Meatloaf Fiesta

I have never been a fan of meatloaf and my kids would not touch it if I paid them! Then I found this recipe. It changed the way my family thinks about meatloaf. It is super moist and super flavorful and an added bonus for me, it is super, super easy! It has a zesty, southwest flavor added by the salsa which is also what keeps it moist. Try it with different variations of salsa until you find the right one for your family. My family prefers Pace, extra mild. My Father prefers Hot La Victoria and my Aunt, enjoys it with fruity, homemade mango salsa. Every family has their own flavor, give it a try and find yours.

1 lbs. ground beef
1 egg
1 Tbsp Mustard
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Cup Salsa
1 1/2 to 2 Cups crushed Saltine Crackers, Crushed Corn Chips, Broken bread or Oatmeal

Mix all ingredients lightly, just until crackers, chips, bread or oatmeal is moistened. Place in loaf pan and cover lightly with more Salsa if desired. Bake at 350 for 30 -45 minutes, until meat is done or center temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Summertime Sun Tea

This is a recipe I have had around since I was a small child. I remember seeing the pitchers sitting on the porch, sparkling in the sun. My Grandma would sweeten it to perfection and after a few hours in the fridge, it was a delightfully light, crisp and refreshing drink to sit down to after running around in the sun.

2 Quarts Water
6 Tea Bags
1 Lemon, sliced
1 Lime, sliced
1 Orange, sliced
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 cup Sugar

Fill the pitcher with water, add the Tea Bags, Lemon, Lime and Orange slices and the cinnamon stick. Allow to sit in the direct sun for 3 hours. Bring in the house, add the sugar and allow to cool in the fridge until perfect drinking temperature.

Kater-Bug's Amazing Cakes

This Wednesday's Blog of the Week is my favorite cake decorating blog. Katerbug Cake's always has something new and exciting, is full of great tips, tricks and ideas and has links to some of the best products you can buy and the best prices. Katerbug Cake's is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to cake decorating and you can tell she loves decorating, it shows in her work. She is so creative and so incredibly talented, I learn so much from her every time I visit.

Her recipe for "5-minute Chocolate Cake" is so easy and so delicious. Just take a look at the picture and your mouth will start watering!

My favorite cake so far has been her Guitar Cake. The flames were amazing and the detail is to die for. Before too long she will start putting those guys at Ace of Cakes to shame! She is just amazing!

So if you are looking for some new ideas, cake decoration supplies or just a fun new blog to follow, take a mouth-watering, awe inspiring journey over to Katerbug Cakes and get inspired!

My Favorite Children's Books

When I travel with my children, I always bring along my favorite children's books. Not their favorite books, but mine, because I am the one that will be reading it over and over. Two of my favorite children's books are Silly Sally and Dinosaurumpus. They are fun rhyming books with bright pictures and laughable lyrics. The kids love them and I enjoy reading them. It makes travel with five children not just bearable but enjoyable.

Don't Cry Over Your Onions

This has to be one of my all time favorite kitchen tricks! I learned it from my grandmother when I was first learning to cook. She would put her onions in the freezer as we were getting ready to start a meal. When it came time to chop the onions, she would take them out of the freezer and they never made us cry! The few minutes in the freezer does not change the composition of the onion but it does something to the juices to make them less potent. So, next time you are cooking with onions, put them in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes and take them out when you are ready to chop them.