Life feels like I'm in the swirl of a tornado these days. Barely time to sit and think. Running between new home planning, old home packing and a travel business going crazy! It's ALL GOOD so I don't want to sound like I'm complaining but holy smokes… this lazy butt just wants to sit and sip a cold drink in front of a chick-flick!
This week I have barely had time to squeeze in packing as I have been working countless hours trying to please all of my clients asking for quotes and booking vacations. I wish the days were longer so I could get everything done. My desk looks like a bomb went off - manilla files everywhere!
This morning I decided I would put home stuff first so I got up and head down to the carpet store to make my final decision on carpeting for the bedrooms in the "new" house. (I tell you… by the time we have everything done this will FEEL like a brand new place!). I couldn't decide between the super soft 50oz silk carpet which we could only afford to place in our bedroom, or go for the less-soft 40oz silk carpet which we could put in all 3 bedrooms. At just the right time my sister-in-law texted me and I was able to grab her advice and Hubby's advice over iMessage while at the carpet store. Gotta love technology! We … all 3 of us… finally decided on the 40oz in all 3 rooms. That way we can have it laid before the furniture gets in the room. Now just have to go to Staples and pick up the mat for my office chair to lay over the carpet to preserve it! I decided on a nice light taupe that will look like a gorgeous soft sand beach in our master! Sigh… is it February yet??
Also this week I went and ordered the closet organizer for our main floor closet which will become my pantry. SUPER excited about this. I just happened to find this little nugget of information this morning in my email that will help me to organize the pantry once the shelves (and we) are all set up:
So much for balance this week in my quest to find it… but once the move is over and wave season has passed, I should be able to get all my ducks in a row and life in better balance. How are you doing with your OneWord365 this week?
Until next time...
Showing posts with label kitchen kapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen kapers. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Late!
Late... that seems to be a theme with me these days. Late nights. Late holiday wishes. Late blog posts. I'm beginning to feel like that clock wearing rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. "I'm late... I'm late... for a very important date!" so on that note... Happy New Year... a little late!
The holidays went by in a blur and much of it was spent entertaining. When I last posted it was Christmas Eve and I was busy in the kitchen. I attempted that morning to make my Mom's "famous" bun recipe (which ended up taking two batches and numerous "emergency" phone calls to my niece who has perfected "Grandma's buns"). My first batch didn't rise like they should have because the directions I was using weren't detailed enough, so Krissy to the rescue with a better, more updated recipe which had the buns turn out perfectly. Dad was here later on Christmas Eve and was my official taste tester, after all he knew Mom's buns best! (hee hee) Here's my finished product:
I couldn't help but think of my Mom as I baked on Christmas Eve. Mom loved Christmas and in some ways to me was Christmas. Our home was always full of music and decorations and delicious smells from Mom's Christmas baking. Some of my happiest childhood memories happened around Christmas.
Christmas Eve my Dad and Hubby's Mom joined us for our church service and a light dinner. It was an early night for them, but not so much for Hubby and me as we put a few finishing touches on our pre-Christmas preparations. We were hosting his family for Christmas Day so like busy little elves we stayed up to get everything perfect for the next day's events.
Knowing that I was having a houseful on Christmas, I have to be honest and say that I was a little stressed prior to Christmas morning about how I would handle preparing a turkey dinner, get to church for 10am and have time to celebrate Christmas with Hubby before his family came early afternoon. Selfishly I wanted the morning to ourselves but Christmas is about God and Jesus, after all so where better to be on Christmas morning than in church, worshiping the One who gave us CHRISTmas in the first place, right? Well... by laying down my selfish desires and following what I knew in my heart was the right choice, God blessed me incredibly that morning and throughout the day. Christmas with the in-laws was wonderful and Hubby and I both reflected (as we opened our stockings and gifts at 10:30 pm after everyone had left), it was one of our best Christmases ever!
