Snickerdoodles

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

Snickerdoodles are a special thing in our family… They are always made for any occasion (even the not so happy ones). As my girls got older and started dating I would pace the floor until they came home, in the mean time to keep myself busy I would always bake a big batch of snickerdoodles and have them waiting with a cup of hot Chocolate or a glass of milk to talk about the evening (a little girl talk).

Soon as it would have it there would be a broken heart or two and when I ask what I could do to make it a little better it was always the same answer “You can make Snickerdoodles”  An that I would and we would sit and talk and eat cookies, not sure how much better it really made it but they would calm down and most of the time fall asleep in my lap.

Even to this day with the girls being much older they still call when they have had a really bad week or day an in this case a break-up that I got the call about last night.  An because I was making them, I wanted to share my make it feel better, girl talk, holiday, just because, and congratulation cookie recipe with you.  This is one of my girls favorites and I am hoping when they keep the tradition as they soon start their families!

Homemade Snickerdoodles

Homemade Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles

  • 3 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 cup of butter (I use salted sweet cream)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup of whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

(To roll the dough in)

  • 4 table spoons of sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
  1. Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
  2. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda and cream of tartar and set aside
  3. In a mixer using the paddle attachment cream butter and sugar together until fluffy
  4. Add eggs one at a time
  5. Add milk and vanilla and mix until blended
  6. slowly add flour mixture to the mixing bowl while beating at a low speed, mix until well combined and forms a sticky dough.
  7. Take enough dough and roll into a 1 inch ball then roll in sugar mixture
  8. Place balls on backing sheet  about 2 inches apart.  Take index and middle fingers and slightly flatten balls
  9. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes (Until a light golden brown).

Note I do a test batch of three cookies to make sure they do not go flat.  If they do I add about 1 to 2 table spoons of flour to the dough and do another test batch until they are they way I like them. Serve with coffee, milk or other beverage and enjoy the conversation and smiles!  I hope you enjoy these!

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Easy Weekend Recipe! Enjoy!

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

I know most weekends I always try and post a new recipe but this weekend I have plans to enjoy family and friends, so I am posting a little early! I hope everyone enjoys this recipe for the weekend!!!!  (and this is one I will modify and  add to the cookbook I am making for my girls).. But for this coming weekend one of my main recipes is as follows:

Memories

Making Memories

Ingredients:

  • Two of my three girls
  • My Mother (she came up from Georgia)
  • My cousin (She came up from Georgia)
  • Bridal Shower for my Nephews soon to be Mrs.!!!
  • A little road trip
  • Weekend – Fun
  • Enjoying and being thankful for the time

Directions:

  1. Start cleaning the house once you find out you have company coming.
  2.  Start making the candy Sunflowers for 5 dozen cupcakes you need to make on Thursday evening after work!
  3. Start working on making your cake pops which are going to be bride and groom cake pops.
  4.  Friday will be here before you know it and get home from work, tidy up a little more.  Make a call to find out where they are and how far out!  Wait on the porch once you know they should be pulling in any minute!  Hugs and help with bags.  Late night talking, while finishing up cupcakes and cake pops! and make a simple breakfast casserole for in the morning.
  5.  Saturday start your morning with “COFFEE”  You should have known!!
  6. As you are enjoying your cup of “COFFEE” pop a breakfast casserole you made the night before in the oven.
  7. Starting getting showered and ready!
  8. Eat and more “COFFEE”
  9. Start your road trip!

(Saturday)Making sure you have your coffee in hand pop the breakfast casserole in the oven so no one is two rushed and you can enjoy the morning with out a lot of clean up! Enjoy the road trip, bridal shower and cookout of family afterwards!  Enjoy your road trip back home with a pit-stop for “COFFEE” (some will sleep during this) end the evening at home with a glass of wine. soda, water or what ever you reach for sitting on the porch or in the kitchen chatting and relaxing.

(Sunday) Start your morning out with “COFFEE”  drink at least on cup before you start breakfast and let the others sleep while you humm become more human!… For us breakfast is gonna  starts with BACON…. eggs an so on!!! I know I could have been better at this and fixed homemade cinnamon rolls or something, but I chose to spend more time with family and a little longer in my bed..

