A Review of Flavored Coffee Recipes

I was visiting a friend today, and she made the most delicious coffee I have had in a long time.  It was cinnamon-orange with a hint of vanilla.  It was delightful, so I asked her how she made it.  Imagine my surprise when she told me one of the ingredients was Jello!  She actually uses her coffee maker and simply dumps all the ingredients into the filter with the coffee and out pours tangy orange coffee!

Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of ground coffee
• 1/2 teaspoon of orange Jello
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Dump all dry ingredients into a coffee filter, gather it up and shake to mix.
2. Add the extract in the center of the filter.
3. Turn on your coffee maker and brew normally.

You can make this with tea as well, just make your tea as usual, then add the vanilla, cinnamon and Jello to the tea pot and stir to mix.  In tea it is extremely flavorful, and is delicious with butter cookies or scones.

Two Recipes for Chocolate Coffee

Chocolate flavored coffee is really delicious, one of the easiest ways to make it is by using chocolate syrup:

• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1-2 teaspoons chocolate syrup

Combine the brewed coffee and chocolate syrup in a large mug. Stir well to combine, then top with whipped cream if you like.

Another way to make chocolate coffee is by using cocoa powder. This method involves adding cocoa powder to a cup of brewed coffee, stirring well to combine.

• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1-2 teaspoons cocoa powder

Pumpkin Spice Coffee

If you want a taste of pure fall, this is the drink for you.  You can use store bought pumpkin spice, but I prefer to make my own so I can tweak the recipe to how I like it.  I usually put more cinnamon and nutmeg and a bit less clove.  I use pumpkin spice in other things, like cookies, pie or pumpkin bread, so I make a lot at a time and store it in a mason jar.  You can buy the spices already ground up, or you can buy them whole and use a spice grinder to grind them yourself. Here's the recipe for homemade pumpkin spice:

• 6 tablespoons of cinnamon
• 4 teaspoons of ginger
• 4 teaspoons of nutmeg
• 3 teaspoons of allspice
• 3 teaspoons of cloves

To make Pumpkin Spice Coffee:

1. Fill your coffee maker with water and insert a filter
2. Put one heaping teaspoon of pumpkin spice on top of 1/3 cup of your favorite coffee in the filter 
3. Stir the two ingredients together thoroughly
4. Turn on your coffee maker and brew as normal 

I love drinking this coffee on my rear deck on crisp fall mornings with my homemade raised doughnuts.  Fall bliss!

Mexican Coffee

Mexican Coffee is a spicy blend that is truly different from regular coffee.  The ingredients may sound like a strange combination, but believe me, it is a really unforgettable taste that is great for after dinner or a mid-afternoon break.

Ingredients

• 6 oz. hot coffee
• 1 tablespoon cocoa
• 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup milk (can use skim or 2%)
• whipped cream (I use the squirt from a can kind)

Directions: 

1. In a mason jar, pour the hot coffee and brown sugar and screw the lid on and shake till all the sugar is melted and there are no lumps.
2. Add the cocoa, cinnamon, and ground cayenne into the jar, screw the lid on and shake till all ingredients are incorporated.
3. In a large coffee mug, pour in the milk and a pinch of cinnamon, stir and place in the microwave for 30 seconds.
4. Remove from the microwave and pour the coffee mixture in the cup and top with whip cream.

This is a great drink to serve in the evening after a barbeque or while sitting on the couch with your sweetie watching a movie.  Spicy!

Peppermint Coffee

This coffee is always a hit around the holidays!  Try it at your next gathering, I bet it will be a big hit!

Ingredients

• 6 oz. extra strong coffee
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions:

• ▢ 

1. Place the milk, sugar, cocoa powder and peppermint extract in a medium saucepan over low heat. 
2. Stir gently until heated, DO NOT boil!
3. Pour the coffee in and stir to mix, tasting to see if you feel it needs more sugar, peppermint or cocoa.
4. Pour in a cup and top with whipped cream and a candy cane

Every time I make this, everyone just loves it!  They say the peppermint, cocoa and coffee flavors mix beautifully!

I know this last recipe isn't actually coffee, but it is a recipe you will want, trust me!  This is the hands down most delicious coffee smoothie you will ever have in your mouth, guaranteed!

