Pig N a Blanket

A McMurry Family favorite! We've recently changed them up a bit! We switched the dough for them to Pillsbury Buttery Cresent Rolls and the meat we use is now hot dogs with no nitrates and they are made of black angus beef! So tastier and a bit healthier! Want to try these hot dogs click here for coupon! For a Pillsbury Coupon click here!

Girl Scout Cookies made healthier!

Click here for Recipes

There are many different recipes out there that are similiar to girl scout cookies but these are healthier and sound really tasty! I'm going to start out trying the Samoas first they sound really good with the added coconut! I'll update you on how mine turned out but wanted to share this website now incase someone else wanted to try them now too! YUMMY!

Image from: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2009_04_02-Samoa.jpg

Craft room has been occupied alot lately...

I have many new crafts I've been working on and soon when I finish some I will be posting pics of them! I am currently working on new bows and flower clips for MacKenzie and I'm working on a cute little apron for her! Can't wait to finish them and post pics!

Being green can cause you to spend the green...

Ever noticed that being "Green" can cause you to spend more money? Well here are some ways to be "Green" without spending lots of money!

Shopping at thrift stores (you are reusing materials that may otherwise get thrown in the garbage)
You can buy books, clothes, shoes, purses, and much more from thrift stores!

Bring your Own Bag (the new military slogan at the exchanges)... use green bags... this is fairly cheap to do...if you don't go crazy buying expensive bags! Don't cheap out too much and buy the $1 bags though they don't last long (if you wash them). Canvas bags work out great!

Once your done with clothing, books etc. donate them or to make some money yard sale them!

Recycle! In Hawaii you can turn in your cans and bottles and actually get your deposit back!

Here's a easy one...turn out the lights when you leave a room! Saves energy!

Go to the library! It's wonderful to read library books and return them once your done (no need to donate and there was no need to spend the money on the book in the first place!) It's nice to know that many people get use out of one book!

Okay get out there and B green! (the cheap way!)

Pineapple Upside Down Mini Cakes

One of the types of fruit that I have come to love since living on this beautiful Island of Oahu is Pineapple! Today I decided I was going to make some Pineapple Upside Down Mini Cakes! Yummy! Recipe and photos soon to follow! It's a EASY and QUICK treat and great for summer desserts for those of you on the main land!

As Promised:

Recipe=

You will need:

2/3 cup of packed brown sugar

1/3 cup of butter, melted ( I used 1 and a half sticks of butter once it melts it's not very much)

2 (20 ounce) cans sliced pineapple (I used 1 can of crushed pineapple)

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (follow directions on package to make cake batter with the exception of using your drained pineapple juice from the can of pineapples in place of most of the water it is likely you will need 1/3 cup of vegetable oil and 3 eggs to make the cake mix)

Maraschino cherries halved (12 cherries) if you would like to top the cakes with them ( I didn't but only because I didn't have them available this time)

Now this is the fun and EASY way to make it:

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Grab a muffin pan or two that will fit 12 muffins in it...I used one muffin pan and three mini loaf pans but you can use two large muffin pans as well, whatever you have available. Once you have your bakeware you need to line it with pam or whatever you use to grease your pans. Next you put one level teaspoon or so of brown sugar in each muffin slot. Next pour butter to cover the brown sugar in each cup. Then you will Put 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of crushed pineapple into each slot. Mix cake mix according to box instructions except use your pineapple juice for as much of the water it calls for you can what ever amount of juice you lack use water to fill the difference. Put one tablespoon cake batter into each muffin slot (some may need a bit more use your own judgement on how much based on how they look...you want it to be about the same in each if you can so they all are about the same size (especially if you are making them for a event etc.) Now you will bake them for 19-23 at 350 degrees until brown and toothpick comes out clean or cake tester stick. Transfer bakes cakes as soon as cooked. Place a tinfoiled covered cookie sheet over muffin pan and flip cakes onto sheet. Your done! See it was EASY! Now once you are doing enjoying your dessert put those leftovers in the frigde loosly covered! This is to insure the cake doesn't get hard and otherwise distasteful too soon! Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Also I wanted to add that if you are going to be visiting Oahu or live on Oahu The Dole Pineapple Farm is a great place to visit! They have a maze, gardens, gift shop, train ride tour (AKA Pineapple Express) and a wonderful thing called a Dole whip which you must try! Yummy!

THE GREEN MOM

So I found yet another way to be green and save money! Reuseable snack bags! Love the ones from Lunchskins (cute and recommended by another mom) but Etsy sales alot of them too!

Going back to school!

Well I'm about to make a brave step and go to grad school...it's brave to me because since I have been a mom I feel that I left my brain with the previous person known as Mrs.McMurry not the now known "MOMA" that I am today! Forgetfullness is just part of it I guess but lets hope once school starts I will no longer have this problem! Looking foward to getting back into the intellectual community and not totally immeresed in the mommy community for a while. Don't get me wrong I love being mom and I LOVE being part of the mommy community but I love love love school!