It's TIME!! We are Moving!!

Hey!! It's still me!! The More The Merrier! I just have a new design!  Also, we are moving tonight, so if things look a little strange or wonky, it's ok! We are just trying to get everything where I want it and where it works best. I promise within a day or two, I will be completely set up. It's just the packing up and moving and unpacking is a pain!!

VISIT ME HERE: http://www.moreismerrier.com

An Hour of Learning - An Infographic

Leanforward – eLearning Solutions

LeanForward,  a custom elearning development company, did all the research for this infographic. I for one am simply amazed at how much time and money goes into elearning. I personally have always felt that it is easier for me to learn if I have someone I can ask questions, and interact with .

I understand that even e-learning courses offer online chat rooms so you can interact with other classmates, and to ask questions and clarify any problems you may have. I prefer having a flesh-and-blood person to interact with but I have considered e-learning courses. At the moment I am following an online e-learning photography course so I can learn how to use my new Cannon Rebel camera. While the classes are well thought out, and easy to follow, it doesn't replace having a human to talk to. I like e-learning courses that offer a phone number so you can call and talk to someone real.

While I do believe that e-learning courses are a valuable learning tool, I believe they are more valuable if they have an option for students to interact with each other, or a teacher. The greatest advantage is that E-learning courses are forever. Their content never changes so you are guaranteed to learn the same material as the last student that used the course. Instructor led training changes. The instructor can focus on what the class as a whole needs, as well as the needs of each individual student. I don't feel e-learning can do this.

I guess, I feel like it depends on the student as to which would be a better path to follow. Each person is different, as are the methods.

Delicious Dish Tuesday with Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Welcome to Delicious Dish Tuesday! I try really hard to link up here every Tuesday with Alesha from Full Time Mama, Johanna from Mama Chocolate, and Amanda from Coping With Frugality. They post every Tuesday, and you are invited to link up with us by going to one of their blogs and entering the information for your post! Now, on to those fabulous Cheddar Bay Biscuits!!

Red Lobster is one of my favorite places to eat. I am a seafood junkie. All that clarified butter and sweet, white meat goodness ... this Southern girl just can't resist! Oh! and what about those fantastic little morsels of goodness they put out before the food ever even comes? YES! Those Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

Whoever told them that a biscuit was that tiny needs to go back to the East Coast! A biscuit is supposed to be a big ol' handful of fluffy, buttery goodness! So when I bake these bad boys up, I make them HUGE and buttery!! (Ok, for those of you health nuts suffering a heart attack in your seats right now - you add as much butter as you feel necessary!) I enjoy these biscuits on a rare occasion, and when I do let myself indulge in their sweet cream, buttery-ness (is that a word!?!) I only have one or two.


I had the good fortune of running across a wonderful cookbook titled Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur, in a thrift store. When I opened it up, I knew I had to have all of the wisdom contained in this fantastic book! There are recipes from Red Lobster, P.F. Chang, The Cheesecake Factory... the list goes on and on. Now, mind you, these are not the exact recipes. These are clone recipes. I can tell you, they taste just like the real thing ... only better - because I make them myself, in my own kitchen (for way less money!)! So, back to those buttery, Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

These are easy to whip up, and the ingredients are probably already in your cabinet and fridge. Here's the recipe:

2 1/2 Cups Bisquick Baking Mix
4 Tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick)
1 heaping cup grated Cheddar cheese (or a little more!)
3/4 Cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (I use a little more 'cause we love garlic!)

Top Dressing:
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon parsley flakes
pinch of salt

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine Bisquick with cold butter in a medium sized bowl using a pastry cutter or a large fork. You don't want to mix too thoroughly. There should be small chunks of butter in there that are about the size of peas. Add Cheddar cheese, milk, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic. Mix by hand until combined, but don't over mix.
3. Drop approximately 1/4-cup portions of the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet using an ice cream scoop. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits begin to turn light brown.
4. When you take the biscuits out of the oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small bowl in your microwave. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and the dried parsley flakes. Use a brush to spread this garlic butter over the tops of all the biscuits. Use up all of the butter.

Makes 1 dozen biscuits.


Ok, most of you know that I received my new stove yesterday. These Cheddar Bay Biscuits are the very first thing I cooked in my new oven. They had to be the first thing because it was the perfect way to test it out! They are so easy to make, and so delicious. Try them out, because we all know a Southern girl can't do without a good biscuit now and then!