The next few days we recouped, tidied up that inevitable Christmas mess of boxes, tissue paper and crumpled up wrapping paper before gearing up for a marathon of entertaining. On the 29th, good friends of ours came over for the evening. Knowing I had two big parties ahead of me, we opted for take-out Chinese food which was a nice change from the turkey pot pie we had been eating since Christmas. On the 30th, twenty-two of my immediate family members squeezed into our tiny townhome for our annual Open House. It was a great night of fun, family and food but it was a late night as Hubby and one of my nephew's stayed up to watch UFC until 1am. I think we got to bed around 2am.
New Year's Eve we decided to invite a few friends over for a little NYE Party. They arrived at 8pm and we ate, drank and laughed the evening away. At 11:45 we turned the t.v. on so we could watch the ball drop in Times Square as we sipped pink "champagne" from crystal flutes. Some guests left around 12:30 am but one couple stayed chatting until almost 2:30am. By the time I got the kitchen cleaned up and the dishes unloaded and reloaded into the dishwasher, it was 4am. Needless to say "hookie" was the word that Sunday morning!
I think I'm still recovering from the holidays. I haven't gotten back into a regular bedtime routine so I'm still up late every night, dragging my butt out of bed each morning. I haven't even begun to think about hauling everything out from under the stairway closet and taking "Christmas" down (that too will be "late" this year!). Now that the parties are all done and 2012 is settling in, I think I'll take a few more days to just sit and relax, savoring the wonderful (albeit busy) memories of Christmas 2011. The tree can come done in February! (just kidding... I think!).
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year! May God bring blessings of hope, joy and a renewed passion for Him to us all in 2012!!
The holidays went by in a blur and much of it was spent entertaining. When I last posted it was Christmas Eve and I was busy in the kitchen. I attempted that morning to make my Mom's "famous" bun recipe (which ended up taking two batches and numerous "emergency" phone calls to my niece who has perfected "Grandma's buns"). My first batch didn't rise like they should have because the directions I was using weren't detailed enough, so Krissy to the rescue with a better, more updated recipe which had the buns turn out perfectly. Dad was here later on Christmas Eve and was my official taste tester, after all he knew Mom's buns best! (hee hee) Here's my finished product:
Christmas Eve my Dad and Hubby's Mom joined us for our church service and a light dinner. It was an early night for them, but not so much for Hubby and me as we put a few finishing touches on our pre-Christmas preparations. We were hosting his family for Christmas Day so like busy little elves we stayed up to get everything perfect for the next day's events.
Knowing that I was having a houseful on Christmas, I have to be honest and say that I was a little stressed prior to Christmas morning about how I would handle preparing a turkey dinner, get to church for 10am and have time to celebrate Christmas with Hubby before his family came early afternoon. Selfishly I wanted the morning to ourselves but Christmas is about God and Jesus, after all so where better to be on Christmas morning than in church, worshiping the One who gave us CHRISTmas in the first place, right? Well... by laying down my selfish desires and following what I knew in my heart was the right choice, God blessed me incredibly that morning and throughout the day. Christmas with the in-laws was wonderful and Hubby and I both reflected (as we opened our stockings and gifts at 10:30 pm after everyone had left), it was one of our best Christmases ever!
The next few days we recouped, tidied up that inevitable Christmas mess of boxes, tissue paper and crumpled up wrapping paper before gearing up for a marathon of entertaining. On the 29th, good friends of ours came over for the evening. Knowing I had two big parties ahead of me, we opted for take-out Chinese food which was a nice change from the turkey pot pie we had been eating since Christmas. On the 30th, twenty-two of my immediate family members squeezed into our tiny townhome for our annual Open House. It was a great night of fun, family and food but it was a late night as Hubby and one of my nephew's stayed up to watch UFC until 1am. I think we got to bed around 2am.
New Year's Eve we decided to invite a few friends over for a little NYE Party. They arrived at 8pm and we ate, drank and laughed the evening away. At 11:45 we turned the t.v. on so we could watch the ball drop in Times Square as we sipped pink "champagne" from crystal flutes. Some guests left around 12:30 am but one couple stayed chatting until almost 2:30am. By the time I got the kitchen cleaned up and the dishes unloaded and reloaded into the dishwasher, it was 4am. Needless to say "hookie" was the word that Sunday morning!
