Strawberry Cake

2 1/3 c Sifted All Purpose flour (sifting makes it fluffy)

1 1/3 c sugar

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2/3 c shortening

2/3 c Kirkland Organic Strawberry spread (or Smuckers simply fruit)

2/3 c soured milk (2T lemon juice or vinegar, fill to 2/3 line with milk)

3 egg whites

5-6 drops pink food color if desired.

sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl, add shortening, strawberry spread, and soured milk. mix until flour is dampened, then beat for 2 min on high. Add 3 egg whites and food color, beat 2 minutes longer. Bake in greased and floured9 x 13 (or 2 9" round) pan for 35 min at 350.

No-Milk Pumpkin Pie!!

1.5 Cups Sugar

1tsp salt

1T pumpkin pie spice

4 large eggs, beaten

1 can (29oz) Pumpkin

2 cups Vanilla Soy Milk

6 T Rice Flour (for the cake-like texture)

2 unbaked 9" pie shells

Mix sugar, salt, rice flour, and spices in a large bowl. Add Pumpkin, and beaten eggs. Gradually stir in Vanilla Soy Milk.

pour into pie shells and bake at 425 for 15 minutes, reduce temp to 350 and back 40-50 min more, or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours, serve immediately or refrigerate.

Fruit Bars

I love how my blog has turned into a recipe sharing site more than anything! I LOVE to cook!

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup quick cooking rolled oats (i use regular, add about 10 min to cooking time)

2/3 c packed brown sugar

1/4tsp baking soda

1/2cup butter or margerine

1 recipe Filling (i just use 1 Cup natural applesauce mixed with 1/3 c Simply Fruit and some pumpkin pie spice... but you can add dried fruit or nuts as well to the applesauce)

combine flour, oats, baking soda, and sugar. Cut in butter/margerine until crumbly. reserve 1/2 cup, and press the remainder in thebottom of a 9x9 pan. spread filling and sprinkle remainder of the crumb mix on top. Bake for 30-40 min at 350*(until golden brown on top).

Egg Noodles

this sort of has turned into a Recipe blog when i wasn't looking HAHA

1 Cup flour

1 egg

1/2 tsp salt/dash pepper

1 egg

2 tablespoons water (i just use the egg shell)

combine flour and salt/pepper, make a well in the center and mix egg and water with a fork. Stir in flour mixture to form a stiff, but pliable dough. Knead 10-12 strokes until it is smooth and all the flour is incorperated. let rest 15 minutes. begin rolling out from center, flipping the dough over every few rolls to keep it from sticking to the counter (or it will pop back like elastic) until it is about 12x6 or so (give or take) Let it rest another 15 minutes. cut into strips or shapes, and add to boiling broth stirring constantly so they don't stick. Cook for 5-6 min, until al dente.

Home Made deoderant!!

2-4 tablespoons Coconut Oil

1/4 C Arrowroot or Corn starch

1/4 C baking soda

mix well, may need to adjust dry quantities a bit. store in a small airtight container in a cool place, may need refrigerated on hot days. Use fingers to apply :) don't use right after shaving ....OUCH!

here is another site for the recipe

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/03/update-homemade-deoderant.html

Brownie in a Mug!

I came across this LOVELY recipe one night, and am now an addict. I love getting treats i don't have to share...that i can make in 5 min after bed time!!

Brownie in a Mug

4 Tbl Flour

4 Tbl sugar

2 Tbl baking cocoa (the unsweetened)

dash salt

2Tbl oil

2Tbl water

1/4 tsp vanilla

Spray a little nonstick into a microwaveable coffee mug (butter or oil works too if you don't spray), mix flour, sugar, cocoa and salt in your mug. Add oil, water, and vanilla. Mix well scraping the bottom to get all the dry stuff incorporated.

nuke 1-1.5 min. Let cool for just a minute!! It is HOT!! Yummy topped with a little ice cream :)

More on my FLYing adventures....

i began Fly Lady back in January when i was deep in my annual Seasonal Depression...my house trashed, my floors sticky and crunchy...laundry rotating on the couch. I have proudly been babystepping the system for 6 months now!! My family is mostly on-board (we are still working on baby-stepping the kiddoes into keeping their rooms tidy), and we have made LOTS of changes in our habits including 'decluttering' the dish cabinet because i was tired of washing 2 dishwasher loads of dishes per day in my small portable dishwasher. I labeled a bowl, plate, cup and silverware for each member of the family, and moved the rest to the very TOP of the cupboard (company). We now wash each dish after each meal and get it put away to keep the sink clear (because my family now understands now nice it is to have a shiney sink!!)

i have gotten rid of countless bags of un-needed items, donating them to the thrift store if i couldn't think of specific people that could use my stuff. We still have a long way to go, but its amazing how much stuff i have gotten rid of in just 6 months.

DH was able to rip out the 35 year old living room carpet to reveal beautiful hard wood floors because all the excess junk in the livingroom is GONE!! My bedroom has become a haven, where before it was a dumping ground for the stash n dash (Its like Marla has been to my house HAHA I thought i was the only one besides my mom that did stash n dash)! And now i have a new bedspread on the way to make my bed even more special, and a place to put the Jammy Bag my mama made me when i was little :