"No Tricks w/this Appetizer!"

 Hey y'all...hope you're having a "spook-tacular" Halloween!. Celebrating this day is a bit different for me now but I still love doing some fun decorating and snacks. I usually decorate the kitchen a bit and change out my seasonal pillow to something Halloween-ish :-) I have a fun & easy pillow tutorial on my quilt blog were I 'hack" a kitchen towel. It's a bit late to make one for this year but you can totally use the same concept with any season. One thing I especially love is receiving everyone's pics of their costumes...candy etc. it brings back fun memories of my daughter dressing up. Well truth be told she still dresses up due to working as a school counselor. I always say..."you're never too old to enjoy life's simple moments1" Trust me as I've aged "gracefully" it's those special moments that keep "us" going. :-) Well, I wanted to share this fast but d'lish recipe with y'all. My time in the kitchen is a bit limited these days with my back issues, so I love a fast recipe that is also practical. When I get a "thumbs up" w/out asking it's a win-win in my book. Let me tell you the funny story of how this recipe developed. I was feeling a bit 'whoozy" on meds but dinner time was approaching. I should have gone grocery shopping earlier but didn't feel like it...I know we all go through it...so, I decided breakfast for dinner. I love the concept of breakfast for dinner but wasn't in the mood for eggs. I wanted pizza but not enough time. So, my brain went to a spin-off of my pizza bites that I love to make for snacks. Needless to say, I'm a true believer of having a jar of spaghetti sauce on hand. So, I started playing with biscuits for a "pizza pocket" idea. These "pizza pockets" were so easy and fast that I'm planning on making them anytime. I will say they would be great for an appetizer when entertaining....a great snack before 'trick-or-treating" or just when you're in a rush. You can totally add your favorite family's ingredients but just remember not to "stuff" them too much or they will seep out. Mine did a bit with the cheese but that was fine with me :-) Oh and definitely use 'parchment paper" on a baking sheet. This helps when stretching out the biscuits as well. I hope y'all enjoy this recipe and have a safe and wonderful "Trick or Treating" eve. 

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Here's all you need...

* Can of Pilsbury Butter Tastin' Bisquits (your desired amount)

* Jar of Classico Pizza Sauce Traditional Sweet Basil (reserve some for dipping)

* Pepperoni slices...I use Turkey :-)

* Grated Mozzarella cheese

* Dried Italian seasoning (opt)

* Pinch of garlic powder (opt)

Here's all you do...

* Preheat oven to temp on biscuit can.

* Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

* Carefully stretch each biscuit to about a 5" circular if possible. It gets a bit sticky :-)

* Spread about a tablespoon of spaghetti sauce over biscuit being careful of not getting on edges.

* Sprinkle a bit of Italian seasoning and garlic powder if desired.

* Layer pepperoni slices on one side (see pic)

* Sprinkle grated cheese over pepperoni slices.

* Carefully fold over biscuit to form a half-circle.

* Using your fingers...carefully crimp the edges to enclose the 'pocket."

* Carefully make a few slits on top.

* Garnish with some seasoning if desired.

* Bake as recommended on biscuit can or until golden in color. 

* Dip in spaghetti sauce and enjoy!

Note...Normally you would do a bit of an egg wash to secure edges, but I did not. I think the butter in the biscuit actually helped to keep edges together along with the crimping of edges. This would also be a great recipe to get the "kiddos" in the kitchen!

Enjoy & talk soon,

Cat

How to Make a Quilted Ottoman - Free Project Tutorial

Hey y'all...hope all is going great. I had to share this super fun design with you. We all love to customize our home and what better way to say "welcome" than a "ottoman" to relax on. Missouri Star Quilt Co. Misty Doan is sharing a fun & fabulous ottoman tutorial. I love watching her techniques and designs especially from the comfort of my own home. It can't get any easier than that! I hope y'all enjoy this tutorial and break into your own stash pile to create your own. I thank y'all so much for following and check back soon for more tips & holiday recipes. Talk soon!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Quilt blog: https://ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com (link upper right)

Cats Tip of the Day!..."I got your Back"

 Hey y'all...hope your Friday is going great. I wanted to share a few products that I absolutely love when sewing...quilting...crafting. I recently received these two products from Missouri Star Quilt Co. The Omnigrid 360 rotating cutting mat has been wonderful along with the ergonomic rotary cutter by Olfa. Sometimes we don't realize how much we bend/stretch when rotary cutting which puts pressure on our backs. I for one know it's so frustrating to do what we love while in pain. You can pop over to my "quilting blog" to read more. I also have a link on my quilt blog for MSQC website. They have daily deals for you as well. I thank y'all so much for following especially during my downtime of surgeries. Talk soon!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours.

