Home Sweet Home!

Well I'm finally getting around to posting pics of our house. This pic makes it look so clean and inviting....when in all actuality it looks like a construction zone outside and in! We are first time home buyers and if you don't know it - you can get $8000 from the government for purchasing a home this year. I've amended our '08 taxes and I'm waiting on the check, which we will use for a kitchen and paying off bills.
So - lets enjoy the tour....I'll try and update as I make changes...alot of painting has already happened and I don't have photos of that yet. I'm having problems getting this pics to post where I want them to....bear with me. That picture is my kitchen...SCARY! If anyone knows of a contest I can enter for the worst kitchen just let me know! More to come....a 3 yr old wants me to sit with him while he watches Nemo.....

Machine Free EASY Chocolate Ice-Cream

This is seriously so good.....better plan to make a double batch! I've been hearing lately how bad store bought ice-cream is for you - with all the chemicals and ingredients you've never heard of. I don't have an ice-cream maker yet (haven't found one at a yard sale!) so this recipe was perfect! I discovered it in a local paper, but it originally came from Cook's Country magazine June/July issue.


MACHINE FREE EASY CHOCOLATE ICE-CREAM

1 tsp instant coffee
1 Tbsp hot water
4 oz bittersweet chocolate pieces, chopped fine
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
1 1/4 cup cold whipping cream

Combine instant coffee and hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until coffee dissolves, about 5 minutes. Microwave chocolate pieces, sweetened condensed milk and coffee mixture in bowl, stirring frequently until chocolate is melted, about 1 minute. Stir in vanilla and salt. Let cool.

With electric mixer on med-hi speed, whip cream to soft peaks, about 2 minutes. Whisk a third of whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Fold remaining whipped cream into chocolate mixture until incorporated. Freeze in airtight container until firm, at least 6 hours. If you don't plan to eat this all right away (trust me you won't have this problem!) then lay plastic wrap over the surface to keep better in the freezer.

**NOTES**
I used dark chocolate chips (bag said 60% cacao).
You can omit or reduce the coffee granules, but honestly you don't taste the coffee, it just gives the flavor some depth.

This is soooooo good, did I mention that already?

For more great recipes check out Friday Recipe Swap at Grocery Cart Challenge!

Lunch Making Made Easy

Well I don't know about you but I dread making lunches for my husband every night....it's the end of my day, it feels like I'm preparing another meal, the 4th one of the day....I'm tired, I just want to go to bed....sound familiar?
I've come up with a simple solution to make it a little quicker - here is the door on the inside of my refridgerator:



My current fridge has these removable trays on the door - I put all my lunch making items in that tray and just take it out when I'm ready to make sandwiches. Now if you don't have a fridge like this simply use a storage container that's easy to get in and out of your fridge and put all your necessary items in the container. You save time on both ends, picking out your necessary items and putting them all away! It works for me!

For more great links and tips check out Works For Me Wednesday.

Savin' a dime...Out on the line!

So this is my pulley clothesline that my hubby made for me. We just bought this house and it's one of the first things I had him do for me. It took a couple weeks to break it in because everytime I had laundry to hang outside, the neighbor was burning brush....smoke and clean laundry don't mix....well unless of course you're camping! *lol* I've discovered a few things as I've been doing it:
1. Don't use clothespins on your towels. Just hang them over the line in half. The pins make them hang funny and then when you fold them they aren't neat looking. I know, I know who likes crunchy towels? Washcloths are no matter b/c you just get them wet to use them anyway. But you'll get over the crunchy towel thing....trust me. And did you know towels take the longest to dry in the dryer of anything? Especially if you have big thick ones like I do. (Wonderful wedding gifts!)
2. I clothespin the jeans to the line by hanging them upside down - clothespinning the hem to the line. Most of the t-shirts I also pin at the hem.
3. I "dry" a few minutes in the dryer before I hang them on the line. This takes out the "spun" look from the washer.
4. Sheets I also hang over the line at the halfway point instead of using clothespins. Ohhhh....nothing better than freshly washed sheets, hung outside and then sprayed with homemade Linen Spray as you put them back on your bed.
5. I'm wondering if I keep doing this if my clothes will fade? My grandma once told me that the sun would help get out stains on your clothing. I think it's true for some stains.

Happy Laundering!