Enjoy your weekend, make a memory, take time for you!  We did an no we are not the perfect family, not everything goes as planned like a Hallmark movie or those Holiday commercials, and it does get crazy and weird but we love each other and making a memory whether good or bad is all that counts in my book!

P.S.  Don’t for get to take a few if not a lot of pictures! 

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Easy Breakfast Casserole

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner
Easy Breakfast Casserole

Easy Breakfast Casserole

I know we all have our own versions of this.  Mine is simple (most of the time) But when we have family, friends or just because.  This is my go to breakfast meal so it seems to make a morning a little more easy with a house full of people…

So the night before I go to bed…… (I promise this does not take long)

Ingredients:

  • 1 9 x 13 baking pan (I just an aluminium pan I can throw away when done sometimes) or a glass pan or stoneware (you can use what ever you have on hand)
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 lbs of ground sausage (you can have pork, beef, mild or hot…any type you prefer) You can even use bacon!
  • 1 dozen eggs
  • 1 bag of frozen Potatoes O’Brien – or you can use fresh potatoes you peal and cut up (You will need enough potatoes to make a layer and cover the bottom of your baking dish), or any other type of frozen potatoes you like.
  • One 8 to 10 oz bag of shredded cheese – Any kind you like… I just mild cheddar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Salsa (optional)

Just a Note ** You can add peppers, onions and so much more to this basic recipe you can even replace the meat with veggies (instead of cooking the meat you could chop and put the raw veggies in). Try a spice kind of cheese or add a couple of different cheeses to it. There are so many things you can do!  It is just up to you!!!!

The night before:

  1. Spray with cooking spray baking pan and set aside
  2. Brown sausage or cook bacon  drain any grease (set aside to cool when finished)
  3. Take and break the dozen eggs into a large bowl and stir them up adding salt and pepper to taste if desired.
  4. In your prepared baking pan open the bag of potatoes and cover the bottom of the pan with them. Making a layer
  5. At this point I take and sprinkle a handful of the shredded cheese on top of the potatoes.
  6. Next add the sausage or bacon making a layer on top of the potatoes and cheese.
  7. Next take the eggs and pour evenly over the potatoes and sausage (or bacon)
  8.  Sprinkle the rest of the cheese evenly on top
  9. Cover with tinfoil or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator  over night

In the Am:

Unwrap the casserole and place the casserole in the oven  (do not preheat)  turn the oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for 45 minutes to one hour. (till the egg mixture is no longer runny) During this time you can be getting your shower drink coffee, letting the rest of the family get up and wake up!  I place it on the counter with a spatula and forks a bowl of Salsa and plates and let everyone serve themselves!

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Welcome and Hello Bloggers from Blogging101

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

Welcome and Hello!!  Please feel free to leave a comment and your link!  Even feel free to follow me or not… I would love to check out your blog and say hello!  I know the assignment was to say hello to 5 neighbors but I having so much fun getting to know more of you and finding some really great blogs to follow!  The first thing I do in the morning is go to the Reader and have my cup of coffee!!!

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Need I say more…

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

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Who I am “Blogging101” why I’m here

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

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Who am I, well I describe myself as a wife, mother, baker, hunter and so much more.  I love spending time with my three girls and husband.  I love to be crafty, thrifty and the list goes on and on. I love to get ideas, but the problem was I would get them, either start them or forget them.  My daughters encouraged me to start writing down my ideas, recipes and thoughts (keeping a journal).  I did this but had notebooks and scraps of paper all over the place.  Some I would keep track of others would be lost to be found another day or year later. So they suggested that I start a blog to write down and share the ideas, recipes and random thoughts with them and others.  So the first part of July I took up blogging.

When I first started this blog I thought it would be just about ideas I had and how well they worked for me.  Then my girls suggested that I share some of my recipes which got another idea of a project for their Christmas present…. a cookbook of all those recipes I keep in my head and have made for them over the years.  You know the recipes you never had to write down or something you just threw together because that is all you had in the pantry but became a household favorite. Yep those are the ones that I plan to put in their “Mom’s Cookbook” and to share (the recipes) on my blog along with ideas I have that have worked or I am testing and well just random thoughts for the day/week!

