Monday, February 28, 2011

M&M Squares


Recipe adapted from Razzle Dazzle Recipes

1/4 C. butter
1/3 C. packed brown sugar
1/2 C. chopped oatmeal
1 C. unbleached all-purpose flour
8 oz. low fat cream cheese, softened
1 t. vanilla
3/4 C. M&M's candies
1/4 C. granulated sugar
1 large egg

Beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and oatmeal, mix well. Reserve 1/2 cup crumb mixture; press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of greased 8 inch square pan. Bake at 350°F for 7 minutes.

Combine cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add egg, mix well.

Layer 1/2 cup candy over crust; top with cream cheese mixture. Combine remaining candy, chopped, and reserved crumb mixture; mix well. Sprinkle crumb mixture over cream cheese mixture. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.

Cool and cut in to 16 equal squares.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday Favorites

How to Pack Smart for a Trip - many tips I already do but good reminders anyway

A Beginners Guide to Keeping Chickens Part 1 and Part 2 - I am not going to be keeping chickens but have friends that want to and thought these blog entries were good

10 Quick Clutter Busters - again many tips I already do but good reminders and always good to cut clutter

Cheddar, Parmesan and Cracked Pepper Scones - If we didn't have a loaf of roasted garlic Italian to go with the chili I have in the crockpot I would be making these for sure! These look amazing. I have to make them soon.

DIY Bench Project - nice way to recycle some pieces off other pieces to make something new and useful.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Kitchen Essentials

This is a list of what I would call basic kitchen essentials. Of course depending on the size of your family you possibly could go bigger or smaller. This list does not include any kitchen appliances big or small.








* 2 quart saucepan with lid
* 8 quart stock pot
* 8 inch skillet
* 12 inch skillet with lid
* 4 to 6 quart dutch oven
* roasting pan with rack
* broiler pan
* teakettle







* 13x9 baking dish
* 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish
* 2 cookie/baking sheet
* pizza pan or stone
* muffin pan(s) (enough for 12)
* 1 or 2 9x5x3 loaf pan
* 2 8" or 9" round cake pans
* 1 or 2 9" or 10" inch pie pans
* rolling pin
* set of 3 graduated-size mixing bowls (glass or stainless steel)
* springform cake pan (optional splurge)








* 2 sets of nesting measuring cups
* 2 sets of measuring spoons
* pint or quart glass measuring cup
* 4 wooden spoons assorted sizes
* 2 large stirring spoons
* slotted spoon
* soup ladle
* rubber spatulas/scrapers
* 2 pancake turners
* potato/vegetable peeler
* whisk
* potato masher
* meat mallet
* long handled fork
* tongs
* ice cream scoop
* silicon pastry brush
* corkscrew
* bottle/can opener
* manual can opener
* small & large strainer
* colander
* vegetable steamer
* kitchen scissors
* grater/shredder
* funnel
* baster
* zester
* cutting boards - at least 2
* meat thermometer
* candy themometer
* wire cooling rack
* kitchen timer








* 1 or 2 casserole dishes
* serving bowls and platters - assorted sizes
* storage containers with lids in assorted sizes
* canisters
* clear glass custard dishes or ramekins
* freezer wrap, foil, plastic wrap and large and small plastic bags
* plastic pitchers (for juice or iced tea)
* teapot








* paring knife
* serrated knife
* chef's knife
* carving knife
* sharpening steel


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I will follow up this post on why I feel some of these are essentials with some photos and links to some favorite products.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Meatball Soup

"Beautiful soup, so rich and green.
Waiting in a hot tureen!
Who for such dainties would not stoop?
Soup of the evening, beautiful soup!"
~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

We had this soup a couple weeks ago. And from the first bite Master was raving how good it tasted. And I didn't add any extra seasonings. The tomatoes with the basil, garlic and oregano plus my homemade meatballs have Italian seasonings in it were the only seasoning for the soup. And they both created the most flavorful soup.


1 bag (16 oz) frozen cooked Italian meatballs, thawed or homemade meatballs
2 cups beef broth
1 3/4 cup water
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (19 oz) cannellini beans, drained
1 cup frozen carrots
1 cup frozen green beans
1 cup cooked pasta - before serving
Shredded Parmesan cheese - garnish

In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except pasta and cheese. Cover and cook on low heat setting 6 to 7 hours. The carrots and green beans can become mushy in a slow cooker so add after 4 hours or 4 1/2 hours instead. Add pasta just before serving.

Garnish individual servings with Parmesan cheese.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Metamorphosis

On a snowy day, over 2 years ago, I lost my job. It was a job I loved and prided over. I felt good with every paycheck I brought home and every good deed I did. It fulfilled me and gave me a source of confidence. On that day I was crushed.

The day after the loss was a turning point for myself and my Master. He decided that I would begin a new career, one that was not based on physical income, but of building his home and filling it with warmth, comfort and organization. I was to become his stay-at-home submissive. I admit that it was a lovely dream of mine to be his domestic slave, but nothing I ever entertained as every happening. He on the other had had it in the plans from the very beginning. It was not big deal for him to move that into place earlier than he planned.

It was overwhelming. Not only did I not think I was service-minded AT ALL, but that it would now become my everyday job. To say I struggled would be an understatement.

The first thing that changed is that I had a new higher standard of clean. It’s so much easier to say well I’ve been at work all day, vacuuming can wait till the weekend. Not so when you have nothing to your day but home care. I started reading up on the right way to clean, and how clean were things with the way I was doing it. Turns out... not very clean at all. I retaught myself to dust and clean and sanitize. I learned to notice messes before they got too big and to keep the dishes washed.

