Ristorante Pizza Bzz Agent Review!

I am a member of a great product, sampling, testing program called BzzAgent.  Every now and then I will get an email from them to see if me or someone in my family is eligible to test a new product.  This time we were asked to test Ristorante Pizza. 
Let me just tell you, the flavor selections had me salivating...I mean really, two free pizzas to try, from the most popular frozen pizza company in Italy, the pizza capital of the world.  They really are delicious!  They have six different flavors and are 10" pizzas.  They cook up nicely right on the rack creating a nice thin, crispy crust.  After thoroughly enjoying both the Mozzarella (fresh mozzarella, sun-ripened tomatoes, and zesty pesto sauce) and the Spinach (with spinach, mozzarella and a delightful garlicy sauce), we cannot wait to taste the:
Pizza Funghi (mushrooms, mozzarella, tomato sauce, parsley, and oregano),
Quarttro Formaggi (4 cheeses, edam, mozzarella, emmental, and blue cheese with basil seasoning),
Vegetale (tangy tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, chiles, and sour cream sauce), and finally the
Speciale: (Pepperoni, cooked ham, and spicy herbs).  With the beautiful pictures and the mouth-watering descriptions, who can blame me.  I seriously miss my deep freezer.  These are great to have on hand on nights you really don't feel like cooking, and are made from high quality ingredients.  Definitely better than calling in for pizza or pulling through the drive through! 

If you live in my area they are on sale at Market Basket this week for 2/$5.  Great bargain!

Book Reviews Net Galley (Amish)

I mentioned Net Galley in one of my last posts.  It is a great way to get some books for your Kindle to read and review for the publisher.  Since I have not been feeling too well, I have been doing a lot of reading.  For me, reading is a great way to take a break from my own life and to get lost in a story.  When I started learning more about the Amish faith and culture, I became fascinated with their simplicity and their ability to stay that way in today's times. I enjoy reading both Fiction and Non-Fiction, and I have enjoyed learning more about the Amish and their ways.  Within the past few days I have finished two books pertaining to the Amish way, one fiction, and the other non-fiction.  Both were from authors I have not read before.  I know a lot of people are not religious and the Amish are very religious people.  Even for people who are non-believers, or have different beliefs, I feel there is still a lot of great qualities and skills that can be gleaned from the Amish of today.

The first book I read is Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth.  It is a memoir of Nancy's families quest to lead a simpler life, and grow together spiritually, with all the modern conveniences we have.  Almost Amish is the story of how Nancy's family went from living the big life, in a big home, her husband was an ER physician and she an English teacher, and through her husband's new found belief in God, the family decided to downsize their home, get rid of many of their worldly possessions, and learn to live a simpler life.  During this journey, they moved a few times, and studied the Bible in search of scripture about nature, and how we, as the Lord's stewards should treat it.  It is the story of how a family grew spiritually, all committing their lives to the Lord, and through studying the Amish way of live, staying close to home (riding a horse and buggy), therefore the Sleeths' looked for ways to Become "Almost Amish"  Some great examples she gave that I have been gradually adding in my own life are things such as buying locally (to support your community and know your community), having faith when times are tough, building a community of like-minded people you can count on and share with, spiritually and otherwise.  Nancy talks about branching out when you go to a new community and making friends.  The Sleeths' have made Friday night Dinner at home where sometimes twenty of more people including their now grown children get together and break bread and share food.  Food brings people together.  In the Amish Culture, food is a huge part of their lives.  Families eat together mostly 3 meals a day, and are closer because of it.  Nancy's family is very close and she attributes this to the fact that they have slowed down, to enjoy life.  Nancy does enjoy using the internet, in fact she uses it for her job in their ministry.  She does keep the Sabbath however, as does the rest of her family, and does not use email on Sunday.  She finds that this has helped her relax more and enables her to spend more time with her family, and doing things she enjoys such as reading, taking long walks, spending time visiting, gardening etc.  Nancy includes scripture that applies to these beliefs and that the Amish apply to their lives daily.  It is a great book, and it makes me want to continue to simplify my life even more, so that I can enjoy more time with my family and friends.  It is often difficult to find time for things you truly want to do, in today's fast paced world.  Nancy's book, Almost Amish, shows that it is possible to reevaluate your life without sacrificing the things that are truly important to you and your family.  I would highly recommend this book, and I know that I will definitely read it again.  The book is due out April 1st 2012.
Nancy's website is Blessed Earth.  There are many great references on this site, including a list of books about green living.  I am going to get some of those books and see if I enjoy them as much as I enjoyed Almost Amish.  The great thing about Almost Amish is you can have the attributes listed in the book anywhere you live, in the city of in rural areas.  If you find yourself interested in learning more about Amish ways this book is definitely worth a read.

