First, the crust…

Perfect Pie Crust Recipe

Method

1 Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Add butter and pulse 6 to 8 times, until mixture resembles coarse meal, with pea size pieces of butter. Add ice water 1 Tbsp at a time, pulsing until mixture just begins to clump together.  If you pinch some of the crumbly dough and it holds together, it’s ready.   If the dough doesn’t hold together,  add a little more water and pulse again.  Note that too much water will make the crust tough.

2 Remove dough from machine and place in a mound on a clean surface.  If you want an extra flaky crust, shmoosh the dough mixture into the table top with the heel of the palm of your hand a few times. This will help flatten the butter into layers between the flour which will help the resulting crust be flaky. You can easily skip this step if you want. Gently shape the dough mixture into two disks. Work the dough just enough to form the disks, do not over-knead.  You should be able to see little bits of butter in the dough.  These small chunks of butter are what will allow the resulting crust to be flaky.  Sprinkle a little flour around the disks.  Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour, and up to 2 days.

Ingredients

            Directions

1.  Place cherries into a saucepan over medium heat, and cover the pan; heat cherries until they release their juice and come to a simmer, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir often.
2.  In a bowl, whisk the sugar with cornstarch until smooth; pour the mixture into the hot cherries and juice, and thoroughly combine. Return to low heat, bring to a simmer, and cook until the filling has thickened, about 2 minutes; remove from heat, let cool, and use as pie filling.

My pictures for the actual assembly of said Pop Pies decided to not to transfer, so here’s a picture of the finished product again…

Assembly

• Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out two crusts per pop.  Lay one shape flat, then gently press the pop stick on at the base.
• Add 1 tbsp of cherry filling–if you use too much it leaks out and looks like your Pie Pop is bleeding.
• Lay the top heart shape over the filling
• With a fork, gently press the edges together.
• Bake the pops for approximately 20 minutes–I baked four pops per cookie sheet.
• LET COOL for a good hour before removing from the pan or rack.
• Decorate as you like–I tied pink bows on the sticks.

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Valentine’s Day Petit Fours

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus melted butter for pans
• 1 pound almond paste
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Pinch fine sea salt
• 8 cups tinted Royal Icing, recipe follows, or store bought

Directions

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I was showing off pictures of my adorable baby Zoe when Carolyn chirped, “oh, that’s so sweet!  And just think, you’ll be having her Period Party before you know it!”

“Ah…her what?”

My 3 best friends since, like, junior high school looked at me blankly.

“Her Period Party.”  Clarified Alex, “where you celebrate the joy of her First Menstruation.”

My mouth gaped open like a carp’s and I could only hope I’d swallowed the last of my salad before my friend’s little revelation.

“Period Party?  For getting her period?  Seriously?”

My girlies nodded gravely and I shut my mouth with an audible snap.

People, come ON.  When I started my cycle at the age of 14, my mom chucked a box of pads at me and said dryly, “congratulations, you’re a woman.”  When did we graduate to a cake and party streamers for something that’s usually celebrated with a speedy trip through the self-checkout with an armload of feminine hygiene products?  And who am I supposed to invite to Zoe’s theoretical Period Party?  Classmates?  Nana?  Uncle Kelly?  I know that at 14 if  my mother had invited a group of people over for cake and a celebration of my awkward introduction to tampons I would have made my way to the I-15 freeway, laid down on the cement and prayed for the next 18 wheeler to crush me into a paste.  What am I missing, here?

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We’re hosting a FREE event at the B98.7 studios Thursday (1.19.12) to help you defeat the “dark underbelly” of your subconscious.  Paul Smith (aka Mind Over Matter Hypnotherapy) is a gifted hypnotherapist who’s going to work through the basics of hypnotherapy, and do a session with all of us on reducing stress and anxiety.  Imagine being able to sleep through the entire night…no more panic attacks!  Need to lost weight?  Quit smoking?  Join us and talk to Paul about it.