Coffee Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup black coffee (lukewarm is better)
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 cup milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 tablespoon cocoa

Directions:

1. Cut up the frozen banana (you can use a 3/4 cup of ice if you don't like bananas) and place it in the blender.  
2. Pulse a few times to break the banana up and then add the peanut butter, milk, vanilla and cocoa.  Blend on medium until smooth then switch to puree for 30 seconds.  
3. Pour into a smoothie cup and enjoy!

I think all of these drinks are exceptionally delicious.  I love to making things that are unusual and surprise my guests. All these drinks are good at doing that!  Try a few out and see what you think, especially during the upcoming holidays.

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Image Credits: tinyurl.com/pmm3esu

I http://tinyurl.com/jmrqlyn

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How to Grill Better

 

Prime grilling season is here!  Time to get out that grill, wash it off, check the gas tank and get out those utensils. Make sure you have lots of aluminum foil, barbecue sauce, meat and vegetables because it's grilling time!

Are you worried because your grill skills are rather lackluster?  Do your friends bring tacos to your barbecue?  if so, here are some tips to help you on your way to becoming the perfect Grill Master!

Make sure to preheat the grill - You cannot get a good sear if you put your food down on a cold grill.  The food could stick and rip to pieces when you try to turn it, and it can make meat or chicken taste different.  (not in a good way)  You should turn your grill on at least 10 minutes before starting to cook.

Make sure to use the right temperature - for what you are cooking.  You can use positioning of the items to help with this. For chicken and thicker cuts of meat and fish, medium or medium-low heat works well for most cuts because the center needs time to cook through before the exterior burns. For hot dogs, sausages, and brats is also ideal to allow the links to cook evenly before finishing them over high heat to crisp up the casing. 

Use Cooking Zones - a common mistake in grilling is to set the whole grill on the same temperature.  It is so much easier to cook different things at once if you have high heat on one side, low heat on the other side and leave the middle off completely for indirect cooking or warming.  Use each zone for what you are trying to accomplish on each item at the proper time.

To add hickory flavor on a gas grill- soak hickory wood chips in water for 30 minutes and wrap in double aluminum foil and seal, then poke holes in it with a toothpick.  Lay this packet on top of your gas grill's burner to get delicious flavor.

Use an aluminum can to hold your barbecue sauce - you don't want to save leftover sauce since it has been contaminated with your grill brush covered in raw juices, so just use a tin can and toss it when you are done!

Use a variety of sauces - BBQ sauce is not the only sauce that is great for grilling.  Teriyaki or Hoisin sauce is also tasty, as is honey mustard.  Red hot sauce is perfect for making hot wings!

Easy way to grill for vegetarians or veggie lovers - Make "veggie packs" and grill them before your guests arrive, then leave them on the outer edges of the grill to stay warm. To make them, simply put peppers, onions, zucchini, potatoes or any other veggies you have on hand, in tin foil with garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, and a pinch of salt, and seal.  Grill for 15 or 20 minutes.

The secret to grilling fish - seal each piece in an individual foil envelope, than way it is easy to cook and you don't have to worry about it falling apart.  It also helps keep the fish moist, and you can add a lemon slice and seasonings for flavor.

How to avoid dry grilled food - you can avoid problem by using a marinade.  One of my favorites is Italian salad dressing.  It is wonderful on any kind of meat or seafood.  It also makes grilled vegetables more tasty. You can also make marinade from store bought packets or internet recipes.

Don't over flip - don't constantly flip your meat because you are bored or impatient.  It will cook even more slowly if turned over excessively.

Forget the smash - Do not smash food items on your grill!  All this will do is push out the juices and make them dry inside.

Grill some fruit Put sheets of aluminum foil on your grill and brush pieces of pineapple, apple, melon and cantaloupe with honey. Grill on both sides and serve warm.

When grilling shish kebobs - cut your meat and vegetable pieces bigger and use two skewers per kebob.  Your pieces will be much less likely to fall off or spin on the skewer so one half is always toward the fire.  Don't forget to soak wood skewers in water before use so they won't burn on the grill.

Avoid Overcooking -  Once an item is removed from the grill, it continues to cook from the heat inside.  To avoid overcooking, you should remove your food from the grill 5 to 10 minutes before it is fully done.

