Hey everyone! I'm back with another post...but without my camera cable. How annoying is that? I have tons of great pictures to download and can't! Hopefully I'll remember where I put it soon so I can show off my birthday present that just arrived today (and only a week late! *grins at the sender*). It's super fabulous and awesome and I can't wait to show you! Plus, I have new kitty pictures and new pictures of the kids and just tons of new stuff! C'mon cable, come out of hiding!

But, until I can show y'all some pictures, I'm going to talk about the swish and swipe. What's that you're probably asking...but hang on, I'm going to tell you right now. The swish and swipe is something that I do every morning in my bathroom after my shower. After I shower and get dressed, I take my damp towel and swipe it across the bathroom counter, edge of the tub and the toilet...yes, the toilet. Then, I take the toilet bowl brush and swish it around inside of the toilet. What does all of this do? Well, it keeps my bathroom looking clean until Saturday's when I do a proper cleaning. So, even if the rest of my house is a disaster, my bathroom is always company (and emergency illness!) ready! And, it only takes all of about 30 seconds.

What works for all of you? Do you have any secret tips? Leave me a comment here and make sure you head over to We Are That Family to sign the Mr Linky there!

Well, this is late and I don't have my pretty picture! I store all of those images on a separate drive and of course, I don't have it downstairs with me. Ahh well. I did tackle something today, though! I drove over to Hastings and visited the Secretary of State's Office. While there, I applied for my enhanced driver's license and switched the address on my van registration. I also stopped into the kids' school and dropped off Ben's glasses because he left them here on their nightstand. A quick stop off at the grocery store, a couple of hours of kgb work and I'd say I had a fairly productive day. :)

It's Part 2! I promised it to you and here it is!

Smoky Apple Butter Ribs-
(prep: 10min cook: 10hr + 5min)

3 pounds pork boneless country-style ribs
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 medium onion, sliced
1/2 cup Apple Butter (see Part 1!)
2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp liquid smoke
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1. Sprinkle ribs with salt and pepper. Place in 3.5-4 quart slow cooker. Cover with onion slices.
2. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over ribs and onions.
3. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8-10 hours.
4. Remove ribs to warm platter; keep warm. Strain juices. Pour juices from slow cooker into 1 quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 5 minutes or until sauce has slightly thickened. Serve sauce with ribs. (Makes 4 servings.)

Happy Monday, all! Yes, that's right, it's Monday again which means time for my menu! I never did get here on either Thursday or Friday last week. That's because...Surprise!...I found out on Wednesday night that the kids didn't have school on Friday and that I needed to pick them up a day early. Then, the boys and I spent Friday having a family fun day here at the house. I am happy to report that "slavedriver" Ben, who checks the house progress every 2 weeks when he gets here, declared "Mom, you're making big progress! I'm proud of you!"

So, last week, I did do a bit of cooking out of the Slow Cooker meals cookbook. I really need to start remembering to halve or more those recipes! I end up eating a few days of leftovers instead of enjoying a new recipe. I have to say that the chicken and dumplings was just as tasty as I remembered. Everyone loved the taco casserole on Saturday night and I can't wait to make it again.

This week, I'm sticking to the same cookbook and maybe mixing in a few other things! I may have company coming for the weekend, so I need to plan for that as well. This week's cookbook is still the Betty Crocker new Slow Cooker meals cookbook and here are my yummy choices!

Monday- Smoky Apple Butter Ribs (pg 56-57)
Tuesday- Leftovers
Wednesday- Chicken Rotini Casserole (pg 63)
Thursday- Leftovers
Friday- Cheesy Ravioli Casserole (pg 23)
Saturday- Out/Leftovers/Beef Stroganoff (pg 68)
Sunday- Cowboy Stew (pg 67)

And that's my menu! I'll be posting Part 2 of that rib recipe in just a few minutes, so make sure that you check out both Parts 1 and 2. I have them cooking in my crockpot right now and it smells delicious!

Surprise! I had a couple of requests for some crock pot recipes, so I thought I would surprise you with Part 1 of a 2 part recipe post. Part 1 is for the yummmmy apple butter that goes on the Smoky Apple Butter Ribs (dinner tomorrow night!). Enjoy!

Apple Butter -
(prep: 30 minutes cook:10hr +2hr cool: 2hr)

12 medium granny smith or other cooking apples, peeled and cut into fourths
1.5 cups packed brown sugar
.5 cup apple juice
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
.5 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Mix all ingredients in a 5-6 quart slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8-10 hours or until apples are very tender.
3. Mash apples with potato masher or large fork.
4. Cook uncovered on low heat setting 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is very thick. Cool about 2 hours.
5. Spoon apple butter into container. Cover and store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks.
(Makes 4 cups of apple butter)

Good morning! Oops, Good afternoon and Happy Monday! Yes, that's right, it's Monday again which means time for my menu! Now, I do have to apologize for not posting here on Friday. It was just a bad day and I just never got here. Shame on me, but that's how it goes sometimes.

So, last week, I managed to get some cooking done out of the Heart Association cookbook and I have to say that the recipes, though tasty, were a bit time consuming. I'm sure that I'll use them again but only on nights when I have plenty of time to do some cooking and probably some people to do cooking for.

This week, I'm switching cookbooks! I pulled out one of my favorite cookbooks ever and I'm treating myself to a week (hopefully) of crockpot meals. I do have family coming for the weekend, so it will be a great easy way to enjoy them and not spend tons of time slaving away in the kitchen! This week's cookbook is the Betty Crocker new Slow Cooker meals cookbook and here are my yummy choices!

Monday- Winging it..too late to do cookbook.
Tuesday- Home Style Chicken and Dumplings (pg 60)
Wednesday- Chicken Rotini Casserole (pg 63)
Thursday- Leftovers
Friday- Family Favorite Chili (pg 19)
Saturday- Taco Casserole (pg 54)
Sunday- Smoky Apple Butter Ribs (pg 56-57)

And that's my menu! Don't be surprised if you see this cookbook again. It is filled with soooo many delicious recipes.