Going Bonkers....and Giveaway Winner Announced!!!

This time of year my job becomes much more flexible, the lack of corn growing in the area assists with this. Since this is the case I find myself taking more of my vacation days this time of year. On Monday I was off so I decided to take Charlot to Going Bonkers in Columbia. No I didn't pull her out of the school for this her entire school Pre-K-8 is on a four day week. I am learning that these four day weeks are great! Anyway back to the whole Bonkers thing. Charlot has been asking me for quite sometime to take her there. And basically I have been avoiding it. Yup again mom of the year. Basically I knew I didn't want to go on a weekend for fear of going bonkers myself and there just hadn't been a good day so, Monday was the day. Man alive she was happy. And so was I when we got there and I realized there was no one else there.

That is until I realized that she would not be going by herself through the whole thing. So me being me, I saddled up and jumped in for a fun filled morning of climbing and swinging and holy hips squeezing through small areas. It was a ball though, and the following morning I sure felt it. I was so glad that by the end she wanting to go down the slides by herself and being slightly more independent.

This slide was her favorite, she mush have went down it twenty-five times then told me as we were leaving that she needed to come back even if just for that slide.

I share this picture because I want all of you to grasp the magnitude of the play thingy I was trapped in. Oh my word help me! 

Now on the best part the GIVEAWAY!!! I had over 100 entries woohoo! I'd really like to get that up a but I'll take what I can get! And the Winner of their choice of a personalized pan or a food processor is...

C. Kincade 

If the winner would contact me at their earliest convenience to clam your prize!!! Thank you to all the entries and thank you for continuing to read my blog!!!

Wacky Brain Wednesday...plus a Giveaway!!!

1. I am currently obsessed with this picture of my kiddo...I know she is mine I should be but there is something about this one. I think it is the sheer joy you can see in her face and eyes. I love when a someones eyes say so much about them!

2. I can't really seem to get into the whole Christmas shopping spirit this year...like at all. If you are one of my family members and end up with the most random present in history please accept my apology. 

3. My sisters-in-law or is it sister-in-laws? Anyway both of the Hubs sister and I plus my MIL and Charlot are going to do one of the paint a canvas things on Saturday. I am a bit nervous, number one because I will have Charlot with me, will I actually get to paint? Number two my creative skills sometimes shut off and will not function! Have any of you guys done this? What should I be warned of?

4. My lips are crazy chapped this time of year...well pretty much from October through March, then add July because of so much sun. Anyway I have found that Chap Stick has a cake batter flavored stick and man alive do I love it! It is quickly becoming a need. 

5. I am overwhelmed by the fact that people actually read my blog, ha! Frankly because I a lot nutty. But seriously though it is such a crazy feeling that people really want to see what we have going on in our lives! This leads me into my big giveaway announcement!!! I have hit 50,000 pageviews!!! Say WHAT!!! It doesn't seem real or possible,to me but blogger is telling me so! To say thank you to all you faithful readers I am giving away the choice of a personalized 9x13 pan or a lovely food processor to one lucky reader! 

You have until Friday December 11 to enter. Up to Four entries per person! Comment on the blog post, comment on the Facebook post, Share the Facebook post and if you have liked the Married with Pigs Facebook page you already have one entry and if you haven't you can get one by going and liking it! Please tell me what you love, hate, want to see more of, need to see less of on this lovely little blog! 

Happy Wednesday thanks for sticking with me through that randomness!

And the Winner is...Thin Mint Cheesecake

Ok guys the voices of my loyal readers have been heard in a very very very close margin the Thin Mint Cheesecake won! HOORAY!!! Since it was so close the Egg Rolls will be the next posted recipe (I’m guessing Monday)!

Oh and the really important part!!! The winner of the giveaway goes to Ms. Lacy Jones!!! Congrats Lacy! I will be contacting you about your prize!

Now back to this cake! YUM! I made this cake for a customer, who wanted something festive for a St. Patrick’s meeting. I felt this would be perfect. Who doesn’t love thin mint cookies??? Then mix them with rich creamy cheesecake what could be better! Now let me be straight with you this cake is rich and not helpful on the thighs but man oh man is it worth it!

Let’s makes this baby! Well not really ok that was too much hum ok I’ll just stop. But if you are wanting to make a baby your hubby might appreciate it again too much again I’ll stop. Let’s just make this delish cake!

Thin Mint Cheesecake

Crust

1 box of thin mint cookies (I used the Great Value kind)

2 TBSP Butter Melted

Crush all but four cookies into fine pieces. Drizzle in melted butter. Mix the crumbs and butter until you have a wet sand consistency. Press mixture into the bottom and part way up the sides.