Cat

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www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Cats Tip of the Day!..."Time-saving Meal Prep!"

 Hey y'all...hope all is going great for you. I'm recuperating from one of my surgeries and I wanted to share this time-saving tip with you. It seems everyone's daily life schedule is hectic and not enough hours in the day. Plus, for some odd reason "dinner time" is a task instead of a time of togetherness. Looking back, I wish we would have sat together at the table more. We all had busy schedules and dinner time during the week didn't get the attention that it should have...hmmm. Sundays were always a day of Church and family time around the table. But during the week it was a grab & go,,,sit up at the kitchen bar.... eat in the living room...boy I could go on with the statement. Sad to say now that everyone is grown, I noticed that my routine is still the same. My dinners now are pretty simple but still delicious due to my limits. Gathering around the kitchen and less around the dinner table. I'm going to challenge myself and maybe y'all to have more family time around the dinner table if you haven't already. Our daily lives are so crazy, and I honestly don't know how y'all do it with kiddos activities. I am proud to say that my daughter does carry on the tradition of weekend togetherness at the table. As a designer I feel the "trend" from sitting at the table to congregating around the kitchen island is because we started designing the huge kitchen island. But I will admit it's so convenient. :-) I'm"guilty" of decorating the table especially for the Holiday's and don't want to mess it up in the meantime. Ridiculous right? My step-grandson even said last Christmas "Gege which towel can I use?" Oh, my word that was embarrassing but led me too how obsessed I am with everything being perfect. Your lives need a little break. I can't add more time to the day for you, but I can share a fast and convenient meal prep to help you with your hectic dinner time meals. I'm still trying to lose weight and I eat a lot of "ground chicken." But for me chicken is pretty bland. Seasoning is a bit more challenging for me now that I'm older and watching my salt intake. So recently I saw a pkg of "Herb ox" sodium free granulated chicken bouillon. I grew up with the cubes, but these are individual season packets and sodium free. Oh my gosh y'all...adding a pkt to ground chicken when cooking has been a dream come true. I also add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste. I cook one pound of ground chicken and season as above then divide in half for two meals. Of course, I'm just cooking for 2 but you could do the same and just adjust to how much meat you are cooking. Taking a few minutes and prepping ahead will definitely help you throughout the week, I love to make soups...chili...tacos...enchiladas...casseroles...etc. with this meal prep. It's convenient and you'll be surprised at how much you don't waste by prepping your meals. I wish everyone a less-hectic week but in the meantime, I hope you try this time-saving tip. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Here's all you do....my weekly meal prep includes...one pound of ground chicken...cooked with a half of a bell pepper and seasoned with 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and one packet of sodium free chicken bouillon. let cool and divide into two freezer-friendly containers. 

Thanks for following and talk soon!

Cat

Cats Tip of the Day!..." Best friend in the Kitchen"

 Hey everyone...Sunday Blessings to y'all. I hope you're having a great weekend. I wanted to share a quick tip with you. We all know by now I'm "hacking" tips...recipes etc. in the kitchen. I'm all about saving time more than ever with my back issues. I love to make breads, but I will admit that I get a bit frustrated when it's getting brown on the edges but not quite done in the middle. So today I'm going to share a "old tip" with you from my late gram. She was always making homemade bread. Well, I didn't make mine totally from scratch, but it's made in my kitchen so it's homemade...right? :-) O.K....confession...I "hacked" another bread mix that I'll share soon. Anyway, she would use a clean towel and lay it over her bread to let the steam finish the baking when she removed it from the oven. She always did this and said it made the bread moister. I have to admit depending on what I'm baking I do this a lot. The weight of the towel keeps the steam in and usually just a few more minutes your bread is done in the middle. I do a couple more steps when I'm baking. I spray my pan with baking spray...line it with parchment paper for easy "lift out." The parchment paper also comes in handy if it needs more baking on inside. Once I remove from oven...I lay on a trivet...wrap the ends to the middle of parchment paper....lay a paper towel over then I lay a clean towel on top. The paper towel keeps my towel clean if there is any residue on loaf pan from the cooking spray. Also, don't forget the "toothpick" test :-) I'm sure we've all been taught that one :-) I called this tip "best friend in the kitchen" because I think of my gram every time, I use her tips. I'm from a long line of cooking/baking family and it's so sweet to remember their tips. I hope you enjoyed this tip and hope it comes in handy for you as well. Pass it on to your loved ones. A simple "Tip" does create special memories in the kitchen. Well wish me luck I have another eye surg this week. I thank y'all so much for following and check back soon for more recipes & tips. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Link on upper right to my "quilt blog"