You can get all of Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Restaurant Recipes from Amazon.com.

Tips for Spring Cleaning

Yes, Spring is in the air. Trees are budding out, the flowers are starting to pop up out in the back pasture, and the birds are flying everywhere. I'm waiting for my car to be covered in a dusting of yellow pollen when I walk out to get into it. It happens. Spring. Every year. 

Every year I slowly but surely go through the house, room by room, wiping, dusting, boxing, and cleaning. Why? Because for some reason, once the days turn warm and the nights are still cool, I throw open the windows to let in all that wonderful fresh air. It's like the world is new again, and it makes me want everything in the house to be new again too, or at least as clean as new. 

So, what are my 5 most important tips? 

• Do not clean out a room when the children or spouse are around. - They tend to want to keep everything.
• Nothing Goes Untouched - I move everything out of the room. Then I go through all of it, piece by piece.
• Have your boxes ready - One for 'giveaway', one for garage sale, one for trash.  
• Take the trash out, and the donations to the drop box, as soon as the box is full - This keeps you from going through it again to 'rescue' anything. 
• Never throw out anything you can sell. 

That last rule is a tough one. Especially if you have boxes and boxes of CD's, DVD's, and games. I know you have a lot that you think no one will want. I mean, how many people in your neighborhood will want those old Barney DVD's? You'd be lucky if someone wanted to give you a dime for each at a garage sale. NO! Don't throw them out! You can still get cash for them! I told you about Music Magpie in the UK a few weeks ago, remember? Well they are in the U.S. too!! Music Magpie will give you cash for your CD's, DVD's, and games. Quick and easy, just enter the barcode on their site, or use their phone app that scans the barcode to make it even easier! You know immediately how much money you will get. They send you the envelope to send your items to them, and you receive a check for all your items. 

Now, I just have to curb my garage sale addiction until I have one of my own and get rid of some of the stuff I've bought in the past... hehehe. 

Objects With Purpose Giveaway from Me and The Review Wire

Welcome to the Objects With Purpose Giveaway

You all know how much I love candles! You know beeswax are the best, because they burn clean, and leave no soot. I love that there are so many scents to choose from, and you can choose your favorite, or co-ordinate them with a theme. My kitchen is apples, so I love to burn Apple & Cinnamon candles. Well, it's no secret that I love food scents anyway! Right now my warmer has a citrus scent in it!!

I've found that candles can set a mood, depending on what scent you use. You can use soft florals for a romantic feel, fresh light scents to lighten a mood, just choose your scent for the mood you want to create! Here's a way to try some new scents out! I have joined up with The Review Wire to bring you this Objects With Purpose Candle Gift Basket! Just enter on the form below. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

1 Winner Will Receive an Objects With Purpose Candle Gift Basket {RV $2oo}. See form for Entry Details.  Open to U.S. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. Ends 3/25.

Entry-Form

This event is hosted by The Review Wire and special thanks to all the blogs, like The More The Merrier, in helping to promote this event.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. The More The Merrier is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact Review Wire Media with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Weekend Crochet

Thursday afternoon, I hyper-extended my knee. That means, I bent it backwards, basically. Yes, OUCH. All caps, screaming, although I think I screamed a little more than just 'ouch'. So, then Friday, since I was in pain, I took a pain killer, because it was excruciating. Then, when everyone came over to help us with the horse, I was on my feet (yes, weight on my knee) pretty much all evening. I couldn't feel it, so I over-did it. When I woke up Saturday morning, I couldn't walk at all, I could barely stand. I decided not to take any more pain-killers, and just stay off it for the day. Sunday morning I was good enough to go to church and the grocery. With all that sitting on Saturday, I got some crochet work done!

A friend of mine called saying she needed dishcloths, so I worked on them all Saturday, and part of Sunday. Well, Ok, I had already started them. I crochet fast, but not that fast!

I Facebooked her pictures so I know she loves them! I've got another half finished and plan to do one more when I've finished this one. They are so easy to make, and they work better for cleaning than store-bought ones! The ridges make them wonderful for scrubbing. The fact that they are re-usable and better for our Earth than paper towels, makes them my number one choice in my kitchen.



Would you like a set too? Just email me! I sell a set of 5 for $30 plus shipping. That's really cheap for something you can use for years. They are made of cotton thread and clean up easily in the washer. I can crochet them in almost any color you want!