EASY HOMEMADE CINNAMON COOKIES

There's something so tempting about these cookies...

they look so pretty and so easy to make with

common ingredients...

....I think what it is .... is that it looks like a treat from the past...

maybe a recipe my mom would have liked to make...or my grandma...

or my aunt Agnes on the farm...

I have to try these soon !

I showed my husband the picture of them and he thought

they looked great....since he will have to eat most of them

I figure that response is a go!

...you can get the recipe here...

http://simplyjuliana.com/2014/01/09/easy-homemade-cinnamon-cookies/
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oof-da Boys with Sunglasses

My little oof-da boy with sunglasses

made his first appearance a couple days ago

for "National Take Your Pants for a Walk Day"

...he's looking so cool in his sunglasses !

I have gotten some emails asking if I can make changeable paperdoll type of clothing

for these....I am working on that and will post them as soon

as I get them done.  Thanks to all that have emailed in regards to my little oof-das!

Black Hair Sunglasses

Blonde Hair Sunglasses

Dark Brown Hair Sunglasses

Light Brown Hair Sunglasses

Red Hair Sunglasses

NATIONAL TAKE YOUR PANTS FOR A WALK DAY

Today is...

NATIONAL TAKE YOUR PANTS FOR A WALK DAY

....where did some of these fun holidays get started ?

I love this one...

I read the purpose of it is to get people out and walking...

how the pants got involved in it I'm not sure...

but...it's a cute holiday anyway!

APPLE CINNAMON BREAD PUDDING

I like looking around for different kinds of recipes

for bread pudding...

not for me...

but to make for my husband as he loves it...

I usually make it for him and don't touch it myself but

this recipes I just came across looks so delicious I

think I will have to try a little of it...

I like the idea of the icing drizzled on top...

it kind of makes it more of a dessert than just bread sitting in a pan!

...also I like that it calls for Texas Toast instead of regular

white bread...I have a problem with soggy bread and I think

with this it would have more texture....

....I actually can't wait to try this one soon!

...look how great this looks!

...recipe is here...

http://www.farmgirlgourmet.com/2013/03/apple-cinnamon-bread-pudding.html
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NATIONAL VANILLA ICE CREAM DAY

Oh my!

Happy Vanilla Ice Cream Day!

I suggest we all do our part to celebrate this holiday...

I mean...after all...it does come just once a year!

oof-da Kids by KhristelleGraphics

GROUND BEEF STEW (with a secret)

I found myself searching around for ground beef soups and stews today...

not sure why since I usually think of those for a cold winter day..

and although it's cooler here today than it was yesterday with 104 degree heat index...

I still have a hunger for this food !

...maybe my body is preparing for winter which will be back before we know it...

...but anyway...I came across this fantastic looking ground beef stew recipe..

and what I found interesting about this one is that it calls for one or two cans

of  Spicy Hot V-8 Juice...

now since I love hot and spicy foods I just have to try this one...

I can imagine the great flavor this would add to a stew...

other than that it's pretty common ingredients in this that I think

 most of us have on hand all the time...

...enjoy....!

....it looks so good !

...you can get the recipe here...

http://www.southernplate.com/2009/09/ground-beef-stew-with-a-secret.html

DONUT HOLE CAKE POPS

I have thought about doing this but have not gotten around to it yet...

what an easy way to make cake pops...

this would go much faster....

and you could decorate them so many fun ways...

I am going to try this soon...probably using melted bark for the coating...

....you can find the instructions here....

http://buttercream-bakehouse.com/2014/04/donut-hole-cake-pops.html

SPAGHETTI HOTDISH

okay all...

here's the question...

is it 'casserole' or 'hotdish' ?

...we grew up calling it hotdish...but now....

they seem to all be called casseroles....

anybody know the difference...is there a difference...

and if not...

why did the title for it change...huh huh huh ????

...if anyone knows a difference please tell us...we would love to hear it...

...here in my house we still call it hotdish most of the time...

it's kind of like 'pizza pie' changing to just 'pizza'

over the years...

or...'Coca Cola' becoming just 'Coke'

and hey...we don't eat 'licorice sticks' anymore...

now we just eat 'licorice'.....

...well anyway....here I am posting one of my

hotdish casseroles...

....it's been a while since I made this one...but I wanted to get supper

made early today and this is one thing I can do that with and just

put it in the oven 45 minutes before we eat....

...this is a 'simple' kind of recipe..or...should I say 'plain' recipe...

'old-fashioned'....'inexpensive'....or just 'easy' recipe...