(Editor’s note: I’m a huge believer in the benefits of hypnotherapy–I was really nervous before my first plane flight when I was a little girl.  My father–the shrink–hypnotised me to be “so relaxed that you’ll fall asleep before the wheels leave the tarmac.”  It took me 21 YEARS to be able to stay awake on a flight!)

We’ll have dinner, massage therapists and lots of goodies to give away.  I’m excited for all of us to work through this together–it’s going to be a very healing night!  We’re located at 434 West Bearcat Drive (2300 South) in Salt Lake City, and “Mind Over Matter” will run from 6-9pm.  Find more information here.  Join us!  It’s going to be an amazing night…

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The rocker and toy bench both come from IKEA, too.  Another $94.26.  I whitewashed both and sewed some pink mattress ticking stripe cushions for the chair.  I really wanted something playful that respected Zoe’s Japanese ethnicity, so I ordered a bunch of Japanese paper lanterns online–$1.99 each or less!  I had piles of pink ribbon left over from something else, so I suspended them from the ceiling over the rocking chair.

The bedding is a gray toile–I found it on Overstock.com for $12.98.  I spent the longest time scraping the wood floor afterwards to get up all the paint splatters.  A tidy painter, I’m not.  I was at a luncheon the other day where another attendee was boasting about her granddaughter’s “$12,000.00 nursery.”  What–seriously?  I was proud of keeping on my budget.  In an era of so much need, it seems so much more meaningful to spend time and thought to make something beautiful.  So, it’s not a designer nursery, but I’m proud of it.  And Zoe loves batting her paper lanterns around the room like giant balls. 

I’d love to see your pictures of your cute and clever kid’s room makeovers.  Please send so we can all admire the cleverness of you!

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I really like Vistaprint’s new approach for 2012: reconnect.  How about a personalized calendar for someone you like?  A photo mug with your mug on it?  Vistaprint’s also offering 250 free business cards, 10 folded personalized greeting cards and more, all FREE.  Just pay shipping and they’re yours!  Click Mr. Purple Box above to get started.

$

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It’s a beating, but I’m actually enjoying it!  Whatever your personal challenge, I hope this inspires you, too!

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2012

But That Went Well is about to undergo a change I think you’ll really like–I’ve spent the last few months asking questions of the TWW community, discovering what’s most important to you, what you need.  We’ll unveil a new look and a big fat bunch of really amazing features in a week or so.  Your feedback as always, will be greatly appreciated.

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PS: The Japanese Floating Lanterns RULED!!!!

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Santa’s Rule: Get One, Toss Two

Try this simple idea to pack a powerful clutter-cutting punch as you put away new holiday gifts: for each gift received, toss two counterparts.

As you put away holiday gifts, take time to make extra room throughout the house. For example, for every new Christmas DVD you add to the shelves, remove two older titles. Did Nana gift the children with new holiday pajamas? Find two outgrown sets to add to the donation bag. If craft supplies made it into your stocking, be sure to remove double their number from your stash before adding them to the craft closet.

Whether you recycle, donate or sell the tossers, each gift will reduce clutter in your organized home–and the excitement of new possessions helps cut the ties to old, outworn items.

Get One, Toss Two: short, sweet and painless way to declutter for the New Year.

Take The Holiday Mailing Box Challenge

Have mailing boxes piled up as holiday gifts arrived? Sure, you could recycle or reuse them, but for maximum end-of-year clutter-cutting, take the Holiday Mailing Box Challenge!

Your goal: to fill every seasonal mailing box with items suitable for donation to Goodwill or a similar recycler for used household items, and deliver them to charity before year’s end.

Using stacked-up mailing boxes as a yardstick, the Holiday Mailing Box Challenge a good way to be sure that holiday gifts don’t create more clutter in the home. By filling all mailing boxes with donation candidates, you’ll keep clutter down when adding holiday gift.