To keep food items that you grill warm - use two small 6 pack coolers, one for meat and one for vegetables to keep extra them warm and away from insects.

One of my favorite items I use in grilling is my BBQ Grill Basket.  It saves time because it flips more than one item at a time and it also keeps items from falling apart, like hamburgers, or fish fillets.  My favorite thing to cook in it is vegetables.  I just slice up our favorite vegetables, season and brush with Italian dressing and place them in the basket, close it and place on the grill.  I usually only flip it once after 10 minutes and it another 10, you are ready to serve.  (Potatoes may take longer) It is the perfect side to steak, pork chops and burgers!  I bought mine at Amazon and when I bought it the price was only $15 and it came with a silicone brush!  I highly recommend it!

UNCO- BBQ Grill Basket

I hope these tips help to elevate your grilling talents.  Your friends and family will love the results, I promise!

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How to Remove Musty Mildewy Smell from Clothes

 

Last month our basement breaker tripped and we were unaware that we lost power to our two sump pumps.  As a result, the basement flooded.  Needless to say, it was a mess.  The water was 4" to 5" deep throughout, so anything that was not in plastic boxes or up on shelves was soaked.  Including all the flattened moving boxes I had saved for when we moved again.  I wanted to pull my hair out and cry!  As if we didn't have enough work to do in the spring, now this!

Some of our stuff was up off the floor, but there were many boxes of stuff that were not.  Some of my nicer dress clothes and shoes that I rarely wear, a few large boxes of clothes that were earmarked to be donated, as they were too large, and a box of spring/fall jackets that were stored down there because they were out of season. I also had a few nice throw rugs and more craft supplies than I ever remember having!  

On top of all that the smell was awful.  A musty, mildewy wet odor that smelled exactly like what it was: wet basement.  If you've ever smelled it, you would not forget it.  UGH!  The clothes were the worst.  The smell of those wet clothes was just gross!  So after sorting everything (it really is amazing when you go through basement stuff, you find things that you never knew you had or still had) I filled a giant plastic tote with clothes and took them upstairs to wash.  I figured washing them would take care of the smell and then I could just repack them for storage or donation.  After washing a couple loads, I took a sniff and EWWWWW!!  They still had that awful smell, somewhat reduced but definitely still there.  

I was at a loss as to what to do, so I decided to take a look online and see if I could find some help on getting rid of "wet basement smell" on clothes.  I looked at many articles, blogs even on Reddit.  There didn't seem to be any guaranteed way that everyone recommended.  I decided to make my own method and see if it would work.  I sent my husband to the store and told him to pick up Tide Odor Defense Plus Oxi Liquid Laundry Detergent and also some Downey Scent Beads, preferably a floral scent.

I put a load of laundry in, poured in 3/4 a cap of Tide and half a cap of scent beads.  I washed them in warm water. (don't wash in cold, the beads will not melt)  When I pulled them out of the washer, they smelled wonderful!  Many of the items I dried on hanger, but some I did dry and they came out of the dryer smelling even better!

It Worked!

Not only was the smell gone but any stains from the dirty water were also completely gone!  I was thrilled.  It was gentle on my dressy clothes but did a great job on both odor and stains, even on blue jeans.  It was win/win for this problem, for sure!

That's my story of how I defeated musty, mildewy smells on clothes from my basement flood.  Oh, one more thing, this combo even cleaned and deodorized my small throw rugs, so I didn't have to throw them away.  That made me very happy, as good throw rugs are expensive to replace!  

So if you ever have the misfortune of a flooded basement, you know what to buy to save much of your stuff!

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A Review of How to Make Homemade Olive Garden House Dressing and Salad

Olive Garden is one of my husband's favorite restaurants.  He especially loves the salad that comes with the meals.  He always raves about the salad dressing.  Italian is his favorite, but he claims that the Olive Garden salad dressing is especially good, so I made a copy cat recipe so he could enjoy delicious salads at home.  He says he cannot tell the difference......much!  Here's how I make it:

How to Make the Green Salad:

• 2 Romaine lettuce hearts, chopped how you prefer your salads
• 1/4 cup of red onion, sliced fairly thin, keep individual pieces 1 to 2 inches long
• 2 medium tomatoes chopped
• 4 pepperoncini, the pickled type
• 6 to 8 pitted black olives 

and just before serving add:

• large croutons
• shredded Parmesan cheese 

• How to Make Olive Garden Dressing and Salad

Don't cut the lettuce until close to the time you plan to serve it, it is more crispy.  I usually serve the dressing on the side, so people can put the amount they want.  

