Carmel Apple Cream Tart

Carmel Apple Cream Tart
Originally uploaded by KS Girl

A Kraft inspired creation, it is from Kraft Fall 2008 Food & Family.
I made this last week, then made it again this week after deciding to make a few changes.

Peel, Core, and Cut up 3 different flavors of apples, and I would suggest at least one Granny Smith.
Add
1/4 C Sugar
2 T Flour
Cinnamon to taste
Stir up.

Roll out one pie shell, from the refrigerator case. I used Pillsbury, it came in a red box.

Lay it out flat on a cookie sheet, I prefer with parchment paper underneath.

Spread 4oz of Fat Free or Red Fat Cream Cheese

Top with half to apple mixture, then buy Squeeze bottle carmel, about 2 T.

Put the rest of the apples on top, and bring up the crust around the top, and add 1 T More of carmel.

Bake 450 for 20m, cover with tinfoil and bake for another 5.

Kraft Mini Meatloaf

Mini Meatloaf
Originally uploaded by KS Girl

I recently received my seasonal free Kraft Magazine in the mail, and this recipe was featured on the last page. I made a few adjustments but otherwise followed the idea of the recipe. The concept is easy and simple, it also keeps the portion size small without you having to think about it... or be tempted by that large loaf.

1 lb of lean ground beef
6 oz (1 box) of Stove Top Stuffing
1 C of water

form into balls and place in muffin pans, makes 12.
cook at 375 for 30min.

My version:
1 lb of lean ground beef, although if I do it again I will mix in pork or turkey.
8 oz of stuffing
1/2 C of Milk
1/2 C of water
2 t of Italian season
1 t of garlic
2 t of minced onion (dried for ease)

baked at 375 for 30 min then topped with "moms sauce"

My Mom's sauce
1/4 C Brown Sugar
1/2 C Ketch Up
1 T Mustard
1 T Worcestershire
1 t of Garlic Powder

Cover each ball with about 1 T of mix, and put back in oven for 5 m.

2 is a serving, enjoy.
Thanks KRAFT for the great and easy idea.

Weekly Menu

Weekly Menu
Originally uploaded by KS Girl

I believe in writing weekly menus, but lately as my husband said, "you've being doing it on the fly." So, tonight I sat down, read recipes, and wrote a menu. It leads to smarter buying at the grocery stores, healthier eating and saves me money. We also plan to eat leftovers for lunches and for dinner. If you never have tried it, or find it to overwhelming. You should give it a try. A few tips:
1. Set aside a night a week to write the menu. Plan for about an hour.
2. Organize your magazines, or cookbooks by using tabs -- that makes all your fav's easier to find.
3. Once you select your recipe write it down on the menu, and make a note on the menu about its location. For me I use abbreviations, like CL MAG JUN08 pg 10 = Cooking Light Magazine June 2008 page 10 or RR OCT07 THUR MENU = Rachel Ray Oct 2007, in the weekly menu booklet on Thursday.
4. Try to use some of the same ingredients all through the week.
5. If you have picky eaters, have them help you. Sit down with a list of options for them and have them decide.

Good Luck.

Applewood BBQ & Bistro

Applewood BBQ & Bistro
Originally uploaded by KS Girl

What a great little find in Southeast Shawnee County/Topeka, KS. The BBQ was served dry, with sauce on the side. I personally like this kind of BBQ, lets me flavor it as little or as much as I want. They had three different sauces, mild, hillbilly, and spicy. We did notice the difference between hillbilly and mild. Spicy was good, but not overly hot. It had some spice to it, but I wouldn't say it had much heat. Brian and I had split the platter, it came with pulled pork, brisket, 3 Pork ribs, beans, fries, and bread. The meat was all very good, the ribs were done perfectly and the meat fell right off the bone. The beans were different than your typical BBQ beans, there were several different variety's such as pinto, black, kidney, and with chunks of pork. Service was good to. They are still pretty new, the physical menu size was big, but when you got down to selection is was slim pick-ins. Which is fine, all I really wanted was BBQ. They had hamburgers, salads, and beer specials and some time we will go back for $.35 wings on Wednesday. I am not sure they have the name right, now that I think of it. It seems like it should be named Applewood BBQ & Bar. They had nightly beer specials, although no draft yet. I look forward to watching this place grow into there own. They have good food with a lot of potential.

If you read the comments below then you won't be surprised they closed.

Labor Day Breakfast: 10 Grain Pancakes and Turkey Sausage

Labor Day Breakfast: 10 Grain Pancakes and Turkey Sausage
Originally uploaded by KS Girl

10 Grain Pancakes all cooked up, and topped off with Cool Whip Lite, although I did use a little butter to spruce up the flavor.

Review: Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Pancake & Waffle Mix

I usually make pancakes from scratch, but this morning I was in the mood for easy and tasty. Whiles I am not a fan of pancake mixes, I have tried other products from Bob and found them tasty. I made the recipe variation and used milk instead of water, and they were a little too thin so I add some more mix and that fluffed them right up. So when it says to add liquid and mix it in that is what they mean. All worked out though. They were defiantly 10-Grain, they had that extra grain taste, and required a little more syrup than your normal pancakes. Other than that they tasted just as if I made them my self with all 10-grains. Would I use again, yes I have most of a bag left. It made the perfect batch for 2, which was nice. Would I buy it again, I believe if I am in a rush and want heathy and yummy pancakes I will.