 Return to Grace by Karen Harper was another enjoyable book I read from Net Galley.  This book was unlike any of the other books about the Amish I have read so far.  This book is suspenseful, and focuses on a murder investigation in Amish Country.  The main Character Hannah Esh, leaves home when her beloved Seth, tells her that he made another woman pregnant and he would have to wed her.  Hannah left to pursue a singer career in the Englisher world.  She turned Goth, and returned to the Amish graveyard for a midnight party on Halloween night.  While there, they were shot at.  Hannah was injured and a friend killed.  She is hospitalized and home for the investigation and her recovery.  Harper weaves a great story with many twists and turns.  This book is a part of a series, and I enjoyed it so much I am going to buy book two as soon as it's available.  During all of the investigating and the chaos that occurs Hannah is caught one foot on each side of the fence, trying to decide if she will go back to her worldly ways, or stay Amish with the family and friends in the community she loves.  This book is set to come out on February 28th.  I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in book two and others to follow.  I had a difficult time putting this book down and if you like Amish stories as well as suspense/mystery stories you should enjoy this is well.

I finished Return to Grace Last night, and I have not decided what I will be reading next.  Since Spring is fast approaching I may look at some of my gardening or sustainable living books, even though my yard at the new place is not as big to do as much as I would like, and there are three kids that live and play here as well, I think it will be some container gardening for me this year! 

White Chocolate Butter Bars!

 White Chocolate Butter Bars!

I have been eyeing this recipe since I saw it posted on www.cookiesandcups.com.  Yesterday, I couldn't take it anymore.  I had all the ingredients on hand, I LOVE white chocolate!  I wanted something different.  Even though I didn't feel all too great, I figured it looked easy enough, so White Chocolate Butter Bars it was.  If you want something easy and tasty, give them a try.  The bottom of mine came out darker than I would have liked, (thanks to my lousy tiny little apartment oven with the messed up thermostat) but they were delicious none the less! 

1. You start with a box of yellow cake mix and some cold butter.  Mix together until you have a crumbly consistency.

2. Add an egg and the vanilla.  Continue to mix.  It will be very thick.  reminded me of playdough.

3. Press into a greased Pyrex 9x13 dish.

 4.   Sprinkle white chocolate chips over the crust....eat a few....go ahead it's hard to resist : ) .

5.  Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Pour onto the chocolate chips.  Spread it evenly over the top, and bake until the middle sets. 

6. Sprinkle with some powdered sugar.  Your house will smell amazing, and you will want to cut while hot.  ; )  It's tasty when hot, but amazing when it has been refrigerated and cooled!  It has been less than 24 hours and it is almost gone! 

Here is the complete recipe typed out!  Enjoy!  Let me know what you think.  Thanks for a great recipe http://www.cookiesandcups.com.

White Chocolate Butter Bars

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cold butter
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 egg
• 1, 8 oz block of cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 cups powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

How to Make

1. Preheat oven to 325°
2. Spray a 9x13" pan with cooking spray
3. In your mixing bowl combine the butter and cake mix. Beat on medium until the cake mix looks crumbly.
4. Add egg and beat until smooth. Batter will be stiff.
5. Press your mixture into your prepared pan.
6. Sprinkle the white chocolate chips evenly over batter.
7. In another mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
8. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
9. Pour this evenly over white chocolate chips and spread to edges of pan.
10. Bake for approx 30 minutes until center is set.
11. Remove from oven and dust with powdered sugar.
12. Let cool before cutting into squares.

Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.  If it lasts that long!

Google Recipe View Microformatting by ZipList Recipe Plugin

1.4

One of my oldest friends came up for a visit yesterday.  I love the candle she brought me!