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of light olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of grated Romano cheese (can substitute Parmesan)
• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

• 
  

I think this dressing tastes almost identical to what they serve at Olive Garden.  If you want to tweak the flavor, try adjusting the amount of sugar or the amount of lemon juice, I think these have the biggest impact on the taste.  Put your dressing in a pretty glass carafe and don't forget to shake well before serving.

How To Store Your Homemade Dressing

Because it is made from scratch, with no preservatives, this dressing will not keep nearly as long as what you buy in the store.  However, it will be fine in your refrigerator, in an air tight container, for a week or a bit more.  The flavors blend together and it is even more delicious after a day or two, so if you can, make it at least a day before you plan to use it.

Other Uses For Your Homemade Dressing

• Dressing macaroni salad
• Marinating chicken for broiling or baking
• Brushing on steaks or chops while grilling
• Vegetable dip - you may want to add a bit more mayo to thicken it
• Stir it into plain cooked pasta and vegetables to make it a tasty side dish

I hope you enjoy this salad dressing as much as I do, I use it a lot. The ingredients are usually always around and it is easy to make, though sometimes if I am out of Romano, I substitute Parmesan cheese in the dressing.  Below you will find my favorite shaker carafe that I use to store my dressing.  I love that it has a pour spout and a top.

Enjoy!

My favorite shaker carafe:

Kitchentoolz Salad Dressing Shaker Bottle

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How to Pamper Your Senior Cat

 

Senior cats hold a special place in our hearts, Whether you have had them all their lives or not, elder cats are a lovable addition to any family and are worthy of some pampering. I have an elder Siamese who is 15 and is a real sweetheart. She is such a wonderful companion to me I would not hesitate to do anything I could to make sure she has the best life possible, and lives as long as possible. I can’t imagine life without her.

If you have an older cat that you want to pamper, there are many ways to do so, especially if you focus on key areas that are vital to a pet that is getting older.

Health

Once a cat reaches age 12 or 13, health check ups should be increased to twice a year. An elder cat examination should focus on teeth and jaw health, liver health, digestive and bowel health, and joint health, focusing on possible arthritis and pain problems.

In between vet visits, you should carefully monitor the health of your cat and be aware of any changes that occur in your cat’s health.  If you are not sure what to look for, I recommend the book Complete Care for Your Aging Cat by Amy Shojai.  Not only does it help you know what to look for in your cat as they get older, but it helps you to understand how cats age and how best to care for them.

Behavior 

it is very important to monitor your cat’s behavior at any age, but especially when a cat is older. Any change in behavior could be significant. The four most important things to keep an eye on are:

Eating and drinking – your cats consumption of food and water should remain the same. Any significant change could be a sign of a health problem.

Urinary and bowel habits – keeping an eye on this takes a bit more work. Try to monitor these functions for any differences from normal. If you notice any changes, such as diarrhea or constipation, frequent urination or no urination, you should see your vet immediately.

Sleep habits – Cat sleep a lot normally, and older cats even more. However, if you notice your cat sleeping all the time, especially if they are hard to wake up, or if they seem to rarely sleep and pace around restlessly, a trip to the vet is called for.

Demeanor – This means attitude and action. If your cat is usually easy going and is suddenly grumpy or mean, or if you can is usually cuddly and loving and suddenly wants nothing to do with anyone, then you should take them in to the vet to check out why this change may have occurred.

Diet

As cats get older, it is a good idea to feed them food that is made for senior cats. It is specially made to be easier to digest and could help your older feline to process his or her food and eliminate it more comfortably and successfully. If your cat is in poor health, weak or ill, you can get canned cat food from your vet that is especially made for infirm cats. It has more protein, and nutrients than regular cat food and will better help nourish a sick animal. A cat that is older and less active may gain weight, and need a food with less calories, or your senior may be like my elder Siamese and get hyperthyroidism, which means they are not getting enough nutrition from the food they eat and grow very thin.  I feed her Kitten food, because it has more nutrition. If you cat is eating well, and still losing weight, they see your vet for the proper medication to give your pet.