Filling

1 ½ lbs cream cheese (full fat)

1 1/3 cup Sugar

5 Large Eggs

16 oz Sour Cream (full fat)

¼ Cup Flour

2 teaspoons Vanilla

½ bag Andes Mint Pieces (I buy these a Walmart)

It is very important that all these ingredients are at room temperature; this will help make a smooth and silky final product.  In a stand mixer beat your cream cheese with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy gradually adding in the sugar. You need to keep your stand mixer on medium to low through the entire mixing process. Add eggs one at a time making sure each one fully incorporates before adding the next. Add flour and vanilla. The last thing you should add is the sour cream and mint pieces, stir until combined. Pour mixture on to crust.

Oven should be pre-heated to 325 degrees. Place a small pan of water on the lowest shelf in the oven. Before placing spring form pan in the oven wrap the bottom with aluminum foil. Place pan on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. When baking is complete, turn the oven off and prop open the oven door for at least 1 addition hour. After this hour take cake out and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 24 hours. 

Toppings

¼ cup Chocolate Chips

4 Thin Mint Cookies

½ bag Andes Mint Pieces

Don’t try top cake until after the 24 chilling period. Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds at a time in your microwave. Stir and repeat until chips are fully melted. Spoon melted chocolate into a zip-top bag and snip the corner. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top in a crisscross pattern. Then arrange cookies in a sort of star pattern on the top and sprinkle mint pieces in-between. Chill again before serving to allow chocolate to set. Then DIG IN!

A Small Hiatus and a GIVEAWAY...

I just really like this picture that's why its is first today!

Well hello blog world I know I have been absent the past few days. I actually had people check in on me because I hadn’t blogged, how very sweet. Well that is it I have been very sick, like no sickness I would wish on ANYONE! But I am on the path to living again and wanted to a minimum say hello! Oh and I might as well do a giveaway while I am here! I have several new recipes that I have made recently, that I planned on sharing this week but my head and tummy couldn’t get together to write the posts! With that I am going to let you guys choose! The recipe with the most votes I will post tomorrow!

Now on to the good stuff, the PRIZES! I will draw one person’s name all entries must be received by noon tomorrow! Winners will have a choice of $20 worth of packages at Emily Sophia’s Easter Special (check it out here) or a $20 Shutterfly gift card. You can cast your votes buy commenting on the blog post, or either FB posts, so up to three votes each vote will get you an entry!

Here are the recipes to choose from!

Baked Egg Rolls

Pepperoni Pizza Lasagna Rolls

Thin Mint Cheesecake

Again all votes must be in by noon tomorrow! I will post the winning recipe and the giveaway winner tomorrow! Good Luck!

Éclair Dessert

Today for you a super easy dessert that is perfect for you to take to all the carry in dinners that will be coming up over the next few months. A few simple ingredients and into the fridge and you have dessert ready. I am not sure I would wait for a carry in dinner to make this I would just go ahead and do it. I have to say I was a little skeptical of the dessert at first but decided to give it a try; oh I am glad I did. The graham crackers soften slightly in between the pudding layers and then the thick chocolate layer on top will have you coming back for more. I think I may go have another piece right now. 

I am already thinking of the variations I can do with this. Like cheesecake flavored pudding, oh or slicing bananas up to put in between the layers, or oh maybe even strawberries, or both! YUM. The hubs would not be real happy with me about all those ideas, he says once I make something good I need not to mess with it, but hey what can I say! I can’t help myself! I sure hope you give this recipe a try! Plus this is a really kiddo in the kitchen friendly recipe to make, Charlot had a ball helping me. 

I took this to work for a luncheon, so I broke out my fancy new pan, isn't it just the cutest! I am thinking of doing a giveaway with these? What do you guys think?

Éclair Dessert

Ingredients

1 Box Graham Crackers

2 Boxes Instant Vanilla Pudding (3.5 oz)

3 ¼ Cups Milk (divided)

1 Carton Cool Whip

1 cup Sugar

1/3 Cup Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder

1 stick Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

Directions

 Mix pudding packages with 3 cups milk, allow setting up a bit, then folding in cool whip, set aside. In a 9x13 cake pan take one package of graham crackers and line the bottom. Pour ½ of the pudding mixture over the top. Layer another sleeve of graham crackers over the pudding, top with remaining pudding. Use the final sleeve of graham crackers to layer over the pudding. Set this aside. In a sauce pan over medium heat bring ¼ cup milk, sugar, and cocoa powder to a boil. Stirring constantly allow boiling for 1 minute. Remove from heat to cool for one minute then stir in butter and vanilla. Pour over the final layer of graham crackers. Refrigerate overnight! ENJOY!

