Happy Halloween Everyone

I want to wish everyone a fun filled safe Halloween today.

Book Review-Matters of the Heart by Danielle Steel

Hope Dunne is one of the best photographers in the world, so naturally National Book Award winner Finn O’Neill wants her to do the portrait for his next book cover. Hope goes to London, expecting a photo shoot that lasts a couple of days, tops, but soon succumbs to Finn’s devilish good looks and endless charm. The trip to love is short, and Finn soon talks Hope into staying at his Irish family’s ancestral home. But Ireland isn’t the paradise Hope imagined. Discovering that Finn has told her one untruth after another, Hope has to accept that he is a sociopathic liar. To make things worse, Finn’s thoughtful attentions turn to obsession, and he flies into jealous rages with little or no provocation. Hope knows things could be dangerous in Finn’s country mansion, that she should break free, but he has snared her with good times and great sex. Hope and Finn each have the sort of emotionally packed backstory Steel’s readers expect, while the isolated-woman-in-danger theme gives the novel a modern gothic feel. Steel’s fans will be delighted by this story of a woman seduced by a man who is too good to be true.

I really liked this book. I normally feel that all of Danielle Steels books are the same. Same story just different names. Well I thought this one was a little different. It did have the basic girl meets boy and falls in love but will a little bit of a twist to this one. I love fast easy reads that take me away from my life. This book did that and so I'm happy.

NESCAFE Dolce Gusto

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nestle Dolce Gusto. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you saying "what is that?" to your self. Well I did, then I went to check and see what NESCAFE is all about. After reading about this wonderful coffee machine I want one. I'm not a big coffee drinker but my hubby sure is. I love that you can make different kinds and not have to make a full pot of coffee that you are only going to drink a cup or two of. NESCAFE is made by Krups which I have heard of. Maybe you have too. I have seen many of their coffee machines in stores by me.

I'm a big hot chocolate drinker in the winter. Nothing warms me up better then a nice hot cup of hot chocolate. I love to stop by a coffee shop and get a cup. It's always so creamy and chocolaty plus it has that wonderful foam on top. The NESCAFE makes that kind of hot chocolate. Yum I would really love one right now it's cold in here. Anyway's I never like the price of coffee or hot chocolate at the coffee shop. I would love to be able to make a cup of coffee for my hubby that he loves and a nice foamy cup of hot chocolate for me and not spend a fortune.

I think I may just add this to my Christmas list. I have been a good girl this year after all.  nen

Our Annual Trip to the Cider Mill

We have been going with the family to the Cider Mill for over 15 years. It's always a very fun trip. After we spend about a hour there drinking cider and eating donut (which are soooo yummy) we head to the pumpkin patch for pumpkins. From there we go back to our house for pumpkin carving and to eat some chili (the guys also watch football). This year the weather was just beautiful. We have had days in the past were it was snowing when we went to the cider mill. We were very very happy that the sun was shining and the sky was blue. Above is some pictures from our fun filled day.

Lawry's Giveaway from Your Fun Family

I found this great giveaway over at Your Fun Family. It's all the wonderful Lawry products pictured above. I know my hubby would just love it if I won and he could have my winnings. But if I don't win I would love it if one of my blog friends did. Head on over to Your Fun Family to enter. Good Luck to you!

Ashworth College

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you have a child in high school and is he or she having a hard time fitting in? Or do they have a hard time paying attention in school and following what is going on in class. Do they feel lost and it's not looking like they are going to graduate? Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Well I do because I have one of those kids. He is a senior this year in high school and we are not sure if he will graduate. He is a good kid, very sweet and loves being outside doing hands on activities. He just can't be like all the other kids and sit in class with out being a problem. The teachers don't like him and they call and want me to like fix him. If you ask me he doesn't need fixed our school system does. Everyone is not the same. Oh I'm getting off track here.

I wish I had found out about this program about a year ago. High School Online could of been the answer for us. My son is smart and I'm sure he could do very good working at his own pace at home. Ashworth College is a online high school. You can take a whole year of classes or just a couple to get some credits that are missing. Then you can transfer your credit back to your high school. Getting a high school diploma is very important and is valued much more then a GED.