Other Ways of Pampering

There are two things I do for my kitties once they reach about 14 years old.  I find that it helps their daily life and they seem to love it!

Self Warming Pet Mats - Buy a few and put them where your cat likes to sleep.  Older cats get cold easier and these mats have some kind of film inside the quilting that reflects the cats own body heat and helps keep them warm.  I find these to be better than heated mats because they warm automatically and do not need anyone to turn them off and on.  I have a few of these mats, which are not expensive, only about $10 each, and my senior uses them all the time when napping.

Self Warming Pet Mats

Pet Stairs - My bed is very high off the ground so I noticed when my kitties were getting older they had trouble jumping up on my bed.  I imagined that it also hurt them when they jumped down.  I shopped around at Amazon for an answer and I found the perfect thing for me:  a sturdy set of cat steps that also had scratching posts on the step supports!  The one I chose also has a little fluffy ball on a string for them to play with, so not only does it help them up on the bed, but it also serves as a play area.  They have many different kinds of pet steps, but be careful because many of them that are foam or foldable are not sturdy enough for playing cats!  I put a set by my bed and one in my office because my cat loves to sleep on my desk when I am writing!  I love the fact that she can now still get up to the places she loves to go.  Cats love to be independent and this helps them to keep their autonomy longer.

Cat Stairs

I hope I have helped you find some great ways to pamper your beloved feline well into their golden years.  Being older is only another stage of life to love your cat through.  With a little understanding and knowledge you can make these some of the best years of your life together.

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A Review of Making Hot Cocoa from Scratch

Few things are as good on a cold winter's day, than a big mug of hot cocoa.  The smell alone is enough to take me back to my childhood and the cocoa my Mom use to make.  Drinking it at the kitchen table, looking out the window at a glittering snow covered landscape.  It was magical.

Mom never used hot chocolate mix, she made it from scratch, by the cup. In each mug, she would put powdered milk, cocoa and of sugar. Then she would boil water on the stove and pour one cup each in our mugs with the homemade mix.  Then all you had to do was stir.  Delicious!

The recipe is simple and easy to make....

• 1/2 cup powdered milk
• 1 teaspoon cocoa
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup boiling water

Making your own hot cocoa from scratch is so much better than buying mixes.  Store bought mixes have all kinds of preservatives and additives that you really don't need to put in your body.  Making your own cocoa lets you control what you put in your body.  Another great thing is that you can adjust it to the flavor you like.  More or less sugar, more or less cocoa, however you prefer it. 

If you want to be adventurous, you can flavor your hot chocolate.  Just add the following to the original recipe.  Remember, one addition per cup.

Cinnamon hot chocolate - add 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon

Peppermint hot chocolate - add 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla

Coffee flavored hot chocolate - add 1 or 2 teaspoons of black coffee, to taste.

Orange hot chocolate - Replace half the water with orange juice and add a pinch of cinnamon

Three Adult Beverage Hot Chocolate Recipes

1.  add 1 ounce of warm Kahlua

2.  1/4 ounce Peppermint Schnapps and 1/2 ounce chocolate liqueur

3.  1/4 tsp. cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, 1 and 1/2 ounces of spiced rum.

I keep these ingredients in my cupboard all the time, that way I can have hot chocolate any time I want, or make it for guests.  Some times I also make it for a hostess gift, especially during the holidays.  Just bag the ingredients separately and put them in a decorative tin or box for perfect gift giving!

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A Review of the Best Peanut Brittle Recipe

Mom's Peanut Brittle Recipe

I always look forward to making peanut brittle, no matter the time of year!  I have what I believe is the best recipe for peanut brittle in the world!  Unfortunately, I cannot claim the fame, because I got this recipe from my Mom.....who is the best cook I have ever known.  I used to love when she made it, the brittle was so delicious, it just melts in your mouth.  

Since Mom has been gone for over 10 years, I make it myself now.    I can't make it too often, as the hubby is diabetic and he can't resist it.  It really isn't that hard to make, it gets easier each time you make it.

Ingredients

2 cups of sugar

1 1/2 cups Karo syrup (can use corn syrup but Mom always used Karo)

1/2 cup water

2 1/2 cups of raw, unsalted peanuts

1 tablespoon butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 rounded teaspoons baking soda

Instructions

Boil sugar, syrup, and water until it threads, then reduces heat.