I think I'm still recovering from the holidays. I haven't gotten back into a regular bedtime routine so I'm still up late every night, dragging my butt out of bed each morning. I haven't even begun to think about hauling everything out from under the stairway closet and taking "Christmas" down (that too will be "late" this year!). Now that the parties are all done and 2012 is settling in, I think I'll take a few more days to just sit and relax, savoring the wonderful (albeit busy) memories of Christmas 2011. The tree can come done in February! (just kidding... I think!).
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year! May God bring blessings of hope, joy and a renewed passion for Him to us all in 2012!!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Computer Catch Up
The past two days have been computer catch up days for me.
Yesterday morning I spent the entire morning paying online bills, and doing emails, prayer lists and other documents needed for our Abide groups at church. It was a busy morning and I couldn't believe how quickly the time passed while I clicked away on my keyboard in my pjs. Yep... Hubby was still away and I had nowhere I needed to be.
The remainder of my day was almost as exciting. I spent a good couple of hours chained to my ironing board, finally doing the huge pile of ironing from the post-cruise laundry I'd done the weekend before. Friday night consisted of constantly checking my Air Canada app on my cell phone to make sure Hubby's flight from CT was still planning to make it back to Toronto... and thankfully it did. It was only 2 hours delayed (sigh).
This morning was more computer catch up as I finally got around to emailing the lovely young ladies we'd dined with numerous times on our cruise. Had to check in on our NYC grad students... to make sure they were surviving the crazy NY winter! After taking a break, and checking out The King's Speech at the movies, I'm back to the computer, updating my Cookies, Cakes and Cupcakes... Oh My! baking blog from my Christmas baking. I had 3 entries to post from my holiday baking blitz. Good thing I'm not SO mental-pause brained that I could remember what I baked and even some of the intricate "hows" of it as well.
Hubby and I are off to dinner tonight. Continuation of our earlier date, but this time minus his Mom! She went home after the movie.
Yesterday morning I spent the entire morning paying online bills, and doing emails, prayer lists and other documents needed for our Abide groups at church. It was a busy morning and I couldn't believe how quickly the time passed while I clicked away on my keyboard in my pjs. Yep... Hubby was still away and I had nowhere I needed to be.
The remainder of my day was almost as exciting. I spent a good couple of hours chained to my ironing board, finally doing the huge pile of ironing from the post-cruise laundry I'd done the weekend before. Friday night consisted of constantly checking my Air Canada app on my cell phone to make sure Hubby's flight from CT was still planning to make it back to Toronto... and thankfully it did. It was only 2 hours delayed (sigh).
This morning was more computer catch up as I finally got around to emailing the lovely young ladies we'd dined with numerous times on our cruise. Had to check in on our NYC grad students... to make sure they were surviving the crazy NY winter! After taking a break, and checking out The King's Speech at the movies, I'm back to the computer, updating my Cookies, Cakes and Cupcakes... Oh My! baking blog from my Christmas baking. I had 3 entries to post from my holiday baking blitz. Good thing I'm not SO mental-pause brained that I could remember what I baked and even some of the intricate "hows" of it as well.
Hubby and I are off to dinner tonight. Continuation of our earlier date, but this time minus his Mom! She went home after the movie.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Quick and Easy Dinner
I don't know about you, but making dinner is not one of the highlights of my days. I sometimes wonder if that's why God chose for me to be in a family of two, with a Hubby who can easily fend for himself to boot. Tonight, was "leftover" night at our house and I really don't enjoy leftovers. Funny how I don't enjoy cooking and dislike leftovers even more which means that without leftovers I would need to cook more often. Hmm... I digress.
So... while Hubby was putting together a wrap with leftover cooked chicken, diced onion and red/green pepper bits I pulled out this...
So... while Hubby was putting together a wrap with leftover cooked chicken, diced onion and red/green pepper bits I pulled out this...
... my fancy, dancy Quesadilla maker. I was feeling a little chilly so the thought of having a cold tortilla wrap for dinner didn't strike me as delicious but a nice hot quesadilla... now we're talkin' leftovers!!