...whatever you call it...take it from me...it is delicious!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 box spaghetti (you can use any kind of pasta but I like it with spaghetti) 7 oz.

2 cans tomato soup (I use only Campbell's but any brand should work fine).

Chopped onion (to taste)

Cheese of choice (I used a combination of American slices and Shredded Cheddar).

Pepperoni

Instructions:

1.  Cook and brown ground beef.

2.  Break spaghetti into about 4 pieces and cook as directed and drain.

3.  Mix spaghetti and ground beef in kettle.

4. Add the 2 cans of tomato soup and approx. 3/4 soup can of water.

5. Mix well and heat until soup is bubbly.

6. Pour into a buttered casserole dish.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove and cover top with shredded Cheddar. Then break the American Cheese in strips and place on top of the Cheddar. Put back in oven for 15 minutes to melt the cheeses.

After removing from oven, add the pepperoni on top and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until pepperoni is hot.

You can add the pickles on top of the pepperoni or serve on the side...either way is good!

Serve and enjoy!

OOF-DA GIRLS WITH GLASSES

...and I present you with the little

oof-da girls 

wearing their glasses...

aren't they cute ? (brag, brag)!

I love how their little dresses turned out...

...click the link to print...

Black Hair Girl with Glasses

Blonde Hair Girl with Glasses

Dark Brown Hair Girl with Glasses

Light Brown Hair Girl with Glasses

Red Hair Girl with Glasses

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More oof-da Kids coming up soon!

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OOF-DA KIDS PRINTING INFO

Just a note about printing my oof-da Kids....

I have noticed that when I click on the link the first view is

very pixely....but when I click the print button on there I 

get a perfectly clear image...I have test printed many of these

and they are just fine...

I'm not sure why this pixely thing happens here in google...

or if it's just something on my computer...

just wanted to let everyone know they should be good and clear

when printed!

OOF-DA BOYS WITH GLASSES

Every time I go out and about now I see little children wearing glasses...

you didn't used to see that so much but I think people now-a-days

are getting their kid's eyes checked more often and that is a good thing...

When we were kids the rule in our house was that we didn't get

them checked until the school nurse said we needed to...

there were a couple of years I remember having lots of trouble seeing

what the teacher was writing on the blackboard in school, then one day

they checked our eyesight with one of those charts where you cover

up one eye and read the letters and the teacher handed me a note

telling my parents they needed to get mine checked....by a week

later I had glasses and could see everything and all was well!

....now I have grandchildren and nieces and nephews that wear

glasses....they are so cute and it's a very common thing...

so of course when I was creating my oof-da kids I knew I had to do

a set of them wearing glasses! I am sharing the boys today and will

add girls with glasses soon....

....maybe there are children out there that will enjoy having these

since they wear glasses themselves...I hope they makes a child smile today!

...here are the links to print these little guys all dressed up in their suits!

Black Hair Glasses

Blonde Hair Glasses

Dark Brown Hair Glasses

Light Brown Hair Glasses

Red Hair Glasses

HAM & CHEESE PIZZA SNACKS

This is not a new recipe...but...

something about these that just looks so good...

I think it's because they look so nice and toasty...

and they look fast and easy to make...

I think I would love them for lunch...

I bet they would also be good with pepperoni on them...

the shredded Colby is kind of a little change from the usual

kind of cheese on something like this...

and it says one of these is just 7 carbohydrates! Perfect!

...get the recipe here...

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/ham---cheese-pizza-snacks

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OOF-DA GIRLS CHEERLEADERS

Most little girls dream of being a cheerleader...

as do the oof-da girls!

....they love cheering for that oof-da basketball team and

the oof-da football team (coming up soon)...

Cheerleading is a sport too...

it takes talent...discipline..dedication...and skill...

....they are awesome!

...enjoy these cute little cheerleaders and print as many as you want....

Black Hair Cheerleader

Blonde Hair Cheerleader

Dark Brown Hair Cheerleader

Light Brown Hair Cheerleader

Red Hair Cheerleader

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oof-da boys with glasses coming up next!
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OOF-DA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM

These little oof-da boys like to team up and

play a little basketball...

they are sporting their cute uniforms and happy faces....

except for our little redhead who is seriously thinking of how

to improve on his shots!

rah rah rah! go oof-das!!

Black Hair Basketball

Blonde Hair Basketball

Dark Brown Hair Basketball

Light Brown Hair Basketball

Red Hair Basketball

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oof-da Girls Cheerleaders Coming Up Next!

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OOF-DA GIRLS

Here are the oof-da girls wearing regular clothing...