Better, donating mailing boxes filled with no-longer-needed household linens, books, VHS tapes, crafts supplies or toys gets surplus items into the hands of those in need, and best of all? The built-in deadline for an end-of-year tax receipt provide extra decluttering motivation!

Observe Oosouji

In Japan, clearing dirt, clutter and the disorganization from the old year is an integral part of Japanese New Year tradition. Because each year is seen as separate and distinct, the final week of the old year is devoted to cleaning, decluttering and organizing.

To observe oosouji, Japanese homes receive a top-to-bottom cleaning. Business offices are sorted and organized and children clean out school desks. “Removing the dirt from the old year” creates a clean state of mind to welcome the New Year, and invite prosperity in the year to come.

Sort Before You Stow

Once the New Year arrives, most families take down holiday decorations and store them for the following year–but too often, there’s a sense of “sling it in there and worry about it later” when it comes to putting away Christmas ornaments, holiday linens and outdoor lighting.

This year, pay it forward: sort and declutter holiday decorations, linens and specialty cooking items as you store them. Cut the non-working, the tattered, and the tired from the herd as you put away holiday decorations. Has-been decor items can be recycled or donated; stained linens can be repurposed as cleaning cloths.

Streamline holiday decorating next year: sort before you stow!

Send White Elephants On Their Way

When it comes to holiday giving, it’s the thought that counts. But when those thoughts leave you scratching your head? Come up with a plan to wrangle the year’s white elephant gifts: those “really, you shouldn’t have!” gift items that have entered your home during the season.

Before they can become clutter in your New Year’s home, try these strategies to sort out white elephant gifts:

• Consign “regifting” candidates to the gift closet. Did the big, bountiful gift basket include a lovely cheese board, spreaders and dipping bowl–identical to the other three sets now living in your cabinets? Nosh on the snacks, but set the unneeded items aside in the gift closet. Next year, they’ll be the start of a lovely gift basket when packed together with some good cheese and a box of specialty crackers.To prevent regifting faux pas, scribble a short note outlining who gave what for each new gift closet find. Hint: make a note on the original gift tag; it’ll prevent you from regifting unneeded items in the wrong circle.
• Hold an after-Christmas White Elephant exchange. Inviting friends for dinner on January 1st or hosting a Super Bowl party this year? Ask everyone to bring a wrapped white elephant for a post-Christmas gift exchange.You’ll clear clutter and breathe new life into white elephant gifts. Who knows? Your white elephant may be someone else’s favorite gift! Just be sure to avoid circulating gifts that have been given by your guests!
• Stuck with unneeded books? Consider an online swap! Web sites like Paperback Swap and Book Mooch make it easy to turn trite titles into a welcome read–and cut clutter on household bookshelves!

Set Up A Toy Library

Families with young children can find bedrooms and storage spaces overflowing after Santa’s passed through. Solution: set up a toy library to remove excess toys to a “loaner” status.

A toy library is a set of playthings that, while old and familar, still retain play value. Pushed out of the limelight by new Christmas toys, toy library items will seem new and exciting if they’re given a rest for a few months, then brought out to liven up a rainy Spring afternoon.

Look for good toy library candidates: construction sets, doll houses, blocks or playsets such as FisherPrice or Playskool brand products that have been pushed to the sidelines by the arrival of new Christmas toys. Sort and organize smaller pieces, then store each toy library item in an attic or storage area. Plastic garbage bags or lidded plastic storage containers make good homes for toy library items.

When checking out an item from the toy library, ask children to replace it with a different plaything. Rotating toys keeps clutter at bay, and enhances the value of children’s playthings–proving that absence does make the heart grow fonder!

Reprinted from Organized Home

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Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you THE most amazing cookie recipe ever–the Toblerone Shortbread Cookie.  It’s nearly impossible to mess these up.  I’m giving them out as gifts this year with a pretty mason jar with the dry ingredients layered in a pleasing way.  Because the minute you eat these cookies, you will NEED to make more.

