High Five for Friday

1. I had some delicious fresh apples which found their way into a cake and bread. The recipes I used were great and I will be using them again. You can find them here and here.

2. Bought some fun new fabric that is going to be made into something for ME! 

3. Back in June I showed you my new patio.  I wrote a review on Target's website for the Solar Bubble String Lights. The directions weren't quite accurate and I commented to help others through the struggles I was having.  Well, that little review I wrote apparently entered me into the Target Product Review Sweepstakes. I had no idea of this until I WON! Yes, I won a $500 gift card to Target! (& I tested the card out and it is legit!)

4.  It is the last day of August, which in my book basically means the last day of Summer. I will be taking down my Summer decor including these blocks and putting up FALL DECORATIONS!!!!!

5. Every year my hometown has a 48 hour softball marathon. The tournament profit goes directly into the ball association fund and keeps costs as low as possible for participating children the next season. It is one of my favorite events of the year. The tournament and I share a special bond...we have both been around for 26 years. Some years it is hot as hell, other years freezing, maybe rainy, usually foggy in the mornings, but one thing it always is is FUN!

Have a fabulous 3 day weekend, but link up with FMGD first!!

  

Apple Bread

Apple Bread

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

• 3 cups apples - peeled, cored, and chopped

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 2 cups white sugar

• 3 eggs, beaten

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 
  

• Directions:
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Prepare 2 loaf pans with cooking spray.
• 
  
• Mix flour, baking soda, salt, walnuts, and apples in a large bowl. Whisk oil, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon together in a small bowl; add to flour mixture and mix until just moistened. Evenly divide mixture between prepared loaf pans.
• 
  
• Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 90 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Recipe is from Allrecipes and can be found here.

Apple Pear Cake

I had a sack full of fresh apples just waiting to be made into something delicious.  I looked through my recipe books and found this recipe. It is from the Taste of Home Winning Recipes cookbook.  The cake is extremely moist and dense and is like a apple spice cake.

Apple Pear Cake

2 cups  shredded tart apples
2 cups shredded peeled pears
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
1 cup raisins 
1 cup chopped pecans
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Combine dry ingredients, stir into the fruit mixture.

Pour into a greased 9x13 in baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 60-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 TBS milk

1/2 tsp vanilla soy milk

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and butter until smooth. Beat in the milk and vanilla; frost cake. Store in refrigerator.

Look for another apple recipe tomorrow!

Mini-State Fair

The last family day of the summer was supposed to be spent in the pool with a few cold beverages.  Instead it rained all day. Don't get me wrong Kansas REALLY needed the rain. So instead of bitching we moved the party in the garage watched the NASCAR and still enjoyed some beverages.  

Chef Daddio made a state fair menu consisting of fried everything- fish, fries, onion rings, macaroni & cheese, and even cookies. 

Hayden and Birkley played in the rain.

Rowan and Birkley shared "kisses".

Circus Brian entertained Birkley.

Matt & Dominic were probably talking about engines, tires, jeeps or something along those lines.

The caged monkeys played well together and then tried to escape!

Hayden (poser on left) started breaking out some old roller blades and scooters. The Coleman's couldn't pass on an opportunity to create their own signature poses and show off their moves!

High Five for Friday

1. Thanks to DVR I'm still watching the Olympics!
2. Two paint projects completed at my house this week! The kitchen and spare room got fixed up a bit. (more on that some other day)
3. My friend Amber and I went and got pedicures this week. I hadn't gotten once since the beginning of summer. So nice to treat yourself everyone once in awhile.
4. Started playing Song Pop this week and can't stop even though I'm only average at the game.
5. It's Friday and I get to wear jeans. Some days/weeks that's a big deal!


How lame? No pictures. Maybe next week.

Recipe: Walnut-Grape Chicken Salad

This is one of those recipes that when I first saw it I thought there would be no way I would like.
It's low in calories, high in protein, and call for olive oil mayo. Psshhh! It's gonna be gross.
{Insert open mind}
I made this in a cooking class and got to try it and loved it. It is now in my recipe box and can be added to yours.










Walnut-Grape Chicken Salad
serves 4-6
2 cups diced cooked smart chicken
1/2-1/2 cups 2% Greek yogurt
1-2 TBS olive oil mayo
1 cup seedless red grapes, sliced
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 rib celery, diced
1/2 cup walnut pieces
salt & pepper to taste
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
1 TBS agave nectar or honey

Combine all ingredients. Stir in more agave/honey or yogurt/mayo if needed. Serve the chicken salad mixture on lettuce leaves, croissants, bread or whatever fits your fancy.

Nutrition: 140 calories, 8 grams fat, 10 grams carbs, 2 g fiber, 19 g protein

High Five for Friday

-one-
Best thing of the week is no doubt going to Schlitterbahn Waterpark with my sisters and niece Aubrey.  Dominic even showed up after a rough day of work. We had so much fun in the sun and cannot wait to go again next year. Aubrey informed us that we are going every summer from here on out. She had an absolute blast and was full smiles and laughs!


-two-
U.S.A. Need I say more?

-three-
Downloaded some new tunes. A little Love and Theft, Carly Rae Jepsen & Jake Owen.

-four-
I may have verbally committed to running a 5K. WTF was I thinking??? I don't run.

-five-
I made this shirt for myself and a friend. Unless you see us in a mirror you can read the shirt. Think of an ambulance....same concept.

Linked up with From My Grey Desk

Best Fruit Salad

Simple.

Easy.

And maybe similar to something you already make.

It sure is tasty!

1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks, juice reserved
2 apples
1 (21 oz) can peach pie filling
2 bananas
3 kiwis
1 pint strawberries
1-2 cups red grapes

1. In a small bowl toss the chopped apples in reserved pineapple juice. Allow to soak 5-10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl combine the peach pie filling, pineapple chunks, kiwis, strawberries and grapes.
3. Remove apples from juice and add apples to step large fruit bowl mixture.
4. Add chopped bananas to pineapple juice and allow to soak 5-10 minutes.
5. Add bananas and juice to fruit mixture.
6. Chill and serve.