Berry and Black Pepper Glazed Pork Chops...And Winners Announced!!!

So I haven’t had a ton of time to do much cooking over the past few weeks between the fair and northern Iowa work trip. Thus this weekend the kitchen was calling me!!! Saturday morning Charlot and I headed out to the grocery store for a large stock up trip! During the trip I found some lovely boneless pork chops. But this recipe it begins a week earlier at the…you guessed it…the fair.


See a week ago Saturday the hubs and I took Charlot to the fair to actually you know see the fair, not just the inside of the hog barn. One of our first stops was the Ag. Building, home of the biggest pumpkin contest! This building also houses many Ag based companies selling different products. Well the hubs tells me that Charlot and I can walk around while he stops to talk to some guy about something for the farm. I kind of blanked out due to the smell of candied almonds. Oh I forgot to mention this building also houses many vendors selling food products and giving samples. This is amazing for my love of grazing. As Charlot and I are wondering, a nice young man asks me if I would like to try some of their granola. Well of course.

The next thing he does changes the game! He gives me a little cup of granola and has squirted some nice looking jam on the top of this little sample. I am a bit spectacle at first, but then I tried it and man oh man it was delicious! I couldn’t get past how good the jam was, it was perfect for me full of berries and smooth, no big chunks of berries, PERFECT!

I was sold; I will take a gallon of that very jam! Oh it only comes in pints; well I’ll just take one then! I didn’t even know what it was called or what fruits it had in it they just wrapped it up and I paid the bill. Then when I got home I had to have some more of the greatness that is when I discovered it was a lovely blend of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. The jam is from, or should I say was from my jar is empty, The Nutty Berry Farms check them out. Great on toast, waffles, biscuits, salad dressings, and glazes for pork.

Well that was a long story to get to a recipe. But that was some seriously good jam. I cooked these pork chops over the weekend and found the flavors amazing! You could use just about any berry jam you prefer.

Berry Black Pepper Glazed Pork Chops

4 ½ thick boneless pork chops

½ cup jam

1 tsp black pepper

2-4 tbsp EVOO (you want enough to thin out the jam could be more could be less)

Mix the jam, black pepper and EVOO together adding your desired amount of EVOO for consistency. Reserve a few tablespoons to use as topping when serving. Smear the glaze mixture on to the pork chops and allow them to marinate for about an hour prior to cooking. Place pork chops on a hot stove top grill (outdoor one is fine as well), grill for three to four minutes per side glazing the chops the entire time. Serve hot and with reserved glazed.

Ok so now we are to the important stuff the winners!!! Thank you so much to all who entered!!! I hope to be able to continue doing these giveaways, and I will as long as you guys keep liking and sharing my work! I love all of these products I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!! Thank you again for reading about my crazy life!

First Place- Jackie Clements- you will receive an 8 cup Food Processor from Hamilton Beach

Second Place- Cindy Lamberson- you will receive a Set of Three Trudeau Mixing Bowls

Third Place- Telpha Heuman- you will receive a Set of Norpor Cut-n-Flex Cutting Boards

Friday Fast Five...Giveaway

1. This may quite possibly be my favorite picture from the entire fair. She looks so proud of her ribbon. The ladies who do the photography in the hog barn at our fair are amazing. They are great with kids and pigs alike!

2. I have noticed that we have very few pictures of the three of us together. I mean we have lots of the Hubs and Charlot, some with Charlot and I, and tons of just Charlot. But not so many of the three of us together. I don’t want my kid to grow up thinking we were never together. So this is my attempt to take more pictures of all of us together! Oh why thank you I am amazing at taking selfies, HA!

3. This may be the saddest picture from the fair. This was just shear seconds before my child realized we in fact were not taking Miss Minnie home with us that she had been bought and was being taken to a new home. This was just seconds before she ripped my heart out by asking “why does Minnie have to get a new home.” And this was just seconds before the Hubs said “because selling pigs at the fair is what we do.” Lastly seconds before Charlot said, “Ok I’ll just pick another one out at home.” By the way I was still in the corner crying while my kid was suddenly over it.

4. The last several days I have been in WAYYYY northern Iowa for meetings. Though the drive nearly killed me 7 hours, the climate was amazing. Considering it was the hottest week of the summer in Missouri and it was in the mid 70’s there. These are a few of the pictures from my trip, my co-worker may kill me for posting her picture. Plus we went to a Sioux Falls S.D. Canaries Minor League baseball game, it was a ton of fun. I had never been to a minor league game, I am feeling I will need to go check out the KC T-bones after having this experience.

5. LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!!! BIG, HUGE,MAJOR, Thank you to all my readers… this week I reached a milestone!!! My wee little blog here reached 25,000 page views. That seems so crazy to me, I kind of thought only my parents read this thing! So in celebration of this I am having a…you guessed it…a GIVEAWAY!!!

Here’s the deal I want you to help me spread the word about this little project of mine. You have the opportunity to gain four entries! One by commenting on this post, two by liking my new Facebook page for the blog link Here , three by commenting on the Facebook post that links to this post, and four sharing the Facebook post. Please tell me in your comments what you love about the blog and what you want to see more of!!!

Oh you want to know what you are going to win!!!! I am going to be giving away a few of my favorite kitchen gadgets three to be exact, the first will be a food processor, my absolute favorite kitchen utensil. The other two are still being determined!

So get all your entering done by Monday at noon! Winners will be announced Monday afternoon!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos… Giveaway winners announced!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and suggestions yesterday for the giveaway! I was excited to see that people actually like what I have going on here!

Winners and Gifts Are

Julie Monnig- Lovely Fun Necklace and Bracelet from Groopdealz
Lindsey Tyre-Pampering Kit (including nail polish, hand cream, a fun file, and cuticle oil)
Diana Venable- Kitchen Gadget
Jane Vogl-Shutterfly Gift Card
Tonya Bagnell- Snack Pack (inculding Pirates Booty, and some other faves of our family)

Congrats to each of you!!! I will be in contact soon about the delivery of your items!
The overwhelming suggestion was more recipes and more Charlot (she provided enough material last night for a whole week of blogs!). So today I am going with a quick and easy mom on the go recipe. This is one of those things that you throw in the crockpot early morning and whether you are gone 4-5 hours or eleven like I was the other day it is still going to be delicious!

This recipe makes a large amount, several meals for our family. The meat is great to use in other ways as well quesadillas, enchiladas, taco salad. I find variety is the best way to keep meals interesting in our home. Which isn’t always easy but if I can make one thing that is used in multiple applications it is a homerun in my book!

In the recipe you will see I use boneless skinless chicken thighs just to change it up a bit. Feel free to use breast meat if you prefer.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos

Meat

9 boneless skinless chicken thighs (I normally just use the big pack from the fresh meat case)
1 packet of Ranch Seasoning

1 packet of Taco Seasoning

1 cup of Chicken Broth/Stock



Toppings

Diced tomatoes

Shredded lettuce (I used romaine because that’s what was in the fridge)

Shredded Cheddar Cheese (Pepper jack would be awesome)

4-6 pieces of bacon cooked to crisp and diced

Ranch Dressing

Taco Shells
Put all ingredients in your slow cooker, turn on low allow to cook all day. When you get home take two forks and shred the meat!

After you have shredded the meat prepare your toppings and heat your shells in the oven. Assemble the tacos with meat on bottom, then cheese (it melts a bit that way), tomatoes, lettuce, ranch and sprinkle the bacon on top. Or assemble how you want just ENJOY!

Happy Wednesday!!! And thanks again for reading; it makes this whole thing a bunch more fun!

Anniversary…and GIVEAWAY!!!

Today I am doing my first ever giveaway, hooray!!! I love giveaways, I really never win but I still love the excitement and chance at winning.

You may be thinking what is the world is she doing this for. Well on Sunday this little old blog celebrated its 5th Anniversary. That’s right 5 years and 15000 pages views later here we are. I am so glad that people actually enjoy my rambling and recipes. If you would like to see how far this little blog has come click Here to check out some of my first posts.

All the pictures in today’s post are some of my favorites over the years of the blog.

Today’s giveaways will consist of five prizes ranging from:

Shutterfly Gift Cards

Jewerly

Pampering Packs

Snack Packs

Fun Kitchen Gadgets

Please note none of this was sponsored by any of the companies I just happen to really like their products! They have no clue who in the world I am.

To Enter:

It is super easy to enter.

All you need to do is either comment on this post on the blog or on my share of this post on my Facebook page. You will get double entries if you comment on both the blog post and the FB post!!!

Your comment needs to tell me “What you want to see more of from this blog!” Recipes, Charlot, Pigs, you name it I’ll try to add it!

All individuals making comments will be entered in the drawing and FIVE winners will be randomly selected!

I will compile all entries at noon tomorrow!

Oh I pray people actually comment or I may just have to keep all this fabulous stuff for myself.