Toblerone Shortbread Cookies
Makes 28 cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup + 2 tablespoons icing sugar
¼ cup cornstarch or rice flour
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 ounces of toblerone chocolate bar, chopped into ¼ inch chunks
1. Preheat oven to 350 º F.
2. Beat butter until light and fluffy. Sift in icing sugar and beat again until fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl often.
3. Sift in cornstarch or rice flour and blend in. Sift in all-purpose flour and salt and mix just until dough comes together. Dough will be soft. Mix in vanilla extract. Gently mix in toblerone chunks.
4. Using a small ice cream scoop (about 1 ½ inches across) scoop cookies onto parchment lined cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches between cookies. You should be able to fit 12 cookies on a 12 x 18 inch cookie sheet.
5. Bake on the middle rack for 9 minutes. Rotate sheet and bake another 9 minutes, until bottom of cookies are lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet to cool on a rack.

This recipe comes from The Food Network Baker Anna Olsen. These cookies freeze very well.

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Cost of materials:

• pine boughs I swiped from tree trimming in the graveyard=0
• glitter initial from Target=$2.00
• leftover ribbon=0
• hot glue gun burns=$3.50 for bandaids

I still love it.

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I know I’m superstitious, but I always keep a loooong string of ribbon at the end for many discs to come.

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White Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookies

1 package Oreo cookies–try to find the special Christmas ones with the red peppermint-flavored frosting. 

6 ounces white chocolate

1 package peppermint sprinkles

Melt white chocolate.

Dip each Oreo in the white chocolate, then lay out on a paper towel or baking rack.

Sprinkle with peppermint sprinkles.

Let them cool for about 30 minutes.

Peppermint-Chocolate Marshmallows:

I made these for a sleigh ride where we entertained clients for the radio station.  Some people used them as swizzle sticks for their hot cocoa and Schnapps, some just ate them outright like a lollipop.  I myself prefer BOTH ways.

Here’s what I used…

 First, I melted about half the bag of chocolate chips in the microwave.

It took me about 2 minutes (stirring every 30 seconds) to get it smooth and melted!

While that’s going on (or afterwards if you easily get distracted like me), you’ll want to put your marshmallows onto coffee straws or plastic “stir sticks”.  I found the straws I used on the paper aisle at Walmart…next to regular straws and napkins and such.  I think I paid $2-3 for a box of 250!

I put a sheet of wax paper (or parchment paper would do) onto a platter to get ready for the next step.

You’ll also need to get your “dips” ready.  Crushed peppermint will be super yummy to make Peppermint Hot Chocolate, but you can also just use sprinkles.  I used some of both!

Now, I didn’t get any actual pictures of dipping the marshmallows into chocolate, then sprinkles, because well…I just don’t have that many hands, or that much talent.  Maybe one day I’ll figure out how others do it.

But…I ended up with a variety of Dipped Marshmallows!

Note… chill for about 10 minutes in the fridge before wrapping or the chocolate gets everywhere.  Ask me how I know!

Thanks, Adventures in Savings!

If you’re feeling a little more ambitious (Editor’s note: or have children with an attention span longer than–”SQUIRREL!”)   Try this one, sooooo good.

Peppermint Meltaways

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cornstarch FROSTING: 2 tablespoons butter, softened 1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons 2% milk 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract 2 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

Directions: In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, extract and food coloring if desired; beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container. 

Yield: 3-1/2 dozen. Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie equals 90 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 13 mg cholesterol, 36 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, trace protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fat, 1/2 starch.

Originally published as Peppermint Meltaways in Simple & Delicious November/December 2008, p33

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Important points to consider:

• Be consistent: set aside an hour–or what you can spare–a day to work and take as many surveys as they offer you.  They’ll track who’s always participating and send you better options.
• Be realistic: you’re NOT going to get rich doing surveys.  But you can earn a helpful addition to the household budget  if you stick with it.
• Be accurate: pay attention to what they’re asking you.  Most companies utilize software that track inconsistent answers.
• I’ve checked all these companies with the Better Business Bureau, if you’re looking at one not on this list, check for complaints or non-payment before applying.

