Fruit Salsa Snack

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Crisps
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
1/4 cup orange juice
1 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped
1 cup sliced strawberries (I thawed ones I had in the freezer, and it was fine)
2 Tbsp orange marmalade
4 flour tortillas
1 Tbsp cinnamon and sugar
In the bowl of a food processor with the steel blade attached, combine the apples and orange juice; pulse until the apples are chopped. Add the kiwifruit,strawberries, and marmalade, and pulse until combined. Transfer to a bowl.
Meanwhile, heat the oven to 375 oF. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges andarrange on a baking sheet (I cut them much smaller, like 3 cuts across thetortilla one way, and 3 cuts up and down the other way.) Lightly sprinkle thetortillas with water (I used a spray bottle), then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.Bake for 5 minutes or until light brown and crisp. Let cool before serving.I used the leftovers to put on our yogurt. Yum

Digital Scrapbooking

Alright, so I have to admit it. I am addicted to learning about digital scrapbooking and everything about it. I have made a few pages, and I constantly want to make some more. I have always had Adobe Photoshop CS on my computer and now I really want to learn how to use it. Let me tell you...it is really difficult! There are many tips and videos online, but they are usually not about scrapbooking or they are confusing. But I will not get discouraged!!! I just haven't spent much time thinking about this blog in the midst of everything else going on around here. Anyways, I thought I would share some cool sites that I found in case anyone who reads this is interested!

This is my favourite so far:

www.shabbyprincess.com

Here are some other cool sites:

www.scrapgirls.com
www.digitalscrapbookplace.com
www.digitaldesignessentials.com

If you think this is something you will also enjoy, you may not want to start because it is just too cool! I love that I don't have to drag out all my supplies and make a mess. Also, everything I have found so far has been free, so I don't have to go out and buy more supplies! This is just a great bonus. I guess the only minus is that it will be hard to get together and scrapbook with friends...I'm sure I will find other fun things to do with friends!!

Chocolate Banana Muffins

Okay, so I hesitated about sharing this recipe. I kind of wanted to keep it to myself. It is so easy and one of my favourites! Try them and you'll see why!

Chocolate Banana Muffins

1 devils food cake mix
1 pkg banana pudding mix
3 eggs
1 ½ cups mashed bananas
¼ cup oil
1 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 24 muffin tins.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, bananas and oil. Stir till just blended. Fold in chocolate chips. Spoon into tins. Bake 15-20 minutes or until set and golden. Cool on rack.

Winter Storming

Well, we are into another storm here in Ontario. Not a big deal really, but it is suppposed to get worse. I feel a bit cooped up though, considering women's society was cancelled this morning. I felt it might be wise to stay in with the kids. So I promptly made some freshly baked buns and a lasagne. I also managed a load of laundry and organised the kitchen and living room. Now I am bored... I have been feeling crafty lately, but I am not sure where to start. Everything I can think of either costs money or takes a lot of time or a lot of mess to get started. Hmmm...I think I may have to think about this a little more. I should probably clean the bathroom or something but that is not much fun. Maybe I'll post a few more recipes on here and move on to the cleaning of my house part...

One more tip...

One of the most useful things I do is make a grocery list in the order of the grocery store. I make a list and rearrange it into order and rarely do I ever forget something! (That is unless I forgot to put it on the list in the first place...)

Cleaning Tips

When you dust, start at the top and work down.
Take all your cleaning tools, avoid unnecessary trips back and forth.
Clean as you go! It takes a lot less time to remove new dirt than old.
Leave baking soda on carpeting over night will absorb musty odors
Make a checklist of chores to get organized first.
Wash walls from the bottom up, to avoid streaking.
Use old socks as mitts for cleaning difficult wood work.
Wash small knickknacks instead of dusting.

Ahhhh Mondays...

I'm not sure if I like or dislike Mondays. I find I don't like them because there is always so much to do, but then I do like them because it seems I accomplish so much! Today was one of those days. I accomplished a few loads of laundry, I managed to bake a cake and to decorate a different cake from start to finish. Aside from all of this I managed to talk on the phone for what seemed like forever...why do people always want to talk on Mondays? I'm not complaining, it's just that I can't seem to ever talk on the phone and do something at the same time.
Other than this, Nicole and Emily enjoyed playing in the snow while it has lasted and my new cake bible is waiting for me at the post office! I am very excited for this! I will pick this up tommorow! For now, I will enjoy my night off from choir and think of all I need to do for tommorow.

Jamaican Barbequed Pork Tenderloin

This has to be one of my favourite dishes. It is spicy yet sweet. It has a pretty unique taste, but it really grows on you. Don't be shy and give it a try!

Dietitian's tip: As lean as chicken breast, pork tenderloin has a milder, slightly sweet flavor. Here, it's coated with a jerk-style spice rub and grilled or broiled.
SERVES 4
Ingredients
2 teaspoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pork tenderloin, about 1 pound, trimmed of visible fat
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons dark honey
1 teaspoon tomato paste
Directions
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the black pepper. Rub the spice mixture over the pork and let stand for 15 minutes.
In another small bowl, combine the vinegar, honey, tomato paste and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk to blend. Set aside.
Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill or broiler (grill) to medium-high or 400 F. Away from the heat source, lightly coat the grill rack or broiler pan with cooking spray. Position the cooking rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source.
Place the pork on the grill rack or broiler pan. Grill or broil at medium-high heat, turning several times, until browned on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes total. Remove to a cooler part of the grill or reduce the heat and continue cooking for 14 to 16 minutes. Baste with the vinegar-honey glaze and continue cooking until the pork is slightly pink inside and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 160 F, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool for 5 minutes before slicing.
To serve, slice the pork tenderloin crosswise into 16 pieces and arrange on a warmed serving platter, or divide the slices among individual plates.

Nutritional Analysis(per serving)
Serving size: 4 pork tenderloin slices
Calories 180
Monounsaturated fat 3 g
Protein 24 g
Cholesterol 75 mg
Carbohydrate 6 g
Sodium 508 mg
Total fat 6 g
Fiber 1 g
Saturated fat 2 g

Apple Cake

So this is a tried and true recipe that has been around in my family for a long time. Moist and sweet, this recipes never fails.


1 ½ cups white sugar
2 eggs
½ cup butter or margarine
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1 ½ cups flour
Pinch salt
3 cups chopped apple

Beat sugar, eggs and butter. Add vanilla and spices. Add flour, apples, baking powder and salt. Mix well. Spread in 9 x 13 greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Why Blog???

Why blog? That is a great question. I don't know really. I kind of wanted a place to vent, amuse, inspire etc... I also had an itch to share some advice, recipes, secrets, tips. Really, I quite enjoy reading other people's blogs and felt that I may have some things to share as well. Sometimes just reading a blog makes me laugh or smile. Other times it inspires me to cook or clean. So, I thought I would give this a try and see where it takes me...we'll have to see!