Baked Pigs in a Blanket

I have a confession. Hotdogs are my go-to meal with the kids. They are easy, ready quickly, and cheap. Nutritious? eh... probably not so much.

Still, even hotdogs need spruced up every once in a while. This recipe takes about 25 minutes, start to finish, and the end result is yummy enough for even the adults to enjoy.

Baked Pigs In A Blanket

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted cold butter cut into small pieces
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cup buttermilk
8 long hot dogs

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degree F and grease a large baking sheet.
2. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a bowl.
3. Add the butter and and rub it in until the dough becomes crumbly.
4. Stir the cheese in the dough and make sure it is evenly distributed.
5. Create a crater in the dough and add the buttermilk. Using a wooden spoon, stir well and let it stay for around 3 minutes.
6. Turn the dough on floured surface.
7. Pat the dough in a rectangle that is about 15 inches by 7 inches.
8. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into 8 rectangles.
9. Roll the rectangles around the hotdogs and seal edges. Place seam-side down on baking sheet.
10. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Bi-monthly post

I'm a pathetic blogger, I admit it. But, really, there is so much going on that I don't have time to maintain everything, and this is the lowest priority. Even now, I should be studying and instead I'm blogging.

There's lots new to share!

First, I'm a CNA. I got my certificate in the mail on Saturday. I've started my LPN classes. It's going to be a tough year, but it's only for 31 weeks. I have a LOT to learn but am really impressed with my teachers. We are all adjusting to the new lifestyle, the 5-days-a-week of daycare, the stricter budgeting. It will be worth it. I hope it is worth it.

K & M started school last week and are both doing fine. They are excited about their teachers, their classes, and all the new "now that I'm bigger" things they get to do. Lainie starts preschool on Wednesday and speech on Thursday, and is a little put-out that it's taken so long for her turn.

Somehow, Jay is still managing to go to two markets a week, while teaching his 5 preps and assist with the grade school math. He's had to pick up a lot of the duties I had to let go. The most complicated is getting Lainie to speech once a week. But, we're making do. One week down, 31 to go.

Sadie the puppy has turned out to be one of the best decisions we've made. She is a great little dog, soon to be a big dog. Already, she can sit and fetch. When we hollar "BABY!" she lays down flat, like a bear rug. That command is in direct reference to her future size; bull mastiffs are not small dogs. She's gained weight nicely, barks only when necessary, and is a sweet pup. 

What else is going on? Well, go to www.jaysjellies.com to read about the garden, or go to kscook.blogspot.com to see what's been cooking.

And so, don't be surprised if it takes two more weeks before I post again. We're fine; just insanely busy.

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

For years, I have looked for a breakfast that I could put in the crock pot the night before. It had to be something the kids would eat but not too loaded with sugar. And, I didn't want bread pudding. After many failed attempts, I found this one. It's simple and tasty.

Breakfast Casserole

12 eggs, beaten
14 slices bread
2 1/4 cups milk
2 1/2 cups Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 pound sausage, cooked and drained
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard

1. Grease the sides of the crock pot with butter.
2. Spread mustard on one side of the bread and cut bread into fourths.
3. Make layers in the crock pot of bread, followed by sausage, followed by cheese, ending with a cheese layer.
4. Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper together. Pour over crock pot mixture.
5. Cover and cook on LOW heat setting for 8 to 12 hours.

To-Do Lists

Years from now, I will wonder how we accomplished everything that we did and still live to tell about it. For prosperity's sake, here is my to-do list for Monday through Wednesday:

1. Start roast for supper
2. Mail Grill-Off publicity for grant
3. Submit salsa competition expenses for grant
4. Pick up pork from meat locker
5. Pick up freezer cups for sand plum and elderberry juice
6. Reserve Piotique booth
7. Pay property taxes (early!)
8. Call HealthWave to check status of app
9. Call Hotels.com to fix billing error
10. Check credit card transactions for any other errors
11. Sort 5 bags of sandplums
12. Process (boil, mash, juice sandplums)
13. Chop peppers, onions, and pork for frozen fajita-in-a-bag mixes
14. Call NCKTC to check scholarships
15. Deposit Katie's check from the fair
16. Sort elderberrires
17. Monday 2:15 pediatrician appointment
18. Pick up contacts from eye doc
19. Outside play with girls
20. Set up auto bill pay on new bank account
21. Check on life insurance policy status
22. Laundry
23. Exercise puppy
24. Deliver squash and tomatoes
25. Make elderberry juice
26. Pick green beans
27. Check girls' vaccination records
28. Ask S. to babysit girls
29. Write an 1,100 word article
30. Edit an 1,800 word article
31. Judge a Canadian Web site contest
32. Call girls' schools
33. Visit girls' schools
34. Check class rosters for K&M
35. More laundry
36. Clean kitchen
37. Load for Manhattan Farmers Market
38. Call Extension office about 4-H
39. Work on puzzle with girls
40. Drive to and set up for Manhattan market
41. Get girls ready for first day of school on Thursday
42. Contact N about carpooling next week 
43. Paint everyone's toe nails... well, except Jay
44. Wednesday 10:45 doctor appointment

And, apparently, update blog!

Tortilla Roll-Ups

Easy Roll-Ups

The girls wanted roll-ups for supper tonight, so I made my usual pickle roll-ups. Knowing Natalie doesn’t like things too spicy, I made a second kind of roll-up with turkey meat. While I love the pickle ones, the turkey roll-ups were delicious!

Corned beef lunchmeat
Deli turkey, extra thin
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup miracle whip
2 tablespoons Ranch dip mix
shredded cheddar cheese
7 tortilla wraps

1. Mix together the cream cheese, miracle whip, and ranch dressing.
2. Spread cream cheese mix over tortillas.
3. For pickle roll-ups, place corned beef on cream cheese mix and spread pickle relish on corned beef.
4. For turkey roll-ups, place turkey on cream cheese mix and sprinkle shredded cheese on turkey.
5. Roll tortillas, jelly-roll style.
6. Place in refrigerator for at least one hour.
7. After an hour, cut tortilla roll-ups into 1-inch pieces. Serve cold.

Ten Bits of Randomness

1. I took my CNA test yesterday and was thankful for the advice, "when in doubt, chose 'ask a nurse'." Results in 3-4 weeks.
2. Lainie broke out in hives yesterday, quite suddenly. At one point, she was one huge welt from her head to below her waist. Doc says treat with Benadryl. The Benadryl wore off last night, so she woke up with her eye swollen shut and her nose twice it's normal size, and a headache. I'm hoping this ends soon. Oh, and she has swimmers ear in both ears.
3. Natalie proved her toughness. Her cranky, evil ways are probably due to swimmers ear and tonsilitis. After just one dose of antibiotic, she was already cheerier. I heard the first laugh in two weeks from her.
4. It's 10:30ish and all four kids are sleeping. Probably doesn't bode well for our plans to go to the rodeo tonight.
5. I made watermelon rind pickles two nights ago. They are just sitting on the counter, calling my name. But, alas, I will wait until after the dentist appointment.
6. The Clay Center Farmers Market is sponsoring a salsa competition on Saturday. They are sponsoring it, I'm coordinating it. Here's hoping it goes smoothly!
7. The garden is starting to slow down but Jay's still pulling in double the income from last summer. We don't know why but we are grateful!
8. I took the girls shopping yesterday to get school supplies, restock socks and undies, and use a huge pile of coupons for Target. I ended up saving $93, $50 of which is a gift card I received for doing a health assessment for my insurance company. That's probably the most I've saved using coupons and discounts, ever.
9. I think I'm ready for school, supply-wise. I have 3 scrub pants, 2 scrub tops, a lab jacket, and a couple shirts to wear under the scrubs. I also have a stethescope, thanks to my going away gift from my co-workers. And, I bought a medical dictionary yesterday. I would like/need one more scrub top, but then should be set. This is getting real, fast.
10. I am off to the dentist, and then the grocery store. Man, these girls go through the food! But, thanks to the garden and the meat in the fridge, I'm still feeding our family of 6 for about $75 per week. I will get it down to $60 or less, once they are in school. I can only imagine how expensive it will be when they reach the teen years. Lordy, I'd better go to school and get a higher paying job, or something. :)