UPDATED LIST– there’s some new contenders that look really promising:

Consumer Advisory Group makes it simple to earn gift cards quickly, unlike some of the research groups I’ve struggled with.  Female?  Click here.  They’re short on male participants, so your chances of getting in are excellent, so click here.

 Become a member of our Fresh Ideas Panel!
Please share your thoughts with us on our product ideas and offerings.
By sharing your opinions with us you are eligible for monthly giveaways!

Click here to apply.

The NPD Group is a good one because they pay cash as well as gift cards.  My girlfriend tells me they have quite a frw monthly giveaways as well.  Click here to apply.

 Vindale Research is the industry leader–I’ve been trying to get on with them for over a year, but I’m apparently not that mysterious demographic they need.  My girlie Carmen has scored a pile of things from ice cream to hair product to review and keep.  Depending on what they need, you can earn from $5.00 to $75.00 per survey.  Click here.

Pinecone Research is my personal favorite–$3.00 for every survey.  They pay promptly, the products are fun, and they often send you the goods to try out!    They’re looking specifically for Spanish-speaking households.  Click here.

Inbox Dollars is another consistent earner–and they’ll kick in $5.00 for a signing bonus.  Click here.

Ipsos i-Say has a contest where new particpants can win a cash prize of $5,000.  With this company, you complete surveys for points: which you “spend” on items like tv’s, iPads, etc.  Click here.

With Valued Opinions, you can earn up to $5.00 per survey.  You then redeem your account value into gift cards to use.  Click here.

 
I’m very interested in Global Opinions–you’re taking surverys and using products already on the market to improve them.  One of my girlfriends just got her first check and confirmed it was DEFINITELY worth her while.  Click here.

 $

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Serves 8 people

For the chocolate genoise recipe, click here.  

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting.

• 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 5 tablespoons of heavy cream
•  2 cups confectioner sugar
• ½ cup chopped Peppermint andes

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and beat until smooth.

Chocolate Pouring Sauce

• 2/3 cups dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted
• 4-5 tablespoons water, warm

1. Place chocolate and heavy cream in a bowl over simmering water. Let chocolate and cream sit for 2-3 minutes to melt without stirring. Then slowly stir mixture to combine. Add powdered sugar and mix to combine. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition until pouring consistency is reached. Set aside and let sauce cool to warm. 

Assembly

1. Unroll Genoise and spread filling to a 1/4 inch in thickness. Roll filled cake from end to end. Trim ends as needed for a clean finish.
2. Place fully assembled roll on a serving plate (or on a cooling rack for a cleaner pouring finish) and pour chocolate on top.
3. Finish with peppermint Andes shavings.  

Just a thought–

• When heating the eggs and sugar, Martha’s instructions indicate that the mixture is ready once it becomes warm. Since I’ve made this recipe several times, I find for the best results the “warm” should be about 118-120 degrees F. For a non-thermometer gauge, the mixture should feel warm to the touch. That’s warm, not tepid. The time approximation is about 3-4 minutes.
• Once the egg mixture enters the whisking stage Martha’s instructions includes whisking the mixture until it almost triples in volume. I find what is more helpful is keeping that in mind and looking for the mixture to create ribbons (see picture).

Thanks to BakersRoyale.com

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Step One:  I always start with the fillers. In this pot, a multitude of tree toppers to fill the center. Next the spillers, the cedar stems beginning that phase.

Step Two: additional fillers and spillers; blue coned cedar, blue berried juniper, magnolia, oregonia and long needle pine.  Finish with the thrillers; ponderosa pine cones, faux  green and red apples plus faux berry stems.

