Pineapple Upside Down...Cupcakes?

Yummo! Happy Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day. No joke. Check the specials calendar near you.

I made these on Sunday in fear I would not have time to make today but these were so good. Here is the recipe for your pleasure:

1 box Yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1/3 c oil
1 1/4 c water
1 20oz can crushed pineapple
1 stick butter
1/2 c brown sugar
cherries (optional-I did not have any on hand)

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and water together. Set aside. Melt butter in microwave or on stove top, mix together with brown sugar. Spray/grease two 12 count muffic pans. Add 1/2 teaspoon of butter, brown sugar mixture to each muffin section. Add one cherry to each section (if using). Spoon 1 teaspoon crushed pineapple into each section. Evenly add cake batter to each section.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Make sure to let these guys sit and completely cool before removing or they will break apart.
Enjoy!

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Posted in: baking,cake,cherries,dessert,food,food network,holidays,pineapple,yellow cake,yummo

More fun days ahead!

Getting ready to roll to Target and pick up a few items. My kittens are ready for more food and treats so I can not neglect them. :D

I am also picking up a Pyrex dish or two, I dont think you can ever have too many of those things.

I have missed a few "special days" lately guys and gals, sorry about that. Key days lately:
April 14th-Sinking of Titanic (moment of silence please)
April 15th-1st McDonald's opens in 1955 (FYI did you know that the founder of McD's opened his many McDonalds for real estate investments more than the food?)
April 16th-Eggs Benedict day-I have personally never had these but the hubs loves them
April 17th-Daffy Duck's Birthday! Created in 1937, Happy Birthday Daff!

On the Menu:
Apricot Cream Chicken
Ranch Potatoes
Asparagus Pea Casserole

Crockpot Creamy Potatoes:
2 lbs small red potatoes, quartered
2 packages cream cheese, softened
1 can Cream of Potato soup
1 envelope Ranch salad dressing mix
1 tbsp Milk

Places potatoes in crockpot. In a bowl beat together crem cheese, soup, salad dressing mix and milk, Stir into potatoes. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours.

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Spring Time Wreath

A couple of weeks back I decided to head to Michael's Craft Store and pick up a few items to bring my living room wreath up to Springtime Standard.
About 60 later I got what I needed. Holy moly, decorating can be expensive. Next time I am going to hit up the dollar stores first. :D My friend, Carmella, would be so dissappointed I spent so much money. She has a knack for getting the cutest items at the cheapest prices. I need to hang out with her more. :D

At this moment, the wreath is Easter-centric. After Easter I will remove bunnies, eggs and replace with flowers and more butterflies. Enjoy!

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Posted in: bunny,butterflies,crafts,decorating,easter,Michael's,rabbit,spring,wreath

Happy Birthday Tom!

Today is Thomas Jefferson's birthday. I am actually related to him through marriage waaay down the line.

Today is also "hump" day for all of you workers out there. Myself included. I like Wednesdays simply because the remainder of the week seems to go faster. :D What is your favorite day of the week?

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Posted in: birthday,favorite,Jefferson,special day,Thomas Jefferson,Wednesday

Oh How Fun! Happy Free IceCream Ben & Jerry!

Found on MSN that Ben and Jerry's is having a free ice cream cone day. Find a Ben & Jerry's near you: Go to www.benjerry.com

My diet is not going to allow me to partake but I hope someone will! :D

What is your favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor?
I have only tried a couple of flavors. My first being Chunky Monkey. I also really like Cherry Garcia.

Has anyone tried Late Night Snack yet? Seems interesting....Chocolate covered potato chips in ice cream... Hmmm.....

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Happy Sunday!

We have the opportunity to celebrate two specials days in one today:
1. National Sibling Day
2. Young Writer's Day

Do you have any siblings? Yes, sometimes family can be a pain, especially when we are younger. :P BUT I would not give anything for my brother and sister. They are several years old than me, I was the baby of the group. But they have always supported me in my wacky endeavors and grew to be great parents. Love you two!

Young Writer's Day is very exciting. I dont believe there are enough writer's in the world today. We need to encourage writing. Be it poems, journals, diaries, short stories, plays, etc. Writing opens up the world of imagination and dares one to think outside of the box. So encourge the young writer in your life today.

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Posted in: books,family,national holiday,plays,sibling,special day,stories,writer,young writer

Shrimp and Lemon Pasta

All credit goes to Giada De Laurentiis from the Food Network. :)

I was searching for a springtime meal that was light and full of flavor. I usually dont use many of Giada's recipes, no offense, but this one hit the spot!

Ingredients
For the lemon oil:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, zested

For the pasta:
1 pound linguine pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
16 ounces frozen shrimp
1/4 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1 lemon, zested
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 ounces arugula (about 3 packed cups)
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions
For the lemon oil:
Combine the olive oil and the lemon zest in a small bowl and reserve.