I picture them running outside to play in their neighborhood

with their little bibs on...

I designed these outfits after a cute little pair

of bib overalls that my daughter wore when she was

six years old...

it was one of my favorites of her clothing...so cute!

I hope you are enjoying these and I have many more to come yet...

...thanks to all who have sent such complimentary emails....

it makes this even more fun!

Black Hair oof-da girl

Blonde Hair oof-da girl

Dark Brown Hair oof-da girl

Light Brown Hair oof-da girl

Red Hair oof-da girl

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Coming next: oof-da Boys Basketball Team!

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CIRCUS ANIMAL COOKIE POPCORN

In my opinion...and I do stress the

my opinion part...

it's okay to give yourselves and your kids a

sweet little treat now and then...

I never have believed it will destroy a person's health

to do that...but I do now believe it has to be done in

'moderation'....the magic word!

Now that I realize the importance of carbohydrates in addition

to sugar in controlling my glucose I do agree that when you

stray from the healthy food that the sweets, breads, potatoes etc.

need to be done in 'moderation'....

but...being summer time and all how about a little bit of

this pretty popcorn for a fun surprise for your kids...

it would be cute to put in bags to send home from birthday parties too don't you think???

...when it comes to good food I am all for suggestions on how

to eat it and present it....ha!

Have fun with this...

I bet the kids would like to help make it too!

....all of the instructions are here...

she has other great popcorn treats too so you might

want to look around while you are there....

http://www.smartschoolhouse.com/kids-craft/sweet-popcorn

THE OOF-DA KIDS HAVE ARRIVED!

This past winter after having two arm surgeries, and being limited on what I could do

for some time while the incisions healed and the pain subsided, of course I turned to

my computer since my other arm was still usable to handle a mouse...

I sat down one day and opened one of my graphics programs and started creating 'this

and thats' and these little kid characters came out of it...

the more I worked with them, the more I was enjoying seeing what I could create...

trying to make them each individuals with a personality of their own...

and since kids have different colors of hair I decided these should too...

Then...as I went along with them I was showing them to my husband...
each time I finished one I would tell him to come and see...
so after they were done to the point that I wanted them...
I sat down in the living room and told him ....
'you need to help me come up with a name for my little computer kids'
.....and I said...
'...it has to be something different and cute....'
well...he looked at me and said
"how about oof-da Kids!

I reacted with "yess! it's perfect"!
so...waaa laaa! ...they became my oof-da Kids!

...now this is a special name to me because my grandmother, who passed away when I was
only seven years old used the expression "oof-da" a lot....especially when she would lift
us up to sit us on her lap...
...in fact....
she used it so much that my brother actually thought his name
was 'o o f i e' !

...so, as you can see, every time I hear the word oof-da (my choice of many spellings for it)
it brings back memories of my grandma....

....if you are interested in where the word oof-da came from
here is an article on it...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uff_da

....now, before I explain more how I created these, I will introduce you to 

each one of them with a head shot so you can see close up the hair colors I used

and also the face expressions which make up the different personalities...
.....just click for a larger view...

....as we go along here I plan to create more with different kinds of expressions.....

...I have full body ones in many different outfits and themes

and will share the printables (all free) for those next...

I hope you all enjoy these little ones!

by KhristelleGraphics

....and...

....printable versions of the oof-da Kids coming very soon....

byKhristelleGraphics

...as to my creation of these little cuties...
I made the bodies from scratch in my graphics program...
I also designed most of the clothing...I did use a little help from an older version
of a program called Scrapbook Factory...in which they have paperdoll clothing
and items and allow you to alter and edit them any way you like...
I got some of my face expression ideas from that program also...
it was great having it to help out...
I created the hair myself after studying some wigs online to see how
to highlight the different colors...I felt like a beautician!

As I said above, these are all free for you to print, as often as you
would like....I know how it is to come across something on a blog that you
really like only to find out that you have to send money to have it...
that is not what my blog is about....nothing on here is sold for money....
including graphics that I create myself....

....so...as for my disclaimer on my oof-da Kids:

1. Feel free to print as often as you wish.

2. You may post them on your own blog but I ask that you do not post the actual printables.

    Please link your guests back here to mine as I would like to know I am credited for

    creating these.
3. My creations are not to be sold, but for your personal use only.

That's it!
Have fun....
Enjoy....

...and if you use my oof-da Kids it would be great fun to hear from you telling us
in what ways you are using them....it's easy to leave a comment on my blog...
you can also email me using the tab above called 'contact me'!