I am hoping this blog will help me stay a little more focused, keep track of my ideas and just maybe help out someone that is looking for that idea or recipe.

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Almond Biscotti

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

biscotti

I love these with my morning coffee.  So since I was up early, believe me I did not plan on being up so early!  I decided I needed one of my favorite treats!  Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!  P.S. They are also good while they are still warm!

Ingredients:

  •  1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons of softened butter
  • 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cups brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup of sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup of dried cranberries (Optional)
  • course sugar for sprinkling (you can also used colored around the holidays)

Preheat oven to 325 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper

  1. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl
  2. In you mixing bowl (paddle attachment if you have one) beat sugar(s) and butter til blended.  Mix in one egg at a time.
  3. Add in vanilla and almond extract
  4. On a low setting mix in flour mixture until well combined
  5. Add Almonds and dried cranberries
  6. Once everything is combined turn out on a floured surface divide in half and roll into two logs.  Place on baking sheet and gently flatten each log
  7. Bake for 30 minutes

2nd half

  1. Remove from oven and place baking sheet on a cooling rack for 10 minutes
  2. Reduce Oven Temp to 300
  3. Using a knife cut logs into diagonal 1/2 slices
  4. Take slices and place them with the cut side down on the baking sheet
  5. Bake for 20 minutes, remove from oven an move them to a cooling rack and let cool.

Hope you enjoy these!  An if you want a different type replace the Almonds with — Walnuts, Pecans or even chocolate chips!  I use the mini chocolate chips! You can even drizzle them with melted chocolate!

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I Believe – I should…

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

Believe Beach

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How I saved $$ for Christmas!

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

pennies1

Okay here is my post I promised you (One of the reasons I started a blog) on how one of my idea has really helped me!  “Saving Money for Christmas” I am so happy when my ideas pay off!!

Yes before you know it “Christmas” will be here!  I really would like to tell you that every year that I am ready for the holidays!  But that would be a really big lie!  Each year as the years before Christmas sneaks up on me and “BAM” “POW” it hits me like a ton of bricks and I am broke and going crazy trying to get it all done!  So I had an idea, that  I wanted to be ready next year for the Holidays in more than just having some shopping done.  I did not want to dread the Holidays rather enjoy them!  I wanted to have the money set aside for shopping for holiday dinners and gifts and just those little things that always seem to pop up.  So here is what I started in January and what a difference it is already going to make and it is only end of July! But also only 4 more months till December!

I hope this may help you and let me know if you have any other creative ways to save $$ and be ready for that Holiday season!

So here is where I started…..

  1. First thing I did was to check with my bank to see if they had a Holiday Savings program.  Which they did, so got the information and took it home to look it over.  If you are like me we live from pay check to pay check and not really any give or take.  But I deiced that if I packed my lunch for work instead of eating out and cut down  my Starbucks run that I could afford at least $25 or more every other week. (When I have had extra I have put a little more in the account).  After I while I did not miss it and I loved having the little extra  money in my pocket and money to put up! (Total for the end of July is $775.00) and I am still adding extra when I can!  But paying for college and girls in general.. you know how that goes!

  2. Then the second thing I did was searched the web and found a few good programs that allowed me to earn points to redeem gift cards.  I found a few good ones and a few that well did not work.  Here are the ones I found that worked for me.

**But note I did open up a separate email account just for this, so my main one did not get hit hard with junk mail **

Here are my top picks for sites that really do pay off!

SWAGBUKS .  You can read emails watch videos and search using their search engine to earn swagbucks.  Then you can turn them in for gift cards to use online. Some do not like the way they do their gift cards are, I don’t mind.   Most of them when you have enough points to redeem they send you an email with a code of like Amazon or Walmart.  I do most of my shopping online when do so it is easy for me.   They have a great list of gift cards to choose from in increments of $5, $10, $15, $25 and $50 etc.  Some of the cards are VISA, Kohls, Walmart, Target, Amazon and so many more to choose from. (Note Yes you need to spend a little time on this each day by clicking on links, watching video and taking a few surveys) But to me they are fun and I learn a few things and you can even earn points for shopping on the web or cutting grocery shopping coupons and using them.