Ashworth College Featured by National Education Report it keeps up with what is needed to receive a credit or high school diploma. If you have a student having problems check into Ashworth College.

Ashworth Video Gallery

Onion Soup

The weather has changed and it is getting cooler outside. This is when I love a nice bowl of hot soup. It warms me up from the inside out. I just love it. I was looking around for a good soup recipe to make maybe this weekend. I found this one over at one of my favorite places Better Homes and Gardens. I think everyone at my house loves onions so this soup I'm sure would be loved by everyone. I think I just may give it a try.


Ingredients
3 pounds sweet onions, such as Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui
3 tablespoons olive oil, margarine, or butter
12 medium shallots, halved (about 12 ounces)
4 cups beef broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons dry white wine (optional)
Salt and pepper
6 1/2-inch-thick slices sourdough or French bread (4 ounces)
6 ounces Gouda or Edam cheese, thinly sliced
Green onion tops (optional)
Directions
1. Cut about 1/2-inch off the tops of three of the whole onions. Peel off the papery outer leaves. Trim the root ends, but leave them intact. Turn one of these onions so it rests on its top. Cut two thin (about 1/4-inch) slices from the center of the onion, cutting down from the root end to the onion top. Be careful to keep these slices intact. Repeat with remaining 2 onions to give a total of 6 thin, center-cut onion slices. Set remaining onions aside.

2. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil or margarine. Carefully add the 6 onion slices in a single layer. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Turn carefully with a wide metal spatula. Cook about 3 minutes more or until golden brown on second side. Carefully remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.

3. Thinly slice remaining onion portions. Halve and cut remaining whole onions into thin slices. You should have 6 to 7 cups onion slices. In a 4- or 4-1/2-quart Dutch oven, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Stir in the sliced onion and halved shallots. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium-high and cook 5 minutes or until onions are golden brown, stirring occasionally.

4. Stir broth and wine, if using, into onions in Dutch oven. Heat through. Season to taste with a little salt and pepper.

5. Meanwhile, place bread slices on rack of broiler pan. Place under broiler, about 4 inches from the heat, about 1 minute or until lightly toasted. Turn bread over; top each piece with a slice of cheese. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese just begins to melt.

6. To serve, ladle soup into bowls. Top each with a piece of cheese toast. Add a caramelized onion slice and green onion tops. Makes about 7 cups (6 main-dish servings).

Nutrition Facts
Calories333, Total Fat (g)13, Saturated Fat (g)6, Cholesterol (mg)32, Sodium (mg)998, Carbohydrate (g)41, Fiber (g)4, Protein (g)14, Vitamin A (DV%)17, Vitamin C (DV%)28, Calcium (DV%)26, Iron (DV%)11, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Philly Willy's Chili

Philly Willy's Chili

2 lbs. Ground Round or Chuck
1 medium chopped onion
1 cup chopped Celery
½ cup chopped Green Pepper
½ cup chopped Red Pepper
1 (28 oz.) can Stewed Tomatoes, Undrained and cut up and remove the hard ends if any.
1 (6oz.) can Tomato Paste
4 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Tsp. Salt
2 Tsps. Chili Powder
1 Tsp. Cumin
1 Tsp. Cayenne Pepper
½ Tsp. Pepper
2 (15.5 oz.) cans of Brook’s Mild Chili Beans(undrained)

In large dutch oven, brown meat w/onions; drain. Add all remaining ingredients except beans. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for about an hour. Now add beans, cover and simmer for about an hour.

You can add some cooked, cut-up Italian Sausage, if you like.
You can also add more heat w/the Cayenne Pepper but be careful.
I Doubled the recipe for my family and it all disappeared.

This is the best for a wonderful cold evening dinner. We love it!

