HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO SHUT DOWN YOUR BLOG?

Have you ever visited one of your favorite blogs, and found it to be missing in action?  Some of the posts may be outdated by months, or even years with no mention of what may have happened.  Sadly, another really good blog that was active on a daily basis and super funny, has decided to close down his blog.   His decision was a personal choice, however, it didn't help when someone from another blog blasted him AND stole some of his content simultaneously.  YIKES!  He promises to be back after some "me" time, and I am looking forward to the next stage in his life.  So this is a Huge Hug to my buddy Rob!

I've been dreadfully behind with postings and commenting, but I've never really had the urge to stop doing this blogging thing.  It's fun to come up with new topics, and getting other viewpoints makes it even more interesting.

But I bet some of us have run into a few occasions where we come up empty or feel a little bit of burnout.  I'm sure we may have come in contact with some negativity that we could definitely live without.  But are these things enough to make you pull your hair out and simply throw in the towel?

On to our recipe:

CHOCO-SCOTCH CLUSTER
The name of this treat may fool you into thinking there's a little but of liquor as part of the ingredients, but really, it's short for butterscotch.  This was made way back in the 1940's in the Kellogg kitchen and is super easy.

INGREDIENTS
1 6 -ounce pkg semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 6 ounce package butterscotch morsels
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 cup Kellogg's Rice Krispies Cereal


DIRECTIONS
Melt chocolate morsels, butterscotch morsels, and peanut butter together into a heavy saucepan on very low heat, stirring constantly until well blended.  Remove from heat and add the Rice Krispies, stirring until well combined.

Drop by using a measuring tablespoon onto waxed paper or a pan that's been sprayed with oil or buttered. Let stand in a cool place until firm. Another alternative is to pour mixture into buttered or oiled square pan , cutting into squares when firm.

WHERE DO ALL THE PUMPKINS GO AFTER HALLOWEEN AND THANKSGIVING?

This is the time of year that most of us see pumpkins all over the place, sometimes in the hundreds.  I told myself that there is absolutely no way anyone can eat all of those dang pumpkins in pies, cakes or decorations.  I even saw a recipe for pumpkin oatmeal pancakes the other day. So what in the world happens to them once the holidays are over?  Well, it looks like some of them are used as feed for pigs, a few may be used as fertilizer, and some people actually throw them into the woods for other animals to chomp on as treats.  Weren't you just dying to know the answer to that question? (lol)

If you don't know someone who had breast cancer, it may be a little difficult to relate to the struggle, but according to the American Cancer Society, there is an expectation of 292,130 new cases in 2015 that has been reported.  Deaths from the disease has dropped 34% since 1990, and 3.1 million survivors are thankfully still alive today. 

The average of age when a woman is diagnosed with this disease is 61, but that does not mean younger women, or even men are immune.  Don't ignore getting a mammogram, and if possible, try to get one in 3-D.  There are many programs that offer assistance on a fee sliding scale for those with no funds or insurance.

October is when many focus on this disease, but it's around the other 11 months of the year as well.  Offer your support to someone in need, if you can.  Our smiles, our cooked meals, our blankets, our funds or our hugs can make all the difference to someone who has cancer.

THIS IS IT THURSDAY & CHOCOLATE PRETZEL TREATS

Let's put it out there, readers.  Hanging out with a kid who spits up on my freshly laundered outfit, having to change a dirty diaper that stinks to high heaven, and trying to figure out baby words is not my idea of a riveting day.  No reading can get done and designated kid programs take the place of my cooking shows. Despite my misgivings, I agreed to watch my one month old niece and 5 year old nephew for about 45 minutes the other day.  It was 44 minutes too long.