If you've never seen one of these let me introduce you to one of my most favorite kitchen appliances. With a little cooked chicken cut up into bitty pieces, chopped onion, peppers, shredded cheese... you can have restaurant style quesadillas in 10 minutes (and that's including assembling your goodies into your shells!). I often will add a bit of BBQ sauce to the chicken to spice it up. If you do all the cutting up ahead of time you can even make them lickety split for a quick lunch.
I tell you... this little gizmo will impress your friends when you offer to make them a nice dinner/lunch. The sky's the limit with this... and no I'm not getting paid to say all of this. I really do love my quesadilla maker!
This wasn't my only culinary work this evening though. After Survivor tonight, I whipped up a batch of Chewy Oatmeal Cookies to take to a party tomorrow night. Another easy recipe that you can find at my new baking blog, Cookies, Cakes and Cupcakes... Oh My! Figured I needed a "home" for all the baking I've been doing. Stop in and check things out if you want!
One quick story before I head off tonight. Ever find that when you're tired and in a rush that everything goes wrong? That was my cookie making tonight. Just as I was lifting my ceramic flour canister back up into the kitchen cupboard above my work station, the canister slipped and half of the flour dumped out all over the counter (fortunately missing the cookie dough). Sigh. Not exactly what I needed. My entire left arm was white with flour. I should have taken a picture but it wasn't THAT funny at the time. Now... kinda funny.
Okay... off to bed for yet another busy day tomorrow. Don't forget... run to the store and get yourself a quesadilla maker. You'll thank me later! hee hee
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Out With The Old. In With The New.
I have the song "Changes" by David Bowie running in my head. You know the one... where he stutters the word "Cha cha cha changes". (If you don't you can look it up on iTunes and hear a sample). You see, there's lots of changes going around the ole Nest these days. After 16 years we are out with the old and in with the new... and I'm not talking about either Hubby or myself!
First up on the change table, as it were, (have I been hanging around those triplets too much?!) is the old fridge. Almost 16 years ago, as a freshly engaged couple about to embark on making our first (and so far only) home, we purchased our very first major appliances. Our new, (out of date) kitchen was equipped with no fridge or stove. It's only appliance was the almond colored built in dishwasher. Being young and naive, we assumed that because it was almond, then we'd need to purchase all almond appliances. (Of course had we investigated a titch more, we would have found that we could have replaced the almond front with a white overlay on the dishwasher).
For years I have disliked my almond (dirty looking) appliances, dreaming of the day when I could replace them with pristine white ones. When the old dishwasher "gave up the ghost", I was quick to replace it with a fresh white GE model. Next, we put in a white over-the-stove microwave even though the stove to this day remains almond.
Imagine my delight when our fridge started leaking. Now, I could replace another piece with the brightness of white. So, as you know from earlier posts, we were in search for "THE" fridge to replace old Bessie (and no I did not name my fridge, although it might be kind of fun to name the new one!) On Tuesday, after a 3 hour wait for the Sears delivery guys, my new Maytag, gloriously white, fridge was assembled and gently put into it's place, after the guys took the old one out to their truck.
A cute story about that ... as the main delivery guy is unscrewing the door from the almond fridge, he asked, "Do you need a moment with your old fridge?" I laughed at him, telling him "No. She's been leaking so she's outta here!" but after he left, I did get a little nostalgic as I thought about how this was indeed our first family fridge. Then I thought, I should have taken pictures. I know... I need therapy!
So... off went old "Almondsides" and in came the new baby... wanna see?
First up on the change table, as it were, (have I been hanging around those triplets too much?!) is the old fridge. Almost 16 years ago, as a freshly engaged couple about to embark on making our first (and so far only) home, we purchased our very first major appliances. Our new, (out of date) kitchen was equipped with no fridge or stove. It's only appliance was the almond colored built in dishwasher. Being young and naive, we assumed that because it was almond, then we'd need to purchase all almond appliances. (Of course had we investigated a titch more, we would have found that we could have replaced the almond front with a white overlay on the dishwasher).
