We were just talking about how much we love Arby’s jamocha shake at work this week. Now through December 31, 2011 with this printable coupon you can get one for free!

I think it was about five years ago that my sister and I started our annual holiday baking extravaganza.

At the time I had just moved home and Hillary thought we needed to institute some holiday traditions. That first couple of  years we got all in the spirit and made actual cut-out Christmas cookies and traditional stuff.

Then we decided that actual cut-out cookies took way too long to make and decorate. Plus, items with chocolate taste way better than Christmas cookies any day:)

So now we focus on things that taste good and are easy to make. Each year we try to make something new and sometimes just put a holiday twist on a favorite recipe.

We take the day off and spend all day making our creations and then package them up for our family, friends and neighbors and then head out and deliver them. Friday was this years baking day and I think we both just recovered. It is exhausting! Over the next few days I’ll share a couple of our most popular recipes.

This delightful mixture pictured, known as white trash, became a regular in our lineup a couple of years ago when we got the recipe from Hillary’s mother-in-law. As soon as someone taste it they immediately ask for the recipe, which is why I’m posting this one first. I’ve already been asked for the recipe a handful of times in the past two days!

If you can’t tell from the photos, it makes a bunch.

If you’re here after seeing the $10 Tuesday TV segment as part of Good Day Columbus on Fox 28, welcome! Have a look around. You can subscribe via email and/or follow along via Facebook too.

I really like McDonald’s snack wraps. I always get the crispy chicken with ranch.

One day it hit me that I could probably make them at home. This summer I assembled what I thought was in them, and well, we’ve been eating them regularly ever since.

While I prefer the crispy chicken wrap you could easily make the grilled chicken wrap by using chicken tenderloins instead of chicken strips.

Recipe: Chicken Snack Wraps

Ingredients

• 6 tortillas $1.00
• 1/2 head of lettuce $.50
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese $.99
• 6-8 breaded chicken strips $3.25
• 1 cup ranch dressing $.76

Serve with apples ($1.00) and chips ($2.50) for a complete meal. Total cost $10.00

Instructions

1. Bake chicken strips as directed
2. Place chicken in the middle of one tortilla
3. Sprinkle lettuce and cheese over the chicken strip
4. Then drizzle ranch over it
5. Fold the bottom end up and and then roll up to create wrap.

Total cooking time is about 20 minutes.

These mushrooms were the biggest hit of the shower. I made a double batch and they went quick! I received several request for the recipe.

I have to admit, I had never made stuffed mushrooms before. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily they were to make. My husband took the stems out for me, which apparently is the most difficult part of this super easy recipe.

I’ll definitely be making these again!

I hosted my little sister’s baby shower at my house last weekend. With more than 100 people on the guest list, I knew I had to keep it simple and casual.

Since I was going to have so many people in a small space in the afternoon I chose a menu of fun finger foods.

At the last minute I got the idea to create a table scape using two ivory table clothes I had. I just put some random boxes and objects underneath it to create varying heights.  All of my serving dishes were ivory, so it matched, but it probably would have been better if the table clothes were an actual color so the dishes would have popped more.

My sister-in-law made a super cute diaper cake, which made the perfect centerpiece.

Many of the food items that were served I made for the first time. Not a good idea! Some were hits, some were misses and one just needed modified I believe.

Instead of people bringing food items, my mom, sister-in-law and then my sisters mother-in-law and sister-in-law came to my house the day before to just do a marathon food making session. They may not agree, but that seemed to work well. Six of us, oops, I mean seven, (my husband helped too) working together made things go much faster and stress free, for the most part. Plus all the mess was confined to one persons kitchen.

Over the next week I’ll be sharing the recipes used and how to create some of details you see. I’m not crafty, so I think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to create these things.

Today I had a cooking segment on WLIO in Lima. I’ve been doing cooking segments on TV for almost five years now and have it down to a science.

I have a special bag and cooler I use. I have a neatly organized system for taking just what I need, but still having everything I need.

Today I was sharing mini meatloafs and nacho dip. I went ahead and made the nacho dip and carefully put it in my backseat, because I thought it would be safest there.

