Oregano Chicken

This is always one of my go-to recipes when I an in a pinch because I always have the ingredients on hand.  It is super quick and easy and my family loves it.  Hope you do too!

I am re-posting this recipe and linking to Eat At Home's Ingredient Spotlight: Soy Sauce linky party today.  This is one of my new favorite blogs...check it out!


Oregano Chicken
Prep: 5 minutes Cook: 40 minutes

¼ cup butter or margarine, melted
¼ cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 large clove garlic, crushed (I usually use a small amount of minced garlic in a jar since I always have it on hand)
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
Hot cooked rice

Combine first 6 ingredients; stir well. Place chicken in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish. Pour butter mixture over chicken. Cover and bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes.
Serve chicken and sauce over rice.

Cookie Mush

Cookie Mush...Just the name makes me smile and brings back memories :)

I spent many years as a teenager and young adult volunteering for a children's oncology camp called Camp CARE.  Each summer we'd take the children to a camp in Lake Lure...we used another camp's facility.  This other camp, Camp Lurecrest, was run by the sweetest couple, The Garr's.  Mrs. Garr ran the kitchen and had for over 40 years.  At some point she had introduced a dessert to her campers that was made simply of cookies and whipped topping.  One camper referred to it as Cookie Mush and the name stuck. 

By the time Camp CARE came along and began to use their place for a week each summer this dessert had a reputation.  It was an instant hit with our campers that first year.  In time it became such a tradition with us that it was a big deal to try to figure out which night it would be served and the anticipation grew as the week went on. 

My family on our visit to Camp CARE's 25th Anniversary (July 2010)

This summer marked the 25th anniversary of Camp CARE and my family and I visited for the day along with some other former staff members.  They rolled out the red carpet for us and treated us to a wonderful dinner.  And sure enough, the campers and staff started pounding on the tables, the sound building to a roar.  And then the dining hall servers arrived with the big trays of Cookie Mush!  Our visit back to Camp CARE was complete. 

So, here it is...one of my sentimental favorites...Cookie Mush!

Ingredients:
Chocolate chip cookies, any brand although Mrs. Garr always said to use the cheap store brand, you'll need about 70-75 cookies
Milk
Cool Whip, thawed

Quickly dip the cookies in a bowl of milk (do not soak the cookies) and arrange on the bottom of an ungreased 9x12 pan.  Cover with a thick layer of whipped topping. 

Add a second layer of dipped cookies and a second layer of whipped topping.  Add a third layer of each. 

Chill dessert in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.  Cut into squares and serve.  This will keep several days in the refrigerator but mine never does...there's never any left!!

(this particular time my daughter made a smaller batch in an 8x8 dish)

You can also make this with Oreos, dipped in milk, for a middle layer. 

I'm joining in this week's Ingredient Spotlight at Eat At Home.

Friday Favorites

Here are some fall goodies I found recently...

Centsational Girl has THE best pumpkins on her front porch...

The Moody Fashionista shared a cute Ghost Leaves Kids Craft...

Check out the CUTE Halloween Candy Jar on A Pumpkin and A Princess...

mmmm...Apple Cider Cake from Eat at Home...

When you have a few minutes check out these links...great ideas from some talented ladies.  There is SO much out there in the world of blogging and I love finding new things and sharing it with you.

Candy Corn Spider

I love to decorate for fall but not necessarily Halloween.  I have a few Halloween-specific things around the house but not many.  This one is my favorite! 

Use a large glass container (the one I am using is the Hemingway Hurricane from Willow House).

Fill the container with candy corn. 

As it nears the top of the container, place a glass votive holder in the candy.  Nestle it in the candy corn to stay in place.

Take 10 black licorice pieces to make the spider.  Put them in the votive holder with 4 on each side to make the spider legs.  Use the other 2 to make the body by bending and tucking them into the votive holder. 

Add some more candy corn to hide more of the votive holder.

(as info, I used 2 of the value size bags of Candy Corn from Target)


I've joined in on these linky parties this week Weekend Bloggy Reading with Amanda at Serenity Now and Flaunt It Friday at Chic On A ShowString Budget and I'm Lovin' It at Tidy Mom.  Oh and I just joined in on Making the World Cuter.  Please take a few minutes and visit these...you'll find LOTS of neat things!!

New Directions...

When I first started this blog I did it to share coupon info and deals I found with my friends.  Initially that was all it was and that was fine.  Then I started to learn about the world of blogging...and I liked it!  Little by little I started to find other blogs I love and started to leave comments and participate in blog parties and my followers and subscribers were becoming more and more people I had never met before.  I started to struggle with the direction I wanted to go in and how much time I could commit to this little hobby. 

Well, I think I have finally decided that I cannot focus on sharing all the deals.  There are SO many good deal bloggers out there (and I follow tons of them!).  I can't give the proper amount of time needed to share all the latest deals and freebies and that's ok.  I am happy to let you know where to go find that info through these other ladies. 

In addition to loving my coupons and deals, I also love everything about my home and making it the best for my family.  I love decorating and cooking and some crafty stuff.  I love to find and share little things I think are helpful.  And I love all things thrifty...from grocery store deals to awesome Goodwill finds. 

I have been working on how I want this blog to move forward and I am anxious to begin sharing it in the next few weeks.  I hope you will stick around and join in : )

Fall Mantel

It's been such a busy few weeks around here and the weather has continued in the 90's until just the last couple of days so it has taken me a little longer than I planned to get my fall stuff out and start decorating.  I just love this time of year...the colors, textures, scents, everything about the warmth of it all. 

I finished my fall mantle and wanted to share it with you.  I love pulling out my storage bin and seeing things I've had packed away since last year, especially my metal pumpkins : ) 

This is how my fireplace area will look through Thanksgiving weekend.  I know it is not perfect and some designer will tell me I don't have the right proportions or something but that's ok.  It is perfect to me because it has stuff that is special to my family, like the scarecrow that my mother-in-law made (she passed away several years ago so it is special for my kids to see).

 

These wooden pumpkins were also made by my mother-in-law.  I added some dry beans to my glass container and a fall-colored candle to my pillar. 

I have a basket of seasonal books on the hearth...various fall and Halloween books to enjoy with the kids. 

So, this is the view from my couch.  I truly believe it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful, which is what one of my favorite blogs is all about.  It is called The Nesting Place.  The Nester has a wonderful Fall Mantel party going on today and I've joined in.  Be sure to check it out and see what she and lots of others are doing to bring a touch of fall into their homes.  You'll be inspired for sure!  Plus, Hooked on Houses is hosting a Fall Decorating party today as well and I've joined in there too.  Enjoy all the great ideas and peeks into other homes!

I also just linked this to Spotlight Yourself Wednesday at Santa's Gift Shoppe...yet another new blog I've discovered :)

                                                  I've also linked to Flaunt It Friday

                              And I've joined in on Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading.

Happy Fall Y'all

Oh how I love the fall season! The cooler temperatures, the beautiful warm colors, the textures, the yummy comfort foods, and did I mention the cooler temperatures? Here in North Carolina we have yet to cool down so it doesn't fee like fall yet but I know it is coming.

Enjoy this 1-Minute Escape from Southern Living and catch a glimpse of God's beauty this season...

1-Minute Escape