For years I have disliked my almond (dirty looking) appliances, dreaming of the day when I could replace them with pristine white ones. When the old dishwasher "gave up the ghost", I was quick to replace it with a fresh white GE model. Next, we put in a white over-the-stove microwave even though the stove to this day remains almond.
Imagine my delight when our fridge started leaking. Now, I could replace another piece with the brightness of white. So, as you know from earlier posts, we were in search for "THE" fridge to replace old Bessie (and no I did not name my fridge, although it might be kind of fun to name the new one!) On Tuesday, after a 3 hour wait for the Sears delivery guys, my new Maytag, gloriously white, fridge was assembled and gently put into it's place, after the guys took the old one out to their truck.
A cute story about that ... as the main delivery guy is unscrewing the door from the almond fridge, he asked, "Do you need a moment with your old fridge?" I laughed at him, telling him "No. She's been leaking so she's outta here!" but after he left, I did get a little nostalgic as I thought about how this was indeed our first family fridge. Then I thought, I should have taken pictures. I know... I need therapy!
So... off went old "Almondsides" and in came the new baby... wanna see?
Isn't she lovely? She has a pull out freezer drawer which I'm already loving. So much easier to keep things organized in there! Wanna peek inside?
What can I get for you? A drink perhaps? Maybe a piece of fruit? I love how the shelves are interchangeable and see-through! Really is a spiffy concept and easier to organize things!
Anyone whose been to our house knows too that our fridge is called "The Prayer Fridge". It's where we assemble pictures of family and friends so we can remember to pray for them. Last night after dinner, I spent a few hours printing off new pics and magnetizing them to redo the prayer fridge. Here's my end result:
I know it doesn't look as pristine and tidy as before, but now it has personality and charm and it's full of loved ones who mean so much to us! Is your picture not there? Do you want it to be? Let me know and we can add you too!
Hubby and I also collect magnets when we travel. Instead of t-shirts or other "souveniers", we try and pick up one or two magnets for the fridge (or microwave) to remind us of all the places we've been blessed to visit. Some of those are accenting the pics on the fridge.
So... one major purchase complete... one more coming and one more eventually (ahem... ugly almond stove I mean YOU) to finish. Next Tuesday the new washer/dryer come. I'm still perplexed about how/where I want to put them. My laundry room isn't huge and I'm super afraid that the new machines will overpower the room and in a townhouse, space is at a premium. I'm considering stacking them. Anyone have their front loaders stacked? Input would be helpful!! I'll keep you posted with pics!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Recipe and Random Dozen
As Denise requested yesterday, I thought I'd post my Mom's recipe for "Daffodil Dessert" here for you, my blogging friends. The recipe didn't call for blueberries on top, but I had some on hand and chose to decorate the top of mine with them, along with the whipping cream and shaved chocolate. Here you go:
1. Define a great relationship. Wow... how do I put this into a short definition? Shared faith, Friendship, Communication, Humility and Respect.
2. Why is it called a "drive-through" if you have to stop? (Real question: What was the last food/drink you purchased at a drive-through?) Boy... can I even remember? Maybe a McDonald's hamburger and vanilla shake while on the road on vacation? We hate to stop and eat ~ we lose driving time when we stop for meals.
3. As I type this, the Butler Bulldogs are getting ready to play in the NCAA championship game. Every Hoosier is hysterical about this except me. So in honor of the Bulldogs ... what is your favorite breed of dog? (I tried.) I've never owned one of these... and I have only ever been "around" one for a few hours... but I would have to say that a Coton deTulear would be my favorite and if I did ever get a dog... this would be the breed I'd want. Here's a couple pics of this adorable "mop top" breed:
4. If you had to move to a state besides the one you currently live in, where would you move? If I could move to the States... I would chose to move to either North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia... but preferably closer to the ocean side than inland.
5. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be? Hmm... I think the only thing I would change is my Dad's involvement in my life. He traveled a lot during my growing up years and with 6 kids in the family I think for his sanity he kind of retreated a little emotionally. I would love to have had the relationship I have with him now back then. I am incredibly appreciative of the upbringing my parents gave us. I think I belong to a pretty great family!!