In that tortuous time, the baby spit up on me not once, not twice, but three times in three different places and had the audacity to smile about it.  The 5 year old was like a jumping bean all over the house surely causing me to lose about 3-4 pounds.  When he was still for about 2 minutes he chanted a song I had a hard time understanding, initially.  As he kept repeating it, I finally realized what he was singing, and this is a direct quote.  "Kill that b****h, Kill that b****h, Kill that b****h,".  Uh..I'm sure you get the picture.  Can I tell you that I wish what he was saying had remained like gibberish?  In the middle of being vomited on by the baby, I ran over and told him that I knew he wasn't saying what I thought he was, and he grinned. Where in the world had he heard something like that? No one gave me the memo to wear earplugs around young kids.  I then sternly told him he had better not EVER say anything like that again.  He seemed so surprised that I said anything, that he stopped smiling and I never heard that horrible phrase again. Dirty dress and all, I couldn't wait to tell their grandfather/grandmother, mother/father, uncles, aunts and anyone else who would listen, what had transpired before I ran out of there before anything worse happened.

As I drove to the bookstore in Cary, I was reminded once again of why no one should EVER ask me  to babysit, even if I'm bribed with books.  Even better, I was reminded of why I always say NO! This is it for real this time, blogosphere. (lol)

On to our recipe from allrecipes.com:

Chocolate Pretzel Treats

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) package small pretzel twists
• 1 (8 ounce) package milk chocolate candy kisses (such as Hershey's Kisses®), unwrapped

• 1 (1.69 ounce) package candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees F ( 80 degrees C).
2. Arrange pretzels on a baking sheet. Place a candy kiss on the center of each pretzel.
3. Warm pretzels in the preheated oven until candy kiss is shiny and slightly softened, 2 minutes.
4. Place a candy-coated chocolate piece atop the candy kiss on each pretzel; press down. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

• Tip
• Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.

SUPER BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES AND SOME STUFF

Before we get started, let's give a super shout out to my girl Kim, of http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/, who lovingly does her weekly meme every Sunday about news, reviews, books and other great info.  

Now on to the recipe:
This has to be one of the most moist and chewy cookies you'll ever eat.  Why?  Because this recipe uses super ripe bananas AND butter to get the job done right! You're gonna love these!


BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

If you care about all that nutritional stuff:

1 cookie equals 66 calories, 3 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 10 mg cholesterol, 51 mg sodium, 9 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.

Directions

1. In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, banana and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips.
2. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Should make about 3 dozen.Taste of Home Magazine

FOOD NEWS I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW

If you're a music fan, you've probably heard of Chris Brown.  If you didn't know that, he used to be Rihanna's boyfriend until the domestic violence incident we won't mention right now.  But did you know he owns 14 Burger Kings?

Jimmy Buffet owns several Krispy Kreme shops.

Kanye West owns 9 Fatburgers.

Peyton Manning owns 21 Papa John's shops.

Robert de Niro owns Locanda Verde in New York and Nobu (everywhere!)

Bon Jovi owns Soul Kitchen and his restaurant is the most unusual and amazing. There are no prices on the menu!  Ten dollars cover the cost of your 3 course meal, but if you pay more, it goes toward someone's else's tab.  Left your wallet at home?  Volunteer in some fashion and your meal is paid.  He believes that " all are welcome".

LOL!

Because of something a kid said to me a little while ago about old people using Facebook, and a few comments via this blog, I decided to restart my Twitter account which had been pretty much dormant since 2011! (lol)  Anna from  http://www.herdingcats-burningsoup.com/said it's totally different and boy is that the truth.  The discussions are nothing like on Facebook. What I've noticed is that a lot of near-naked ladies have been following me, lately. Uh...what's up with that, I ask you? (lol)  I think it's because even though this blog is listed, my e-mail says "toygoddess".  However, kudos to you ladies for daring to be you and posting sexy pics of yourselves. I'm just not ready to go past my cat pic stage at this time. (lol) Yes, I'm going there friends, for those who may have other thoughts.*heh*.  That name has no hidden meaning, and is solely based on my love and collection of action figures, Hot Wheels, Barbie's and Happy Meal Toys.   On the other end of the spectrum, I signed up for Skype and EVERY person who wants to connect with me is male. Hottie hubby laughed about it, because he knows me pretty well.  No go, fellas.    

How's your day going?

National Cheeseburger Day

This has to be the best day ever!  Let's celebrate the goodness of the cheeseburger all day long!

Get your groove on by grilling a few at home, eat out with friends, or enjoy your burger in solitary yumminess.

If you're  fan of McDonald's be sure to take advantage of this special deal for today only where burgers are just $ .69.  But don't stop there!  There are lots of specials going on all over the country! Check the web for more offers.

