Sleep, something we all do each night. Sometimes our sleep is affected by what is currently happening in our lives and we may be restless or unable to sleep. On the other hand, you may be totally relaxed and sleep like a baby. There have been six basic sleep positions identified. Many individuals may fall into only one category, or you may be like me and sleep in several different positions. Did you know that your sleep position could reveal something about your personality?

Click here to read the complete article, “What Does Your Sleep Position Reveal About Your Personality?”

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This is a fun and exciting time of year in the Louisville area. Almost everyone catches the Derby fever. There are so many different events for everyone to attend. A few of the many events include Thunder Over Louisville, the Pegasus Parade, the Balloon Glimmer, the Great Steamboat Race,  the Oaks, and of course the Kentucky Derby.

Each year when I was teaching I recall planning many learning activities associated with the Derby. Each year we would schedule a trip to the Derby Museum for the week preceding the Derby. It was always the favorite field trip of students, parents, and teachers too.  Not only was it beautiful with all the tulips in bloom, but also there was an exciting atmosphere. The students always loved the activities associated with the Derby and the visit to Churchill Downs was the culminating activity. To be able to watch the Derby with their parents on Derby Day and see the places they had visited was a fascinating experience for them.

Hope everyone enjoys the many fantastic Derby events!!!

Hot Wing Dip

Ingredients:

1  package pre-cooked cut up chicken-chopped

2 -  8 oz package cream cheese-softened

1 cup good chunky blue cheese dressing (substitute Ranch if you don’t like Blue Cheese)

1/2-1 cup wing sauce- (I use a mild sauce then spice it to taste with hot sauce)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Mix  the chicken, cream cheese, blue cheese dressing and 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.

3. Add wing sauce to taste.

4. Place in oven safe casserole dish.

5. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar on top.

6. Bake until warm and gooey — about 20-30 minutes.

7. Serve with crackers, taco chips, or celery sticks.

After noticing the time, I realized that I must hurry on my way directly to my chiropractor appointment rather than checking in at home first. The ordinary day continued until I returned home after my chiropractor appointment. Much to my surprise, I found my husband cleaning the house. Now, many of you who do not know Dave very well may think that this is normal behavior.  However, I will assure you that Dave has NEVER taken the initiative to clean house on his own. He will help out when I am cleaning house, but he has never in his entire life begun cleaning house while I was not at home.

This bizarre behavior can only be attributed to Rain Nutrition. Rain Nutrition has been a wonderful blessing for us and it can be for others too. The Rain Nutrition has helped to improve Dave’s mood and has given him a renewed outlook on life.  Not only is he feeling better physically, but he has the desire to improve his life.

I would never have  believed that any all natural product would be so amazing. If you want to know more information about Rain Nutrition, please check the Rain Nutrition tab to view some videos about the all natural products. You may visit the Rain Nutrition website for additional information. Please feel free to contact me at sandy1020@insightbb.com for additional information about trying the products, becoming a distributor, or other questions.

Coconut Cookies

Ingredients:

2 sticks margarine or butter

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup white granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup black walnuts (or pecans)

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 to 1 1/2 cups flake coconut

Directions:

1. Cream margarine or butter and add light brown sugar and white sugar; Mix well.

2. Add eggs and mix well.

3. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda and add to mixture; Mix well.

4. Add nuts and vanilla; Mix well.

5. Add quick cooking oats and flake coconut; Mix well after each addition.

6. Drop by teaspoon on an ungreased baking sheet.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

8. Makes about 5 dozen.

As with most all cookies, these cookies are delicious when first taken from the oven. Go ahead and enjoy a couple. No one will even know they are missing.

When I first shared what I had done to my daughter, she was rather disappointed as she always enjoyed the Peanut Blossom cookies. However, after eating one, she called and said that I had made a good executive decision. The cookies were delicious. This new creation may become an all-time favorite.

So, the following recipe is the Peanut Blossoms recipe with a Reece’s Cup twist. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and enjoy all the sweet treats.

Peanut Blossoms

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup butter

1⁄3 cup peanut butter

1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 3⁄4 cup flour

1 teaspoon soda

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Cream butter and peanut butter.

2. Add sugar and brown sugar and mix together.

3. Add vanilla and an egg and mix.

4. Combine flour, soda, and salt and add to the mixture; Mix well.

5. Shape into round balls; roll in granulated sugar; place on a greased baking sheet.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven and place a candy kiss in the center of each cookie.

8. Return to the oven and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Variation — the Reece’s Cup Twist:

1. Place round balls in a greased mini muffin tin (DO NOT roll in granulated sugar).

2. Bake 8 to 10 minutes; remove from the oven and place Reece’s Cup in center of each muffin and press down.

3. Bake an additional 5 minutes.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

½ cup shortening

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup mashed bananas

¾ cup chopped pecans

¼ cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups sifted flour

¾ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. baking powder

Directions:

1. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add bananas.

2. Sift flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add alternately with buttermilk to which vanilla has been added.

3. Stir in pecans.

4. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

2 – 8 oz. pkgs. Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 – large Underwood Deviled Ham

crushed pecans

Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese and deviled ham together until well blended.

2. Separate into 2 equal parts and roll each into a ball.

3. Roll each ball in the crushed pecan.

Bugle Junk

Ingredients:

1 – box or bag of Bugles

1 – can of mixed nuts

2 – egg whites

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tbsp. orange juice

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. ginger

Directions:

1. Mix together, egg whites, sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger.

2. Pour the Bugles into a jelly roll pan or a broiler pan.

3. Pour the can of mixed nuts over the Bugles.

4. Pour the sugar mixture over the Bugles and mixed nuts.

5. Bake at 275 degrees for 45 minutes.

6. Stir or use a spatula and turn every 15 minutes while baking.

This is the original recipe for Potato Puffs that everyone enjoys. It replaces the traditional mashed potatoes, can be prepared ahead of time, and is a delicious alternative. Now I even use the prepared mashed potatoes in the refrigerated section of grocery stores and my family likes them just the same. Each package makes about 6 potato balls. Hope your family enjoys.

Ingredients for the Shortcut Recipe:

2 packages of refrigerated mashed potatoes

3⁄4 cup cornflake crumbs

3 tbsp. sesame seeds

1⁄2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Butter

Ingredients for Original Recipe:

4 lbs. boiling potatoes

1 cup milk

1⁄4 cup butter

1 1⁄2 tsp. salt

1⁄2 cup grated cheddar cheese

3⁄4 cup corn flake crumbs

3 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds

Directions for Original Recipe (Shortcut begin Step 6):

1. Peel potatoes; boil until soft; drain.

2. Mash potatoes until fluffy.

3. Heat milk, butter, and salt together.

4. Gradually whip in until smooth and fluffy.

5. Mix in cheese; Chill.

6. Form into balls and roll in a mixture of corn flake crumbs and sesame seeds.

7. Freeze on a tray until firm; Package. or…

8. Place 1⁄2 piece of a pat of butter and a pinch of grated cheese on each potato puff.

9.  Bake puffs until brown for 5 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

10. If frozen, bake for 20 minutes.