Lovin' Fall Blueberry Muffins..."Mix w/a Twist!"

 Hey y'all....hope all is going well. It's been a bit crazy for me but I've come to realize to take life "one day at a time." I'm still going through my Mom-in-law's things after her passing but thankful she told me what she wanted done with her items. Seriously, don't ignore your loved one if they want to "talk" to you about leaving their items. I for one would say "oh stop...you'll outlive me." Needless to say, I'm very thankful for semi-listening. We all know it's going to happen...it's part of life...I just didn't want it especially after the recent passing of my dear dad. I know she's happy know that I donated a lot of her quilting items as she requested. But have to say...I'm still finding stuff. Oh, my goodness :-) In the meantime of all this my health has taken a bit of a "wrong turn." But again...one day at a time. I'm still working on my grandson's cookbook. Tweaking my recipes healthi-r :-) Although due to my back situation I'm having to really shorten my time in the kitchen...which stinks...I'm not going to lie. Well, if you know me, I'm going to try and make the best of it so I've come up with "Mix w/a Twist." Yup...I'm hacking box mixes these days. I always have been proud of baking/cooking from "scratch." My dad was a great cook and taught me many recipes and blessed to have a stepmom the same. Although I recently had a conversation with a friend over the technical term "homemade." Hmmm....we've come to agree that if I made it in my kitchen it's "homemade." :-) Right??? I mean seriously y'all.....who doesn't love a good hack...time-saver in the kitchen. I know talking with my daughter there is never enough time in the day. So today being October first seems to be a great time to start some fall hacks :-) I love fall baking. Fall in general and especially blueberry muffins. but pre-made mixes are now hard for me with my health needs. For me, I have found mixes with whole wheat flour is o.k. in moderation. I've been trying to do totally "gluten free" to help with my swelling. I will say one of my favorite box mixes is from "Betty Crocker." I made this as a child so needless to say it's been around for quite a while :-) So I guess what I'm trying to say is my short time in the kitchen might be beneficial to y'all with your hectic schedules & maybe I can help with less-stress for y'all too. I thank y'all so much for following and I'm looking forward to sharing some "hacks" with y'all. Wish me luck with all my "back therapy"...seriously don't get old...it is a trap :-) 

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Here's all you need...

* Betty Crocker Wild Blueberry Muffin/Bread Mix

* 2/3 cup water

* 1/3 cup vegetable oil

* 2 eggs

* 3/4 cup "fresh blueberries" rinsed/carefully pat dry

* 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

* 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

* Pinch of Humor (a must) :-)

Optional topping...

* 1/4 cup of brown sugar

* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Here's all you do...

* Prepare Mix as directed on Betty Crocker box but add the following ingredients as stated above. The fresh blueberries...nutmeg...cinnamon & "pinch of humor"....

* Once you have filled your muffin tins as desired then mix the brown sugar and walnuts together and sprinkle on top of each muffin.

* Bake as instructed on box.

Let cool & enjoy!

I have to say it's pretty simple but adding the fresh blueberries brings the recipe to a whole other lever. For me there was never enough blueberries and if you love blueberries like me, you'll definitely appreciate the addition. Plus, the smell is so more intense when baking. 

Tip: 

I have recently been "prepping/freezing" due to my limited time in the kitchen. It's convenient and a great time-saver as well. I let the muffins cool then place in freezer-friendly bags...label and pop out ahead of time in fridge to thaw. I have the convenience of still eating within my dietary needs without buying processed foods that I cannot eat. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe.

Talk soon,

Cat