Tailgating, Football and a Auto Show

We had a perfect day today. The weather couldn't be better, the fall colors were breath taking and everything planned work out perfect. Son #2 is in his first year of college. We went up to the university that he is going to for a visit, some tailgating, a football game (which they won) and to walk around a auto show that the university was having this weekend. We had so much fun hanging out with family and enjoying the beautiful day.

Us tailgating

The football game
Son #2 at the Auto Show

Halloween Cookie Give Away

I found another great give away for Halloween. Check out these beautifully decorated cookies! Mackenzie Limited gave Your Fun Family some cookies to give away.

The Halloween Spooky Cookies include 10 oversized cookies in bats, pumpkins, witches hats, ghosts, and a huge haunted house. They are gently spiced gingerbread cookies and they look fantastic!

These cookies would look great on any Halloween table!

Go to Your Fun Family to enter.

This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ and ends on October 20th at midnight . The giveaway prize were provided by Mackenzie Limited.

Fall on the Lake

The colors have changed around my home. All the beautiful full green trees are changing into all different colors. The only thing bad it that all of this means that winter is on it's way. I'm not going to think about that now I'm just going to enjoy the beautiful weather and colors.

Pumpkin Cheese Cake

I was looking around at some recipes over at Better Homes and Gardens and I found this cheese cake. I love cheese cake and I thought this one looked really good and easy. I think I might give it a try.

Ingredients
3/4 cup finely crushed graham crackers
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
1/2 cup sugar or sugar substitute* equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup fat-free milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
2 8-ounce packages fat-free cream cheese
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup orange juice
Directions
1. For crust: In a medium bowl, stir together crushed graham crackers and melted butter until crackers are moistened. Press mixture onto bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Cover and chill while preparing filling.

2. For filling: In a food processor or blender, combine the reduced-fat cream cheese, 1/4 cup of the sugar, 1/4 cup of the milk, the vanilla, and orange peel. Cover and process or blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl; set aside.

3. In a food processor or blender, combine fat-free cream cheese, pumpkin, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, remaining 1/4 cup milk, and the pumpkin pie spice. Cover and process or blend until smooth.

4. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over orange juice; let stand for 5 minutes. Cook and stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved. Stir 1 tablespoon of the gelatin mixture into the white cream cheese mixture and the remaining gelatin mixture into the pumpkin mixture.

5. Pour pumpkin mixture over chilled crust in pan. Carefully pour white cream cheese mixture over pumpkin mixture. Using a narrow, thin-bladed metal spatula or a table knife, swirl pumpkin and white mixtures.

6. Cover and chill overnight before serving. To serve, using a small sharp knife, loosen cheesecake from side of springform pan; remove side of pan. Cut into wedges. Makes 12 servings.

*Sugar Substitute: Choose from Splenda Granular, Equal Spoonful or packets, or Sweet 'N Low bulk or packets. Follow package directions to use amount equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar.

Make-Ahead Directions: Prepare as directed through Step 5. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours. Serve as directed in Step 6.

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12 servings Calories179, Total Fat (g)7, Saturated Fat (g)4, Cholesterol (mg)23, Sodium (mg)331, Carbohydrate (g)19, Fiber (g)1, Protein (g)9, Other Carbohydrates (d.e.)1.5, Fat (d.e.)1.5, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Pumpkin Bars

I found these delicious looking pumpkin bars over at Better Homes and Gardens. I was looking for a nice fall dessert and this is what I think I'm going to make. Don't they look really good. I'll let you know next week because I think I'm going to make them this weekend.

Smokie

Smokie was just sitting there on her kitty climb looking outside and I thought she was looking very cute. I even was able to get her picture with her eyes open. I often wonder what she is thinking? She had just been outside so I don't think she was wishing she was outside. Maybe she is thinking she is happy to be inside where it is warm.

Halloween Decorations

Yesterday was a cold rainy day so I was able to get my house all nice and clean. Then today I was able to get some of my Halloween decorations out. I love all the colors that goes with fall and Halloween. The browns, oranges and burnt reds. Here is picture of my mantel all decorated. Do you have a favorite Halloween decoration?