Step Three: why faux?  I love the look of real berries and rose hops, and if you’re in a temperate climate that allows it, go nuts.  I live in a winter area that’s just one step below the conditions that forced the settlers to EAT each other at Donner’s Pass.  Frozen berries turn black and nasty.  How do you get good faux?  The only faux ornamentals I recommend is the solid plastic. How would you know? Try piercing the faux with your fingernail, if it leaves an indent or pierces the fruit, walk away. It is styrofoam with a coating and will burst when freezing. The quality faux’s will last for years.

Step Four: Willow Eucalyptus, cedar, silver fir, spruce, cones and left over ivy and white Kale.

Look how clever you are!

Thanks, 5thandState!

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Irena Sendler 1910-2008 A 98 year-old Polish woman named Irena Sendler recently died. During WWII, Irena worked in the Warsaw Ghetto as a plumbing/sewer specialist. Irena smuggled Jewish children out; infants in the bottom of the tool box she carried and older children in a burlap sack she carried in the back of her truck. She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers wanted nothing to do with the dog, and the barking covered the kids’ and infants’ noises. Irena managed to smuggle out and save 2500 children.

She eventually was caught, and the Nazis broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar buried under a tree in her backyard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived and reunited some of the families. Most had been killed. She helped those children get placement into foster family homes or adopted.

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Pumpkin Bread With Cinnamon Cheesecake Layer

Cheesecake Layer:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Scant 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon (approximately) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon flour
1 large egg

Pumpkin Bread:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the cheesecake ingredients; beat until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Set aside.

In another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; set aside.

Place pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl of an electric stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat for about 1 minute, until fully combined. Add flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture and mix just until combined.

Pour half of the pumpkin bread batter into the loaf pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture on top of pumpkin batter layer and then pour on the remaining pumpkin batter.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool bread in pans for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pans and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature or cool.

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Click here to see the YouTube tutorial, but the basics are these–scan a barcode (groceries, toys, clothes, anything.)  The Red Laser App with then scan the ENTIRE WORLD and give you a breakdown of price comparasions in other stores and online.   You can then decide if it’s worth it to drive to another store or hit the laptop.

Don’t you LOVE IT?  The app is free and available on iTunes…just click here.

Thank you Rachael, you are my Queen.

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For the locals: if you’re still checking out ham and turkey prices, WinCo Foods is offering a free turkey to shoppers who spend at least $100 on groceries. Some Walmart stores will match this offer. (Call your local store before you go to make sure yours does.) In addition to the free-turkey offer, many stores are offering low prices on frozen and fresh turkeys. Smith’s, for example, is offering a 12- to 14-pound hen turkey for $8 or a 16 to 20-pound tom turkey for $10 with a $35 grocery purchase. You can get an additional $3 off either of those by purchasing four qualifying Coca-Cola 6- and/or 12-packs for $10.00. 

Nationwide: there’s an excellent, comprehensive store comparasion list on Pinching Your Pennies.com.

*There is a $5 mail in offer for fresh or frozen Butterball turkeys, available HERE to print – when you send it in you will get (5) $1 coupons good off of Butterball products.
This rebate form is also in the SS-11/13 insert.

Some of the Associate Foods stores ads have a $1.00 off coupon for the purchase of a Norbest Tender-Timed Young Turkey.

Winco Foods -
FREE turkey with $100 purchase
(excludes Butterball, $100 purchase excludes cost of turkey, limited to stock on hand)
OR, frozen whole turkey, .74/lb (without $100 purchase)

Walmart -
Frozen bone-in turkey breast, 1.68/lb
Frozen turkey, .78/lb

SuperTarget -
Butterball Premium frozen turkey 10-24lb, .97/lb
Use: Save $3.00 on Butterball turkey when you buy (4) participating products – StoveTop stuffing mix, Heinz Homestyle Gravy and/or Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, exp. 12/1/2011 (see GroupA) – MUST buy the participating products in same transaction
OR: Save $3.00 on any Butterball Whole Turkey (fresh or frozen) wyb any combination of four packages of Heinz Homestyle Gravy, Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls or Stove Top Stuffing Mix (12-31-11) SS-11/13
Market Pantry whole frozen turkey 10-24lb, .79/lb
Market Pantry frozen turkey breast, .99/lb
(limit 2 per guest, except in ID or NM; quantities limited, no rainchecks)
Market Pantry fresh turkey 10-24lb, 1.09/lb

