chili with his monkey bread.  :0)  This is my Mom's recipe and it is amazing!

You will need: (Makes 2 pans)

1/2 cup sugar
2 cups luke warm water
3 Tablespoons yeast.

Let this rise for 5 minutes.  I should have taken a picture of my yeast.  It was a beautiful raise. :0)

Add:
2 room temperature eggs  (Yes, it really makes a difference.)
4 Tablespoons melted butter, cooled.  (I just use oil.)
3 cups flour

Mix this and then add 3-4 cups more flour.  It will look like this.

Cover this and let it double.  It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

Punch down, roll out, cut into squares.  This recipe makes two bunt pans of bread so split it before rolling it out.

Dip in melted butter.  I put 1/2 cup of butter on the stove on low while I let the monkey bread rise to melt it.  That way it's not hot when I go to dip it.

Stack them in your pan.  Work your way around.  Make them fit, it doesn't need to look pretty here.  It will look pretty when it's done. :0)  I pour the left over butter over the top when I'm done. 

Bake at 350* for 25 minutes.  Now the top will go brown.  Let it go the full 25 minutes or you will have doughy bread in the middle.  Turn it out on a plate when it's done and enjoy!

We eat this with chili, soup and just about anything else.  It is so good!  I've tried making it with cinnamon and sugar before and one time with Parmesan cheese but they were not as good as just plain.

New Hobby

I have a new hobby.  Well, it's not a new hobby really.  It is one I've had my whole life but I have a new outlet for that hobby.  I got the Kindle App for my IPod.

 I'm in LOVE!  And I now want a real Kindle for Christmas.  I'm begging Santa for one. ;0)  But I have found a few Facebook pages that post free books for the Kindle daily.  I have gotten over 300 books in the last week and have read 4 to 5 of them.  I found a lot of them here.  And one of my favorite that I've read off this list is The Amulet.

I liked it so much I paid for the second one.

 

 Yes.  I love to read and I am loving that I can keep all these books just in my pocket.  I use to keep a book in my car to read while I did carpool and now I just carry my IPod.  Although, I am reading it so much that I'm having to re-charge it every night. :0)  Now I just need to put it down and get back to sewing.

Rolo Bliss

I promise that I have not been MIA.  Just a very crazy August in my house.  I haven't been home much and when I have, I haven't felt like doing more than blog surfing and tv watching.  But, school has started again and I have a lot more time on my hands with 3 of the 4 kids at school so I am in the mood to craft.  Or bake.  Baking is more like it. 

My sister-in-law made these amazing cookies for our family dinner this last week and I just had to get the recipe and make them.  I had everything in my house to make them.  Really rare for me to have rolo's in my house but I had wanted them camping.  I put one in a caramel flavored marshmellow and roasted the whole thing and then made it a smore.  Sooooo  Goooood!!!

Anyways.  On the the recipe.  You will need;

1 Devils Food cake mix.  (My sister-in-law says that it really makes a difference in having a devil's food to just a different chocolate one.  I didn't notice.  I just had a plain chocolate one.)
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
and...

That's it.  Mix together and put rolo in the middle of a small ball.  The smaller, the better.

Bake at 350* for 9 minutes.  Enjoy!

I made them with my kids for FHE and had so much fun having them help.  I used my little cookie scoop and then we flattened it out a bit to put the rolo in and then wrapped them up. 

I did spray my pans and I wish I had cooked them just a minute longer. 

I liked how hers were just slightly crunchy on the edges and soft and gooey in the middle. 

My baby trying to steal a warm cookie.  Do not blame her.

But man are they good!