Gotta go!

TOO MUCH INFO & A TREAT WITH MANGO

Before I get started, be advised that if you're looking for inexpensive gas, get a Walmart gift card, then use it at their gas stations to get a few pennies off.  I used it in Coats, NC and grabbed a gas deal of just $1.99 per gallon! YAY!!! I didn't think I'd ever see those prices again in this lifetime.

On to this magnificently simple recipe:

NO-CHURN MANGO SORBET

INGREDIENTS
2 Ripe Mangoes, chopped
1/2 Sweetened Cream of Coconut
1/2 Cup Pineapple Juice
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
2 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup
1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Cup Unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Spread the mangoes in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.  Freeze until solid, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Place the frozen mango, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, lime juice maple syrup and salt into a food processor.  Pule until the mangoes are finely chopped.  continue to process until smooth, 6-8 minutes, scraping off the sides as necessary.

Transfer the sorbet to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 4 days.

Serve sprinkled with coconut, if desired.   

LOTTERY WINNER - NOT!
How would you like to buy a $2.00 scratch-off, then realize you were $20,000 richer?  Imagine Ardella Newman's surprise when she was told that the ticket she thought was a winner, was actually issued in error?  Apparently, winning numbers are always listed at the top.  In this instance her ticket had numbers at the bottom, indicating it had been loaded incorrectly and cut off.  Unbelievable, right? She's fighting this with the Virginia Lottery Board.

When I first heard about this, I was a little nervous, because I thought it was a mechanism for more Social Media negativity, BUT Mark Zuckerberg confirms for the first time today that a DISLIKE button is coming soon to Facebook.  The intent of the button is to express empathy, and won't be used for upvoting or not liking a specific post.

This is something that people have been asking about for years and it's coming very soon.

Anyone who knows me, notices that I carry books with me everywhere, and I'll always find a reason to read.  In addition, my home is filled with bookcases and a zillion books.  The other day, someone who has known me for about 8 or so years, commented, that perhaps I should get rid of a some of my books since most I'd already read.  I shook my ear, because surely, I didn't hear that statement very clearly, right?  I've collected books since I was 7 years old.  Some I lost and had to find all over again. Books are precious treasures. Some I may re-read, some I haven't read because they are on the TBR pile and a few are signed copies.  Uh...how about a BIG resounding "NO, I will NOT be getting rid of any of my books!"  Can I get an Amen from my reader friends in the blogosphere today? (lol)  Hugs...

SEXY SWEETS AND SUPER SATURDAY

Thank goodness for men who just get it.  A little while ago I stopped into a store to pick up something for a friend.  The cashier and part owner of the store was on the phone, and when he hung up he told me, "people are just crazy!"  I smiled, waiting for the punch line.  He bagged up the merchandise, then finally spilled the beans.  Yay!  A friend(the one he was on the phone with) of his lost his wife to cancer just last month, which is horrific in itself.  This friend wanted to know if  *Joe planned to attend his wedding later today.  Huh?  Didn't you tell me that your friend's wife died from cancer just last month, but there's now this impromptu wedding going on?  The man in the store told the man, he definitely would NOT be there and asked him how in the world he could get married that quickly. My friends and countrymen/women, I'm scratching my head and asking the same dang question. 

Remember Trisha Yearwood's  cookbook entitled Trisha's Table? Well, here is another good recipe to add to your list to try.  I love the combination of tart and sweet, so this is a really yummy treat!

By the way, there is a difference between a regular lime and a key lime. The key lime is more tart and can taste like a mix of orange and lime, they're smaller and a little more expensive but worth it if you can find them.

KIWI LIME PIE

INGREDIENTS
1 Box Vanilla Wafers, or if you don't feel like it, get a prepared pie crust
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Salted Melted Butter
2 14 Oz. Cans Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 Teaspoons Freshly Grated Lime Zest
1 Cup Lime Juice (12 Key Limes or 4 Large Regular Limes
8 Large Egg yolks at Room Temperature, lightly beaten
4-6 Kiwis, peeled and sliced thinly.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, then in a food processor, pulse the vanilla wafers into crumbs.  Add the sugar and melted butter and pulse until fully combined.  Press the mixture firmly into an ungreased 9 inch pie plate.  Skip this step if you take the super quick or (lazy-lol) way by using an already prepared pie plate.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed milk, lime zest, lime juice and egg yolks.  Pour the mixture into the crust and bake for 30 minutes.  The center will still juggle.

Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 30 minutes.  Top with kiwi slices.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

DID YOU KNOW?
If you're looking for a little extra cash for the holidays, now is the time to start job hunting.  Seasonal jobs are cropping up all over in places like Target, Dollar Tree, or Target.  If you'd like to work part time until the holidays are over in smaller locations or specialized areas, check out www.Flexjobs.com, and key in "Seasonal Work".

BOOK SWAG
Nope, haven't been able to get out to Barnes and Noble lately, but I did manage to snag Susan Mallery's latest, Thrill Me, which of course I'm thrilled about.  It's a story about bad boy Del Mitchell who was dumped 10 years ago by Maya Farlow.   At just 297 pages, this looks like a really good read and the reviews from other bloggers are positive.  Also grabbed Brad Meltzer's latest, The President's Shadow, A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley, The Girl Who Slept With God by Val Brelinski and A Bride Needs a Groom.  I think you already know that I still have a massive pile to get through once I get back home. (lol)

JUST ONE MORE THING
Do you hold a grudge?  Lately, I've been running into many who are holding on to things from the past, causing rifts in their relationships with family or some serious angry feelings with friends.  A few don't even remember how the fight started, or some arguments seem pretty small in the scheme of life.  Nonetheless, there are some hurt feelings across the board.  What about you?  Do you say what's on your mind and move on?  Are you sorry, but your friend is still irritated?  How do you resolve the matter?

WIN AN AIRSTREAM AND TRY AN OVERGROWN GARDEN TURKEY MELT

If you're a Canadian or US resident and over 18, get your travel on by entering the  the KOA What’s Behind the Yellow Sign Airstream Giveaway for the chance to win an Airstream 16′ Sport, and a $100 KOA Gift Card.

Enter this fun sweepstakes through October 31, 2016 at 11:59pm.

Website Entry Form | Facebook Entry Form 

One (1) Grand Prize: an Airstream 16′ Sport worth $44,383 and a $100 Gift Card!Sweeties Sweeps

OVERGROWN GARDEN TURKEY MELT

INGREDIENTS

3 Tbsp Mayonnaise

2 Tsp Rosemary

2 Gloves Garlic - Minced, or use the kind in a jar

2 Cups Fresh Spinach - Chopped

1 14-oz Can of artichoke hearts, drained, chopped and dried

2 8-Oz Rounds of Ciabatta Loaves, halved crosswise

6 Oz. Sliced Mozzarella Cheese

1 Medium Tomato, thinly sliced

4 Oz. (or more if you like-lol) Smoked Turkey

1.  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, then in a medium bowl, combine mayo, rosemary, and garlic.  Add spinach and artichokes, stirring to combines, then set aside.

2.   Remove bread from inside each half to create a 1 inch shell.  Lay each bread half on a baking sheet.  Line each piece with cheese.  Spoon the vegetable mixture onto each bottom bread shell.  Top with the tomato and turkey.  Of course, if you like, feel free to add some turkey, beef, veggie or pork bacon.  Everything tastes better with bacon!

3.  Bake 10 minutes, or until toasted and heated through.  Assemble the sandwiches, and cut in half.  Yummy meal!

Peter Benchely, the author who wrote the hit novel Jaws, ironically spent the last 10 years of his life preserving sharks.  

He felt guilty about the havoc and hysteria  he caused throughout the country for his book.

I

I've been watching Twinning on VH1 because I'm fascinated with twins.  In fact, as a kid, I knew 2 sets of girl twins and one set of really hot guy twins! (lol)  I was 15 and had an incredible crush on these very handsome twins and they never even noticed me.  At 18, they were intent on noticing older women who weren't tomboys.(lol)  They eventually ended up getting married to sisters. One set became very famous engineers, and the younger set I lost track of. They were all identical, but I often wondered if I'd play tricks on people if I had a twin.  What about you?