Add raw, unsalted peanuts and stir until mixed.

Continue to stir until the mixture is golden brown.

Add butter, vanilla, and baking soda and stir quickly.  Do not over cook!

As soon as it is mixed, pour the mixture into a greased pan and let cool.

Break into pieces.

This peanut brittle makes a great gift, just break into small pieces and put it in a pretty metal tin, or a cute mason jar.  If you like, you could even attach a card with the recipe!  Almost everyone loves peanut brittle!  

 Lion Tin Cute Mason Jar

I love to share my family recipes, people are always so appreciative.  I hope you will share this post with your friends and family so they can make this great treat for the ones they love!

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Jalapeno Popper Dip That ISN'T Hot! A Recipe Review

 

If you really love jalapeno dip, but find that it is just too hot and spicy or it does bad things to your tummy, you definitely need to try this recipe!  It is not hot, but it still has a full, delicious flavor and is always a hit at any party.  

Ingredients:

8 slices of bacon, crumbled

2  packages of cream cheese, softened

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 green pepper (if you like spicier but not hot) or 1 red pepper (if you prefer a more sweet taste) remove the stem, seeds and membranes.

1/4 cup sweet onion, diced

1 cup of mozzarella cheese, finely shredded

3/4  cup of cheddar cheese, finely shredded

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried basil 

Topping: (optional)

1 cup of crushed potato chips

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Lightly spray an oven safe dish with cooking spray.  I use a pie plate but you could also use an 6 x 6 square glass baking dish.

Mix the cream cheese, mayo, basil, garlic powder and bacon until smooth. I use an electric mixer, on an ultra slow speed, but you can mix by hand as well.  I like a mixer because it makes the dip fluffier, but it is a matter of personal preference.

Add the rest of the ingredients one at a time, always stirring, save the pepper for last.

When the mixture is totally smooth place the dip in the sprayed baking dish.

If you are using topping, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and sprinkle over the top

Bake the dip for 25 to 30 minutes, until the dip is browned and bubbling.

Serve hot.

One of the best things about this dip is that it is still wonderful, even when it cools to room temperature.  I usually serve it with tortilla chips, but if you don't want to go in a Mexican direction, you can serve it with pita chips,  crackers or Fritos.

If you are not a fan of green peppers, you can also use sweet banana peppers instead or just about any pepper that you like the taste of.  If you would like a bit of zip, but you don't want the full heat of jalapenos, you can toss in one hot banana pepper and that will give it some zest.  Just don't forget to remove the seeds and membranes as that is where much of the heat is in peppers. 

If you like dips that are not hot, but still full of delicious flavor this is the dip for you!  There are lots of variations on this recipe, I have seen it with crab, pulled pork or shredded chicken.  I prefer bacon, because, well, EVERYONE loves bacon!!

I have served this dip at many parties and it never fails to impress.  Make sure to put a folded card next to the dish on the table that says 

Pepper Popper Dip - NOT HOT!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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A Review of Boxed Photograph Organizers

One day I was trying to pull a shoebox off the top shelf of my closet, and I accidentally hit my stack of photo albums.  To my horror, they toppled off the shelf and hit the floor with a resounding THUD!  As it did, the photos went flying out of them like a mini blizzard.  They went flying on the bed, under the bed and into my closet.  I just stood there with my mouth open, I kept thinking "oh NO, they were all sorted!"  I had always kept my photos separated in albums by person or event.  Now they were anything but separated! 

After collecting all the pictures, I realized the pictures were not the only thing out of sorts.  I was too!  It was going to be a monumental task to sort all these photos back in the right album and put them in the right order.  I just sat there on the floor with my head in my hands.  There had to be a better way of dealing the photographs other than putting them in albums.  I stacked the albums in the corner and put the photos in a shoe box on top and I decided to check on Amazon to see if they had anything for photos.  