Well, I ran into construction that eventually stopped traffic. Paranoid that I was going to be late for the live TV segment I turned off the main road and then made a sharp turn into a parking lot. That’s when I heard the ding of the lid of the crockpot and the strong smell of nacho dip permeate through my vehicle.

Yep, it spilled over….in my backseat.

The good news is I invested in fitted floor mats, so the damage ended up being minimal. The bad news is, I lost most of the dip I was supposed to show in the segment.

I got to the station (with not a second to spare) just in time to salvage the segment and even my dip.

The lesson to be learned here: no matter how secure you think the crockpot is, double check it and secure it even more when traveling.

I have been looking for a good no bake cookie recipe for a long time. I found this no-oven-required easiest-recipe-ever on One more Moore via Pinehurst.

The evening I came across the recipe, I decided to whip it up while making supper. My husband who, hasn’t missed a meal, eats almost anything, and loves cookies says, “why are you making them? I don’t like no-bake cookies. Can’t you just make chocolate chip.”

When I was finished preparing them, he couldn’t resist and tried one. He was shocked at how good they were. Then he ate another and another….

He asked for some cookies tonight and the only thing I had all the ingredients for was these no-bakes. They’re great, because you make the entire batch using just one pan and it takes less than 10 minutes to put together.

*****Excuse me, I have to stop my husband*****

Ok, I’m back. He was eating them one right after another as they were laying on the island to set up.  I had to put a stop to it. He’s not happy. He said, “don’t you understand that when I eat your food that is a compliment to you.”

I’m not accepting compliments right now, I’m protecting the chocolate.

*Update-the husband just asked how long it look me to make the cookies. Then he proceeds to say that I need to show him how to make them. Um, well, if he read my blog then he would know how. Maybe after this post, he’ll become a follower….

If you’re here after seeing the $10 Tuesday TV segment as part of Good Day Columbus on Fox 28, welcome! Have a look around. You can subscribe via email and/or follow along via Facebook too.

October is National Pork Month and I love pork. No, I really… really….really love pork. Just ask my husband. We eat it like everyday if not every other day. Maybe its because its a great source of protein. Or because its so versatile. Or because I go nuts when I find pork loin for $1.99 lb at the store. It might be because pork is like a clean slate. It takes on whatever flavor you add to it.

Or, it could be because I grew up on a hog farm and I’m really proud of the product my family produces. I personally know the dedication that goes in to producing the safe, wholesome and delicious product I enjoy.

Since 2009 Ohio’s hog farmers have donated more than 450,000 meals of pork to food banks across Ohio. I’m proud say that my family took part in this effort last year by donating one of their hogs to the local food bank.

Now you too can get involved.

Ohio’s hog farmers have partnered with Farm Credit Services to donate meals to the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks. You can get involved and increase the amount donated virtually. On Facebook select that your attending the event virtually (you don’t have to go anywhere, just click attending. Could it be any easier?). For each person that virtually attends Ohio’s hog farmers and Farm Credit Services will donate pork equivalent to a meal.

Since its pork month make sure you celebrate by eating pork everyday. Ok, so maybe not EVERY day, but 4 or 5 times a week. Here are some of my favorite pork recipes you have to try: Cranberry Onion Pork Loin, Pork Sliders, Sausage Nacho Dip, Pork Chop Foil Packet, Mushroom Pork Chop Stuffing Bake.

And remember: any meal that you make with hamburger, you can make with ground pork instead.

Tips:

• Using a spoon to pop the meatloafs out of the cups and place on a cooler rack to help them cool quicker.
• Once cool put them in labeled zip lock bags in meal size portions and freeze.
• To reheat either put in the microwave or in the oven at 350 for about 15-20 minutes.

I’m a Jason Aldean fan, so I wanted to pass along this awesome opportunity to get one of his songs FREE! Right now iHeartRadio is offering Jason Aldean’s song “Country Boy’s World” FREE via itunes.  All you have to do is click the download for free icon and it will automatically download into your itunes.

That’s a fantastic freebie for a Monday!