Winegars -
Turkey breast, 1.29/lb

Reams -
Norbest whole frozen turkey, 1.19/lb
Norbest frozen turkey breast, 1.79/lb
In-ad coupon for $2.00 off any whole Norbest Turkey, good at any Ream’s Food store.
ALSO, $4.00 off your frozen turkey when you buy 4 12pks of Coca-Cola products.

Fresh Market -
Frozen bone-in turkey breast, 1.29/lb (limit 2)
Norbest frozen turkey hens or toms 10-24lbs, .69/lb with $50 purchase

Smith’s -
Honeysuckle or Private Selection frozen USDA Grade A turkey breast, 1.79/lb
Fresh Jennie-O turkey, 1.39/lb
FREE boneless Private Selection turkey breast (2.5lb) when you buy American Chef boneless ham (4lb) for $17.96 ($4.49/lb)
Private Selection or Gold Crest frozen hen 12-14lb, $8.00 ea with card and $35 purchase ($5.00 when you also buy 4 Coca-Cola 12pks or 6pk of 16.9oz bottles)
Private Selection or Gold Crest frozen tom 16-20lb, $10.00 ea with card and $35 purchase ($7.00 when you also buy 4 Coca-Cola 12pks or 6pk of 16.9oz bottles)
Save $3 off ANY frozen holiday turkey purchase wyb 4 Coca-Cola 12pks or 6pks of 16.9oz bottles.

Macey’s -
Honeysuckle White turkey breast (frozen, bone-in), 1.29/lb

Lee’s Market -
Frozen bone-in whole turkey, .77/lb

Peterson’s Marketplace -
Frozen bone-in turkey breast, 1.29/lb
Ad has a $1.00 off coupon for Norbest Tender-Timed Young Turkey

Harmons -
Deal – Save $5 on ANY size of frozen or fresh turkey wyb (4) 12pks or 6pks (.5 liter) of Coca-Cola products [which are 4 for $11 this week]
Norbest frozen hens or toms 10-24lbs, .88/lb (limit 2)
Norbest FRESH hens or toms 10-24lbs, 1.88/lb
Grade A frozen turkey breast 7-9lb average, 1.99/lb
Norbest Family Tradition or Free Range turkey 10-24lb, 2.19/lb

Sunflower Farmers Market -
all-natural free-range turkey (does not state fresh or frozen), 1.47/lb

Buy Low -
frozen turkey, .79/lb

Don’s Meats (Sunset) -
fresh turkeys, .99/lb

Ridley’s -
Norbest frozen whole turkey, .19/lb with $150 purchase
Norbest fresh whole turkey, 1.58/lb

THANKSGIVING HAM PRICES

Harmons -
Harmons sliced ham bone-in, 2.49/lb
Hormel Cure 81 boneless ham, 3.99/lb

Macey’s -
WF spiral sliced ham, 1.89/lb

Fresh Market -
WF spiral sliced ham, 1.89/lb

Smith’s -
John Morrell spiral sliced bone-in, 1.99/lb
American Chef boneless, 4.49/lb
Cook’s shank portion, 1.19/lb

Ridley’s -
Farnland boneless, 1.69/lb
Hormel Cure 81 boneless, 3.48/lb
WF spiral sliced, 1.88/lb

Albertson’s -
shank portion smoked bone-in, 1.49/lb
Albertson’s spiral sliced half ham bone-in, 2.59/lb

Sunflower Farmers Market -
spiral cut bone-in, 2.49/lb

SuperTarget -
Archer Farms spiral-sliced honey ham, 1.89/lb (limit 2 per guest)

Thanks, One Cheap Chick and Candi!

