I'm Spicy

Hello.  My name is Heather and I have a problem.

I'm a spice-aholic. 

Would you believe that's not even all of them?

And would you believe that only two of those jars are doubles?  Its true.  I own two jars of basil and two jars of ground cloves. 

The rest are completely different, individual, non repetitive herbs and spices.

Why?  Because like I said, I'm a spice-aholic.  During this time of year all the spices go on sale.  Some are even buy one get one free!  How can I pass that up?  Some people have shoe addictions, others have jewelry addictions....I have spice additions.  What can I say?  I like flavor.

Turkey Bread!!

Because you asked, and because I'm a people pleaser...here are the step-by-step instructions to make your own turkey....bread.

Start with a ball of bread dough.  Any kind you like.  We love french bread so most (OK all) of my bread creations are made from french bread dough.  I love, LOVE, LOOOOVE my breadmaker, so I always throw the ingredients into the breadmaker and put it on the 'dough' setting.  It does the work for me so I can go shopping for coordinating outfits for our upcoming family portrait.  And then grocery shopping.  In two hours!  Because I got to go ALONE!!  Normally I would have milked this opportunity for as many hours as I could before recieving the inevitable text from my husband.... "ETA?" 
But I had bread dough to come home to.  And I was already 45 minutes late...Ya, I was shocked, too. 
Back to the bread.

Make Your Own "Hostess Cupcakes"

You remember those, right?  All chocolatey and delicious on the outside.  Gooey and creamy on the inside.  These cupcakes are part of my childhood.  And I'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume you've got your own personal experiences with these babies. Cause this is America, after all.  Home of the Fat Kids, Land of the Brave. 
Now, I do my best to avoid impulse gas station cupcakes so cleverly placed at fingertip's reach near the checkout counter.  I really do.  And I tell my kids that they should quickly learn to expect the word 'NO.' to answer their snack requests while standing in line to make a purchase...uh, anywhere.  But, I must admit.  I, myself, have a difficult time blocking these cupcakes from my periferral vision.  Because I never look them in the eye.  I can't.  Its too dangerous. 
But.  The other day, while I was at Walmart, I caved.  I bought two packages of the vile beasts.  That's four cupcakes.  FOUR. 
I was good, though.  I only ate one.  I fed the rest to my family.  Then I decided I needed more.  But I couldn't succomb to the idea of going back for six more cupcakes.  I mean, who eats ten cupcakes in one day?  I told myself, "I do not need fourteen cupcakes." 
So I baked a bunch of them myself. 
And now you can, too.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce - aka "Meat's Ball"

I know, I know.  Why bother when its so easy to crack open a jar of Ragu?  I'll tell you why.  Because its TOTALLY worth it and its a super-cinch!

But before we begin, I must apologize here.  I didn't take any pictures to accompany this recipe.  Partly because I was in a hurry to throw it together since I literally ran through the door to the stove after a grueling gymnastics session (in which I was not a participant, obviously, but my youngest and I watch my oldest through the glass and then she proceeds to imitate her sister's moves in my lap), and partly because I initially had no intention of posting the recipe here.  But I've since changed my mind because of the sheer wonderfulness, awesomeness, deliciousness MAGNIFICANCE of what came to be in that skillet!  And the best part is, it was fast and made from stuff I always have around.    

So, as a friendly guesture to you all for having botched the picture recipe, I've chosen to substitute pictures with a lively story.  I hope you'll indulge me. 
I've entitled this recipe "Meat's Ball"
Let us begin. 

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins with Pecan Struesel

I woke up with a cold today :(  My kids dragged me out of bed at 7:27 asking for breakfast...I guess they deserve to eat.  So I poured them some cereal and thought about the tasks of the day...

there was laundry....................nah

oh, and my kitchen needs to be mopped!........................nah

the toilets are looking pretty bad.............................definately not.

So what am I willing to spend my limited energy on?  Then Julia says, "Mommy, what kind of muffins can you make?"

Without thinking too hard about it, I respond, "Pumpkin."  Well, then.  I guess its settled.  I'm making muffins.