Military Blog Hop Winner!

This just goes to show that it is never too late to sign up for anything.




The winner of the Military Spouses' Blog Hop is.......





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.......Lora of "My Camo Kids: An Army Wife Life!"

So Lora, visit Crystal's Country Store, and then contact me at
MrsMamaHen(at)gmail.com

Congratulations!!!

A Reminder.....and "The Prize" for the Military Spouse Blog Hop

I love Crystal Miller's Goat Milk Soaps. I have ordered them from her for years now. On the occasion that I run out and have to buy "store soap".....I practically go through withdrawals.

So the reminder part of the post, is "reminder" --this is the last day to sign up for the Military Spouse Blog Hop.

And the Prize...one of those military spouse bloggers who signed up, will be selected to get two bars of Crystal's wonderful goat milk soap.

These are the two favorites in our house...the "Pumpkin Spice" (mine) and the "Bay Rum" (hubby's.)



She also has other kinds, like "Fuzzy Navel" and "Lavender with Flower Buds."

They are all wonderful!

When the winner is selected, I will have you send me your mailing address, and your two selections.

You can check out Crystal's Store here: CrystalsCountryStore.com

Crystal has no idea I am doing this....I just love her stuff, and thought you might too :-)

Chillin'

Chillin'

Stretchin'

"What?"

Cats have the life.

My Grandma

This morning I woke up, and got a little sad.

I had a dream I was at my Grandma's house. We were sitting on the back porch talking. The back porch of the house that my grandfather built.

This is my mother, as a little girl, while the house was being built.

I love having dreams about my grandparents. Because for just a little while, it is like they are back. I'm talking with them, enjoying their presence.

But then, I hate having dreams about my grandparents. Because right after you wake up, you have that moment when you remember reality, and it makes you sad all over again. For moments before, Grandma was there, and now she's not.

Just feeling a little reminiscent this morning.

Does this ever happen to you?

Homeschool Bumper Stickers

Earlier this school year, I had some bumperstickers made. When I did, I ordered a few extras. If anyone has a homeschool senior out there, like I do, and you are interested in one of these, they are $5, that includes postage to you.

They are the "euro"-style oval bumperstickers.

If interested, contact me at MrsMamaHen(at)gmail.com

I only have a few, and when they are gone, they are gone :-)

Military Spouse Blog Hop

From now until the end of the month, I am hosting a blog hop for military spouses. This post will be pinned to the front page so it can be easily found.

Feel free to enter your blog, and spend some time visiting the blogs of other military spouses. We have to support each other in the military community!

(And Psssst! Here's a secret. One military blogger will be selected from the list for a very special give-away! And, if you share the hop on your blog, you'll double your chances!)

All blogs entered must be those of military spouses, and must be "family friendly." Any link that are added that do not meet those simple guidelines, will be removed ASAP. Only enter your blog url once. I will create a separate list for the drawing.

Thanks!

Entry period will end October 31st, at 10pm Alaska Time.

Winter or Fall?

Yesterday Jen and I got ready to head to the store to do my grocery shopping. Here was Jen, waiting in the van for me.

This was the commissary parking lot. Parking lines are just a "best guess" in the winter. I ended up shoveling 3 times yesterday.

This morning I went outside to shovel snow again. At about 9:30 or so, the sky looked like this.

About 45 minutes later, a peek at the ski hill across the road.

Later this week, I am going to go for a little drive, and introduce you to a place called North Pole, Alaska.

No, not THE North Pole.....but it thinks it is! You'll see why........

Maple-Orange Glazed Cornish Hens

This is another very simple, but super delicious meal. When this starts cooking, it smells like the holidays, with the sweetness of the orange and maple, and the evergreen-like scent of the rosemary.

Heat your oven to 375 degrees.

Measure out 1/3 cup orange juice

and 1/3 cup real maple syrup

Pour them into a small saucepan, and add 2 Tablespoons white cooking wine.

To that, add 1 tsp dry rosemary leaves.

Bring this to a gentle simmer, and let it cook for about 10 minutes or so.

Meanwhile, take the poor, defenseless hens, and cut them in half. This is one of the few things I use kitchen shears for, but a warning: BE CAREFUL.

They are very sharp and the kitchen shears know no difference between YOUR flesh and hen flesh. I know....I speak from trip-to-the-emergency-room experience, many many moons ago. It was also the very first time my daughter fainted at the sight of blood...but that is a totally separate and inappropriate story. (Thankfully I wasn't cooking...I was cutting pipecleaners for a craft project. Just thought I would clarify.)

The Moral of the Story: BE CAREFUL!!!!!

Cut them all in half, along the breastbone and the spine, creating two pieces from each.

Now, zest an orange.

Dry the hens with a paper towel.

Take a hen half, and gently pull the skin up from the breast, creating a pocket.

Then take 1/6 of the zest and spread it in the pocket, all over the meat.

Take the shears now, and snip off the tip of the wing. There is no meat on it, and all it will do is burn. Place the half in the baking dish, skin up. Repeat with all.

By now, the glaze is bubbly and cheerful. Turn off the heat.

Give the tops of the hens a light salt & peppering.

Next, brush them with 1/3 of the glaze.

Now they are ready for the oven.

About 20 minutes into the baking, brush on another 1/3 of the glaze, and again another 20 minutes later.

Let the hens bake for a total of 45 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees, or the juices run clear.

Enjoy!

Printable Version: Maple-Orange Glazed Cornish Hens

Alternate Printing Methods---> HERE

Lemon Bars

Here is a tangy dessert, that tastes kind of like lemonade in bar form. It has a sweet crust, crunchy top, and gooey lemony goodness inside.

To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then grease a 9x13 baking pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine 3/4 c soft butter

2/3 c powdered sugar

and 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour

Use a beater, and if you need to, your hands get the job done too.

Press the mixture into the baking dish.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat together 3 eggs,

1 1/2 c sugar

1/4 c lemon juice

and 3 Tablespoons flour

Beat until frothy

When the crust is done baking, pour the lemon mixture over the hot crust.

And back into the oven for 20 - 25 more minutes, or until the top is just turning golden.

Allow the bars to cool completely, and then refrigerate for an hour. Dust with powdered sugar.

And enjoy!

Printable Version: Lemon Bars