Thanks Liss!

My tonsils will be coming out this coming Wednesday!  So I will be making a list of recipes that I want to try using my Vitamix since I will be on a liquid only diet!

New Year! Update!

I know I haven't posted for several months now.  I had just got my blog up and running, and then I needed to have a major surgery.  I thought I would be better after recovering, but we had to move, due to a severe mold infestation.  During these last few months I have still been having health issues, some mold related, and had to have a few more surgeries.  Unfortunately, I haven't been spending as much time in the kitchen as I would like to.  I am grateful that I was able to get a lot of canning done thanks to my CSA share at Farmer Dave's CSA, and the Haverhill Farmer's market.  All that work before I was sick is helping a lot now.

Farmer Dave's Apples!

 We are reaping the benefits of our canning during the Summer and Fall. We are lucky to be enjoying "fresh" vanilla peaches in January!  The recipe is found in an earlier post here,  Peaches in Vanilla,  Hot Pepper Jelly for Christmas gifts, Dilly Beans, and Pickles for snacks, and homemade canned beans, saves some money at the grocery store.  Last night Aidan and I made a "homemade" apple pie with Apples from Farmer Dave's and the Haverhill Farmer's Market, because we canned some Apple Pie Filling!  With a store bought refrigerated crust, we had the fresh taste of homemade, local apples, and Aidan and I enjoyed a bit of time in the kitchen.  Since I have been spending much of my time taking it easy, I have found more time for my other passion, reading!  The recipe that we used for the apple pie apples came from a recipe I adapted from goddesshobbies.blogspot.com  Her ingredient list are as follows. 

Sarah Jean's Apple Pie Filling

Granny Smith Apples

4 1/2 cups of sugar

2 Tbs cinnamon

1/2 tea nutmeg (I liked 1 tea)

1 tea salt

1 cup corn starch

10 cups water

Mix all ingredients, except corn starch. Mix the corn starch with a little water and then add it in. Boil all ingredients. 

Fill jar half-full with apples.  Jam them in.  Then fill the jar part way with the syrup and fill with more apples to the rim of the jar.  (Normally, I am prepared and have pictures for you, but today, I don't....Sorry ; ) !  )  

Work bubbles out with a knife.  Wipe the rim of the jar, and add lids.  Submerge in a hot water bath for 20 mins.  I believe I got 6 or 7 quarts and a pint or so.  I never made a pie with a canned filling before, but my boy and I were pleasantly surprised.  It took almost two quarts to make a 10" pie.  Some of the sauce was left and a few apples, but my boy enjoyed snacking on a bowl of the delicious apples right out of the jar, while our pie was in the oven.  Easy Peasy!  I will definitely be using this recipe for years to come! 

As a family, my lil guy, the big guy and I are all avid readers.  My parents bought me a kindle for my birthday.  I didn't think I would like it much because I love turning the pages, and the feeling and weight of holding the book while I read.  I knew I would need to find a good cover!  I searched high and low.  I wanted to find one that is made in the USA, and would stand up to being used a lot.  I found one I truly loved on Oberondesign.com.

Here is the link to my Tree of Life Kindle cover!
http://www.oberondesign.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1609

Oberon Designs Tree of Life Leather Kindle 4 Cover.  Made in the USA!

I love the way it feels and it is so nicely hand tooled!  Between Amazon's free reads I have found on pixelofink.com and www.netgallery.com, I have managed to find a bunch of great books to start my ebook library.  I hope to share some of my reviews on here.  I enjoy many different genres, to the cooking, canning, gardening, memoirs, Non-fiction, historical fiction, romance, inspirational, and more.  I find myself reading a lot of Amish fiction lately.  I am enjoying learning about their culture.  I love doing things the old way a lot, and if you know anything about the Amish way of life, they live without electricity, they can, bake, cook, garden.  My son calls them "the pioneers of today", and he's right.  I hope you will enjoy my new entries when I get a chance to get on here and post some updates and reviews.  I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy Holiday season with their families.

I just ordered a Vitamix a few days ago, so once we receive it and get a chance to try it out, we will be having a post hopefully soon!

Our little tree at the new place! 

Me and my Little Baker!

Kellie~