Archive for February, 2010

Caramel Popcorn

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Here's another one of my favorite recipes. Perfect for family movie night or just for snacking on.
Ingredients
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 quarts popped popcorn

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat.
3. Place in two large shallow baking dishes and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

BROWNIE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

This recipe for brownie peanut butter cups is one of my absolute favorites! Give them a try - they are sure to be a hit with your family!

15 oz. pkg. Pillsbury Deluxe Fudge Brownie Mix
1/3 c. very hot water
1/4 c. oil
1 egg
12 miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Line 12 muffin cups with paper baking cups. In large bowl, combine brownie mix, water, oil, and egg; beat 50 strokes with spoon. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Press peanut butter cup into batter until top edge of candy is even with batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until brownie is set. Do not over bake.
Cool completely. Makes 12 cup cakes.

Did You Ever Notice…

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Did you ever notice that the stuff you worry about, obsess over and spend countless hours pondering, never comes to fruition?

Did you ever notice that children love you unconditionally, but adults have a lot of conditions in order to love you?

Did you ever notice that with age comes wisdom, with youth comes stupidity?

Did you ever notice that certain people come into your life with a certain talent when you need it? You learn lessons from these people and they learn lessons from you.

Did you ever notice that even during your darkest hour, the notion that tomorrow could be a tiny bit better than the last is the hope that keeps you going?

Did you ever notice that happy people enjoy each day, unhappy people complain each minute of the day?

Did you ever notice that children make your life important?

Did you ever notice the greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you can not do?

Did you ever notice that life is never easy for those who dream big?

Did you ever notice that being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect? It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

Did you ever notice that the more you rush the more behind you get?

Did you ever notice that happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them?

Did you ever notice that years teach us more than books?

Did you ever notice that failure teaches success? (I know this lesson all too well.)

Did you ever notice that the best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up?

Did you ever notice that success is not the key to happiness, but that happiness is the key to success?

Did you ever notice that some create happiness wherever they go, and others cause happiness whenever they go?

Did you ever notice that there is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you?

Did you ever notice that the most important things in life aren't things?

And the all important conclusion to this article--Did you ever notice that if you have a problem that you are having difficulty solving and you ask yourself will this matter in 6 months, the answer is quite often no? If you have asked this question, and the answer is no, then you have already wasted too much time pondering, worrying and obsessing. Always remember, time heals everything and everyone.