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Meatloaf Cupcakes.

Bear with me, they are The Awesome.  And delicious.

Ingredients

Meatloaf

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach or broccoli
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup ketchup, divided
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, extra lean (raw)
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs
• Cooking spray

Mashed Potatoes

• 4 cups cubed peeled Yukon gold potato (about 2 pounds)
• 1/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
• 1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Garnish

• 3 tablespoons chopped chives
• 4 pieces of bacon cooked and them chopped

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, chopped carrot, dried oregano, and minced garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Cool.

Combine onion mixture, 1/2 cup ketchup, and the remaining ingredients except cooking spray in a large bowl.

Spoon the meat mixture into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Top each with 2 teaspoons ketchup. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes.

While the meatloaf is cooking, make the mashed potatoes.  Place potato in a saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until tender. Drain. Put potatoes into a ricer for best results.  Return potato to pan. Add milk and remaining ingredients; stir with a spoon to desired consistency.  If they are not creamy enough for you, add up to 1/4 cup more milk – although they need to be stiff enough to pipe on top.

Put the potatoes into a pastry bag with a wide star tip and pipe the mashed potatoes on top of the meatloaf.  Sprinkle with bacon crumbles and chopped chives.

Thanks and recipe credit to: FoodGawker.com

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I have managed to assuage some of my boot-buying guilt by buying old sweaters at the Salvation Army Thrift Store to create the socks.  Here’s a step by step guide to creating your own long-legged fabulousness.

I bought a pile of the chunkier knit sweaters–but you’ll be shocked at how many cheap cashmere and merino wool sweaters you can pick up for a leaner silhouette. 

So–

Then…

And…

Then…

You’ll want to…

Adding your own adorable embellishments is the fun part, I’m big on buttons and lace that keep the book socks tight around my thighs.

Photo credits and original concept credits to: MadeByLex.com

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Tell me that’s not a perfect Thanksgiving greeting!  The trick: use flatter pumpkins–like the ones pictured here.  Gently hammer a wooden dowel between each layer to keep them stable.  Pretty!

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Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting
Printer-Friendly Version

Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
16 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
17 oz. sweet potato puree
½ tsp. vanilla extract

For the frosting:
8 large egg whites
2 cups sugar
½ tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; stir together with a fork and set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.  Mix in the sweet potatoes and vanilla extract, beating just until combined.  Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cupcake liners.  Bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in the top of a double boiler. (Note: I just set my clean, dry mixer bowl over simmering water, to avoid dirtying two bowls.) Heat the mixture, whisking frequently, until it reaches 160° F with an instant-read thermometer. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk starting at low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form. Mix in the vanilla until combined. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired. Brown with a kitchen torch and garnish with a sprinkle of brown sugar, if desired.

Thanks, Annies-Eats.com!

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Roast Chestnut, Parsnip, Apple and Goat’s Cheese Soup

Now, don’t be afraid, I know you never expect me to come up with anything amazing–but this soup is so good you’ll be screaming like a pre-teen at a Justin Bieber concert.  (Phoyos courtesy of “What Katie Ate.”)
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We’re asking for your help–please donate to OBB at any Dan’s Foods location through Sunday, 11.6.  Find your closest location here.  If you don’t want to put something together, each store will have tidy little bundles available for sale for $9.87.  Buy one, drop it in the donor bin, you’re done!  You can learn more about the Teddy Bear Den program here.

Here’s a list of the most needed items:

• WARM clothing, coats, mittens, socks, hats, sleepers sizes Newborn-T2
• Diapers–all sizes
• Diaper wipes
• Clothing, especially boys–sizes Newborn-T2
• Grooming items like shampoo, baby powder, diaper rash ointment, nail clippers
• Car seats
• Strollers
• Blankets

Last year, my dear friend Karen sailed into the store with half a dozen quilts she’s made for these babies.  It still makes me smile to think of little ones snuggled under a hand-made blanket.

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