I pulled out a binder and started making a home care journal. I put everything in it, I organized my days down to the hour sometimes. I wrote how-tos on anything I needed to remember. Little did I know I was putting the cart before the horse. I had no idea of time management when it came to household duties. And the computer lured me into wasting hours of days that I could have been learning and perfecting my new job.

I slid into laziness. Then I’d pick up the binder again and give it another go. It was just too much too fast. So I started again. I thought maybe if I focused more on setting hours in the day to work I’d get more done. I used the kitchen timer to keep me on task. But I burned out fast. I almost gave up.

It put a huge strain on our relationship. I was failing but couldn’t understand why. I asked to go back to work; at least there I felt that I was contributing to the house. He didn’t see it that way. My job was to make him happy and he was happy with me right here at home all day. I pushed at my service. I tried to make sense of how I could be a service submissive and if it was compatible with my own vision of myself. He declined my pleas to find a job several more times.

And I started yet again. This time with routines. One for before bed and one for the morning. These worked amazingly well and I still do them today. The house was a bit more organized from that day on. I added a daily cleaning list with basic chores that had to be done every day. I started to see my home duties as a job.

And that was the turning point. Through my struggle, backsliding and lack of motivation I never saw what I was doing as my job. It was chores, it was housework and it was never good enough for me because I couldn’t see the monetary income from it. But then, I realized that there was a lot of intangible income I was providing. I kept to a budget, I saved money on food, gas, and homecare items. I started making my own cleaners, knitting and mending instead of purchasing. I learned to scratch cook a lot of food we’d waste our money on going out for.

We were happy, Master was thrilled with me being home and as I realized that I began to be happy. My routines still drive me everyday to get everything accomplished and it even leaves my afternoons free to write and work on my websites. I live a joyful life. It’s not always roses and sometimes I wish I had a larger household budget, but I make do with what I’m given. I’m pleased with the things I make and wonder why I would ever buy them again. We eat healthier, cheaper and made from scratch food. I clean with safer cleaners that have a smaller impact on the environment.

Best yet, I’ve embraced being of service to him in the home. I love my job and I’m glad he stuck it out with me through all the pushing against it. I’m living my dream and I never thought it would be reality or that I’d be happy with it. My job is building a happy, stress-free life in a hectic fast-paced world.

BIO: lunaKM is a stay-at-home full-time submissive in a D/s relationship. She has been writing about her personal submission since 2003 and is editor of Submissive Guide where self-help and submissive exploration are emphasized for novice and experienced submissive alike. You can contact her on FetLife or via email at subguide@gmail.com.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Sinful Torte



I have seen this recipe under many names but I call it sinful as it is oh so good.

First Layer: 1 cup unsifted flour, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup butter or margarine softened, 1 cup finely chopped walnuts (have used almonds too)

Mix together flour, sugar, butter and walnuts until crumbly. Press in the bottom of a greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes - until lightly brown. Cool.


Second Layer: 8 oz. package cream cheese - softened, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup cool whip

Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Fold the whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust.

Put the pan in the fridge while you prepare the third layer.


Third Layer: 1 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 tsp salt, 3 cup whole milk, 4 egg yolks, 3 tbls butter, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, 3 squares unsweetened chocolate - chopped

In a medium saucepan combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually stir in milk and chocolate. Cook over medium until thickened and bubbly. Stir constantly. Reduce heat, cook and stir two minutes. Remove from heat. Separate eggs. Beat yolks slightly in bowl. Stir 1 cup of the chocolate mix into the yolks. Return all to saucepan, bring to gentle boil, cook, stir 2 more minutes. Remove from heat - stir in butter and vanilla. Cool in fridge before gently spreading over second layer.


Forth Layer: After the third layer is cool, spread the rest of the whipped topping. Keep refrigerated until serving.

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Friday, February 11, 2011

Mid-Winter Treat

We're not used to cold and snow down here in Georgia, and this past week we had our second dousing of snow. Luckily, it didn't last long. Since I don't have a job where calling out because of snow is an option, when I came home I'd made a nice hot treat for everyone that is really simple.

After making a cup of standard hot cocoa, I'd add a small scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream. My favorite is Graeter's which is originally made in my hometown of Cincinnati, OH. It can be purchased now at Kroger Grocery Stores.

I've also tried this with Graeter's Black Cherry Chip and dark chocolate hot cocoa. It is sooooo good!!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Book Review: Homemade

This is a great reference book for the home. I found some things I loved and some things I didn't. But mostly I think it is a good resource to have around the house.

So the things I didn't like first:

* I didn't like that half the book was food recipes. I would have liked more of the cleaners, health remedies, bath products, and such. But I will say that I am sure that many could and would use the food section just as much as the rest of the book.

* It uses the same phrase of it will the ingredients cost pennies on SO MANY recipes. We get it. It could have been used in the intro and that is IT.

* Not sure all the recipes really do cost pennies. I am not sure all the recipes would work.


Things I liked:

* I like how things are laid out in the book - very easy to follow and find thing. Each section has a list to reference on what is to come in the following pages.

* When using these recipes - you know exactly what is in each product. And they often are less expensive then the commercial brand.

* Such a huge variety of recipes - ketchup, chicken noodle soup, jam, face cream, household cleaners, insect repellent, sore throat lozenges, pet food, craft paste - just so many things you can use around the house.

* There are "helpful hints" and highlighted tips posted through out the book.

Overall I am sure this is a book that many could use and would reference often. I checked it out from the library but will be adding it to my wish list.

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