My oof-da Kids are sized for printing on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.
I suggest using card stock.
(you can make smaller prints by sizing it in your printer software)
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IDEAS FOR OOF-DA KIDS
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oof-da Kids can be used in many different ways....
little kids love them as a little paper doll to carry around with them...
and parents: 
if their little oof-da kid wears out or gets all torn...simply come back here and
print them a brand new one!
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Oof-da Kids make cute bookmarks!
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How about gluing or taping a few oof-da Kids onto popsicle sticks for a little puppet show...
or stick them into a cupcake or a cake....
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You can print several oof-das and hang together for a mobile!
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How about printing one or more out and slipping it into a greeting card
or letter for an extra little surprise!
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How about putting one into your child's lunch bag to surprise him/her!
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You can punch a little hole at the top and use as a gift tag on a package...
you can also make the string or ribbon a little longer and hang them on doorknobs...
or on kitchen cabinet handles...dresser handles....fun fun!
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The ideas for these little ones are endless...
these are just a few suggestions...
if you have any other fun ideas we would love to hear them...!
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THE OOF-DA BOYS

I will start with posting the oof-da Boys...

you can print by clicking on the link at the bottom of the post...

I call these the regular boys because their clothing is everyday type...

many more kinds are on the way soon...

...here is a picture of all of the 'regular boys' together...

each link is to print single copies of them...

Black Hair oof-da boy

Blonde Hair oof-da boy

Dark Brown Hair oof-da boy

Light Brown Hair oof-da boy

Red Hair oof-da boy

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Regular Girl oof-Da Kids coming up tomorrow!

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BISQUICK POTATO PANCAKES

I hope everyone celebrating Independence Day
yesterday had a great time...we sure did!

I was looking for an interesting recipe to use up
some Bisquick that I have on hand and I came across
this one...
these look so good...
and I like that they use frozen hash browns instead of mashed potatoes...
I think they would make a great side for any kind of meal...

...the recipe is here...it looks pretty easy and uses
ingredients that most of us would have on hand...

Bisquick Potato Pancakes

EASY DEVILED EGGS

Have I ever said that I love deviled eggs??

Most likely I have...

and did you know that they are a food that goes back as far

as ancient Rome? Interesting....

here is all kinds of info on them...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviled_egg

I'm also sure that I have said I like simple cooking...

you know...those dishes that get done fast and that you

can prepare early in the day and get all of the 

pots and pans etc. that you use to make them cleaned up early

 so you can relax and enjoy the food

at supper time...this is one of those kind...

this is my recipe...people I have served them to including my

husband love them...

(and thanks to my husband for taking this nice photo for me)

...this is one of those recipes that you can do anyway you

prefer them, according to your personal taste...no set amounts

on the ingredients...it's also easy to add any extras that sound good to you...

I have made these numerous times without the bacon bits, celery and onion...

I have cooked for lots of people who prefer NO ONION !!....

these eggs are delicious that way too....

(they are also great with a little chopped pepperoni in the yoke!).

You will need:

Hard boiled eggs (nice and cold).

Hellman's Mayonnaise (to taste according to how many eggs you are making).

Finely chopped celery (again your choice how much you put on them).

Finely chopped onion (optional).

Bacon bits (either the bottled kind or crumbled fresh fried bacon...I use the real ones in a bottle).

1. Hard boil eggs however you prefer to do them. I still do them the old-fashioned way instead of how they

   recommend now where you take them off the burner and let them cook in the hot water.

2. After cold, remove shells, cut in half and put the yokes in a bowl.

3.  Mash yolks and mix with Mayonnaise. I like to use a good amount to make the filling nice and creamy.

4.  Fill up eggs with yolk mixture.

5.  Sprinkle top with chopped celery, onion & bacon bits. (I go pretty light with the bacon so the taste isn't 

    too over-powering).

That's it...put in a pretty bowl or plate, tightly cover with plastic wrap and place back in refrigerator

until time to serve. Enjoy!

WATERMELON STICKS

Now this is a clever idea....

I wish I had thought of doing this back in my

daycare years...I would have given the kids watermelon

more often...

...when we were kids I only remember having

watermelon once a year and that was on

the 4th of July...

....we would get really excited when my parents

came home with that big green watermelon and we

could hardly wait to eat it...but for me...

it was one of those things that I wanted so bad and it

looked so good but at the first bite each year I

realized that it was not a favorite food of mine...

I know lots of people love it, including my husband....

I can eat it...just isn't my first choice on a tray...

..this would be a great way to serve it at a picnic though...

Although this picture shows how to do it....

here is where you can find directions...

Watermelon Sticks