I typed in "photo organizers and storage" The first to pop up was a box with separate individual boxes inside.  It was plastic, with a handle and also water proof!  I thought "that could work!"  I looked further into the description.  It had snap tight closures and the large one could hold up to 1800 pictures!!  Wow!  The box was 14.25" x 10.6" x 4.72" and had 18 inner boxes, which held up to 100 4 x 6 photographs.  I was sold and I bought this one:

My Photo Box

If you wanted a smaller version for less photographs they also make 7 inner box and 9 inner box, however, they are almost the same price as the one I bought.  They look like this:

Smaller Photo Box

When it arrived, i liked it immediately.  It was very compact, and easy to store.  The interior boxes were sturdy and snapped closed.  They even included small stickers so you could label each small box as to what pictures were in it!  I was ready to start.  First I sorted the shoebox of photos into categories then each category into individual people or events.  I chose a box, put a label on it and then arranged the photos in order.  Since most events don't have 100 pictures, I clipped them with these, they were perfect because of all the sizes:

Clips

I was very pleased when all the boxes were full.  They were so neat and tidy!  All in their place, labeled with what was in them.  So much better than those bulky albums, especially when the stickiness wears off the pages due to age and the photos get loose, which is why mine went flying when they hit the floor.  There was only one spot of bad news......

I have more pictures!  They all did not fit in the one box!

So I ordered another one, of course!

I really cannot recommend these photo organizers highly enough.  They are so compact and make finding pictures so easy.  I will never use anything else for my photographs!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Spiced Tea and Honey Nut Bread - The Perfect Snack

If you read the post I made on March 25, 2025, for Old Fashioned Rice Pudding, I explained about a very old recipe book that I had found in my mother's things after she passed.  To call it a book, is being kind, as it was just a collection of hand typed (on a manual typewriter!) recipes folded in the middle and stapled together.  No front or back cover, no information of where it came from.  The pages are so ancient they are dark tan in color.  

Anyway, the recipes in this old gem are from a time before I was cooking.  Some of them are recipes for foods I have never heard of like Strawberry Fool or Fruitinays.  I love reading through the pages and some times I find a recipe that I want to try.  This is how I came across the recipes for the perfect afternoon snack:  Spiced Tea and Honey Nut Bread.

This first time I made the bread, I found it delicious, but it seemed to be lacking something to go with it.  I tried coffee, but it didn't fit, I tried iced tea and it was completely not a match.  I was stumped.  So I went back to the recipe book and looked under "Drinks."  When I saw the spiced tea recipe, I knew I had hit the jackpot.  Cinnamon and fruit juices sounded like a great combination!  I got up and made some right then and there.  It was exquisite!  The flavors blended together perfectly and they were just right with the honey nut bread.  It really is the perfect snack!

Spiced Tea

Ingredients

Juice of one lemon

Juice of two oranges

2 Plain teabags (more if you like it stronger)

1 teaspoon all spice

1/4 teaspoon cloves (optional, if you like clove flavor)

1 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 and 1/2 cups sugar

6 cups water

Instructions

1. Put spices in a small bag
2. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the bag of spices.
3. Boil for 10 minutes and remove the spice bag and turn off the stove.
4. Add teabags to the spiced water and steep for 10 minutes.  Remove teabags.
5. Boil the remaining 2 cups of water and add sugar. Stir until sugar melts.
6. Pour the sweetened water into the tea and stir until mixed.
7. Add the fruit juices and mix well.

If you want it drink your tea cold, chill the mixture in the refrigerator and serve over ice.  If you are like me and prefer it hot, place it back on the stove and boil.  I put mine in a carafe so it stays hot to enjoy with our next recipe:  Honey Nut Bread.

Honey Nut Bread

Ingredients

1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts (whichever type you like)

1 cup flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/2 cup of honey

1/2 cup of milk

2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift dry ingredients and stir in nuts.
3. In a bowl beat the egg and add honey, milk and melted butter and mix.
4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until the ingredients are  moistened and mixed.
5. Grease a bread pan and pour in the mixture.
6. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

Honey nut bread is also great with toppings like:

Apple Butter

Fruit Jam

Honey Butter 

Flavored Cream Cheese (like strawberry)

Lemon Sauce

I have even made French Toast with honey nut bread.  I trade in the syrup for some hot honey and it is really delicious.

I really love this old cookbook, it has so many unusual recipes in it and it also has a 'Hints and Tips' section that is pretty funny.  Maybe I will share some tips in my next post, I think you all would find it pretty entertaining!

Enjoy your snack!

  

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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