For the pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until pink, about 5 minutes. Add the cooked linguine, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Turn off the heat and add the arugula. Using a mesh sieve, strain the lemon zest out of the reserved lemon olive oil and add the oil to the pasta. The zest can be discarded. Add some of the cooking water to desired consistency. Add the chopped parsley to the pasta and toss to combine. Serve immediately

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Posted in: cooking,dinner,easy cooking,food network,lemon,light meal,olive oil,pasta,quick meal,recipe,shrimp

What Have You Discovered Lately?

Happy Ponce de Leon Day! He discovered Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth. What an idea! The Fountain of Youth....we have our own "fountain" so to speak. Check out my other blog www.leenaturals.blogspot.com for great tips on herbal remedies and cooking methods that your body will love.

I personally have discovered that just ten to fifteen minutes of exercise each morning makes for a happy Crystal. :) I am not stressing my body out but some brisk walking gets the heart pumping, the lungs breathing, and my muscles contracting. Wakes me up better than coffee but without the jittery side effects from the caffeine.

Blessed be...

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Springtime Pancakes!

I found this recipes on the FoodNetwork.com website. It looked fabulous. Tasted even better! Thanks Chef Anne!

Ingredients
Strawberry coulis:
1quart strawberries, topped and quartered
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
Pancakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus a pinch for egg whites
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
4 eggs, separated
1 heaping cup ricotta cheese
3/4 cup milk
2 Meyer lemons, zested and juiced
Butter, for cooking the pancakes
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions
Strawberries:

Toss the strawberries with the sugar and orange juice. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

After the berries and sugar have macerated and become very juicy, remove 1/2 of the berry mixture, put it in a food processor and puree until smooth. Return it to the rest of the berries and reserve until ready to use.

Pancakes:

Sift together all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In another bowl, combine the egg yolks, ricotta, milk and lemon zest and juice, and mix until it becomes homogeneous. Make a well in the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients to the well and whisk until combined.

Preheat a griddle.

In another bowl, using a whisk or electric mixer, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt to stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the flour mixture in thirds. Do this quickly and gently so the pancakes will be light and fluffy.

Melt small pats of butter onto the preheated griddle, and spread it around with a paper towel to remove any excess butter. Spoon or ladle the pancake batter onto the prepared griddle to desired size of the pancake. When the top of the pancake is full of holes, like bubbles have risen to the surface and burst, the pancake is ready to flip. Flip the cakes and cook until the bottom is golden brown.

Remove the pancakes from the grill to serving plates. Top with the macerated strawberry coulis and garnish with powdered sugar.

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Posted in: Breakfast

Special Days

I didnt have a chance to post yesterday, but it was the anniversary of the first home phone installation. What a day! Celebrated by teens everywhere. :) I wonder how many home phones still actually exist? So many of us simply use cell phones.

Today is read a Road Map day. So all of you navigators, find a map and read. I actually enjoy reading road maps. When I read them, it means I am traveling to a fun destination!

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Recipe: Lemon Lime Pie

Cool and quick treat for Spring:

Lemon Lime Pie

1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
Green food coloring
1 tub of your favorite whipped topping-regular, fat free, sugar free (tip: make sure cream is nice a thaw before starting receipe)
1 (6 oz.) prepared graham cracker pie crust (Might even be interesting with a cookie crust)

Instructions
STIR together sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, lime juice and food coloring, if desired, in medium bowl. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into crust.
CHILL 3 hours or until set. Garnish with alternating lemon and lime slices. Store covered in refrigerator.

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Children's Book Day

Happy Children's Book Day everyone! Pick up one of your favorite books and go back to being a kid again. Remember being a kid? Things were so easy and the days lastest forever. Waiting on birthdays, summer break and Christmas. Sigh...if only we can get those days back. Of course we can!

Today is International Children's Book Day and I for one am going to enjoy it. All homework assignments are turned in and groceries have been bought. So I am off to find a great book. My favorite book of all time is Little Women, with Charlotte's Web being a close second.

What are some of your favorite stories from childhood?
Blessed Be....

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April Fools Day!

I typically do not get "fooled" but today a co-worker got me. I "lent" him my car to jump his car battery and he told me "Something is wrong with your battery!It is not working!" I was worried then he smiled and said APRIL FOOLS! Ahhh I forgot today was April 1st.

So to everyone, be careful and watch those pranksters.

Tonight is date night with the husband and I am very excited. Melting Pot here we come! Cheese, chocolate and a very handsome husband. What more could a girl want? A clean house!
This weekend is Spring Cleaning time for the Lee's. Inside and Out. My house is not the cleanest, nor will it ever be, but I have to scrub. It is driving me batty. :) With a husband and two baby animals, I have my hands full. I know some of you Mommies out there just rolled your eyes! LOL! I hear you...I should not complain. I am blessed so I need to treat my house, family and myself in such a manner.

I wonder where my essential oils are that I ordered a few days ago? I need them to start cleaning. :) Blessed Be.

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