EBATES – If you do a lot of your shopping online you will love this site.  You get paid any where from 1% to 6% or more cashback for shopping thru their site.  Like if you wanted to order something from Kohls or Target online you click the link to the store’s website and you can get 6% cash back from Kohls or 3% cashback from Target. The %’s do change and sometime they double.  And they have deals of the day and hundreds of Websites to shop from!  They will also let you know if there are coupons for that site.     You get paid every three months as long as you have over $5.01  they will either send it to your paypal account or send you a check.  It is a Win Win….. Ebates even features Groupon with 6% cash back.  (I have not tried Groupon but I have heard from a few you can find some good deals).  Plus most of the time they have signup bonuses to get you started off like a $10 gift card.

Walmart Savings Catcher!  – Yes I Love shopping at Walmart! I am lucky enough to have a Super Walmart near so I can do all my shopping in one place!  One of the sales clerks told me about Walmart Saving Catcher program.  You shop at Walmart then scan your receipt into the Savings Catcher app on your phone.  Then they go out and compare price with other competitors and if they catch the price lower at another competitor you get the difference.  You can then save up your savings and transfer them to a Walmart Card for a Bluebird Card.  I was also lucky when I signed up they had a deal that if you signed up for a free BlueBird card (you can only use this card at Walmart and it is sponsored by AmercianExpress) you get double your savings.  For a limited time. (It was free and no hidden charges).   Also what is really great is your Walmart Cash does not expire! So I am still saving mine and putting the savings I get on my BlueBird Card and can’t wait to go shopping.

MyPoints:  There are several ways to earn from MyPoints, Clicking on emails, taking surveys, clipping coupons and also shopping online. They even give you large amounts of points for purchasing gift cards thru their site.  It does not get any easier than this.  I tend to do the emails about once a week, it only takes me a few minutes to open them and click the links.  If I have time I will take a survey they send to my email and earn points for taking it.  When I shop online I will either go thru MyPoints, SwagBucks  (sometimes they don’t always have the stores I want) I always use my EBATES!!!!

SurveySavvy :  This program so far has worked for me.  They email you surveys or you can download an app that will let you know when they have surveys available.  I started in January with this on and so far I have over $100 in my account.  When you are ready for the money you just request a check! Also they have weekly and Monthly drawings for $$ prizes!

So for the first idea I have been able to save $1286.64  in 6 1/2 months  for spending on Christmas, Holiday dinners (those grocery trips add up), those extra gifts you always forget about, lunch out with my girls and even a movie.   I am hoping to bring back more of family time and enjoying the “Reason for the Season”!

I have also come up with a few other ideas that will get me a little ahead of the gifts for family and friends which is my homemade jellies, jams, salsa and green beans. My gifts from the heart!

Now if someone can just tell me how to add more time to the Holiday Season!  LOL Guess I need to start thinking about an Idea for this! Can’t wait to see what this Next Year will bring!  Good luck all!

P.S. My Oldest Melinda has joined me on my ways to save this year for Christmas idea!   Can’t wait to see how well she does!

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Easy Rolo Pretzel Treats

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Sue's Little Corner

rolo pretzels

Rolo Pretzel Treats

These are my any time, go to, just because they are so easy treat! They are great around the Holidays to!

You can make just a few or lots and lots

What you will need:

  • Square shaped Butter Snaps Pretzels
  • Rolo’s
  • Pecan or almonds (optional) any type of nut you like
  • Baking Sheet

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Lay out pretzels, unwrap rolo’s and place on top of pretzel,  You can also top the rolo with a pecan or almond. Bake in oven for 8 to 10 minutes.  Let cool and enjoy!

It can not get any easier than that!  I must warn you that they can be addicting!!!! You can also store them in an air tight container.  We never have to worry about that because they don’t last long in our house!

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