6. Who's the funniest person you know? My nephew, "E", who lives with us CRACKS ME UP! He and his sister, "S" are pretty funny and always keep us laughing with their dry wit.
7. Did you get enough sleep last night? I believe so, although right about now on this rainy, overcast day a nap sure sounds good.
8. What's the first thing you thought about this morning? Going to the bathroom... doesn't everyone? That's why we wake up!
9. Grilled or Fried? --HONESTLY Are we talking BBQ grill? If so, grilled.
10. Are you afraid of the dark? If I'm somewhere spooky and unfamiliar then yes, but for sleeping I need the room to be dark.
11.When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I don't think I had any grand aspirations really. I always wanted to be a wife and mother. At least one of those came true ;-)
12. If you had one word to describe yourself , what would you choose? Oh my... so many are running through my head but if I can only choose one I think I would choose Loving.
Okay... that was fun! Now it's your turn. If you wanna play along with Random Dozen Wednesdays, head over to visit Linda and get the questions from her site.
Daffodil Dessert
Light and refreshing family favourite
In top of double boiler combine:
6 egg yolks
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup lemon juice
Heat over boiling water until thick.
Soften:
1 tbsp unflavoured gelatin in ¼ cup cold water
Stir into hot mixture and chill.
Beat 6 egg whites until stiff.
Add ¾ cup granulated sugar gradually
Stir in 1-1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
Beat until very stiff
Fold into chilled egg yolk mixture
Pour over angel food cake (which has been torn into small pieces
about the size of a walnut) in a large bowl
Fold together. Pour into serving bowl.
Top with whipped cream. Decorate with cherries and shaved chocolate.
It really was a huge hit and even after a big dinner it was light and refreshing. Enjoy!
And now onto this week's Random Dozen, thanks to Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee:
1. Define a great relationship. Wow... how do I put this into a short definition? Shared faith, Friendship, Communication, Humility and Respect.
2. Why is it called a "drive-through" if you have to stop? (Real question: What was the last food/drink you purchased at a drive-through?) Boy... can I even remember? Maybe a McDonald's hamburger and vanilla shake while on the road on vacation? We hate to stop and eat ~ we lose driving time when we stop for meals.
3. As I type this, the Butler Bulldogs are getting ready to play in the NCAA championship game. Every Hoosier is hysterical about this except me. So in honor of the Bulldogs ... what is your favorite breed of dog? (I tried.) I've never owned one of these... and I have only ever been "around" one for a few hours... but I would have to say that a Coton deTulear would be my favorite and if I did ever get a dog... this would be the breed I'd want. Here's a couple pics of this adorable "mop top" breed:
5. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be? Hmm... I think the only thing I would change is my Dad's involvement in my life. He traveled a lot during my growing up years and with 6 kids in the family I think for his sanity he kind of retreated a little emotionally. I would love to have had the relationship I have with him now back then. I am incredibly appreciative of the upbringing my parents gave us. I think I belong to a pretty great family!!
6. Who's the funniest person you know? My nephew, "E", who lives with us CRACKS ME UP! He and his sister, "S" are pretty funny and always keep us laughing with their dry wit.
7. Did you get enough sleep last night? I believe so, although right about now on this rainy, overcast day a nap sure sounds good.
8. What's the first thing you thought about this morning? Going to the bathroom... doesn't everyone? That's why we wake up!
9. Grilled or Fried? --HONESTLY Are we talking BBQ grill? If so, grilled.
10. Are you afraid of the dark? If I'm somewhere spooky and unfamiliar then yes, but for sleeping I need the room to be dark.
11.When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I don't think I had any grand aspirations really. I always wanted to be a wife and mother. At least one of those came true ;-)
12. If you had one word to describe yourself , what would you choose? Oh my... so many are running through my head but if I can only choose one I think I would choose Loving.
Okay... that was fun! Now it's your turn. If you wanna play along with Random Dozen Wednesdays, head over to visit Linda and get the questions from her site.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
New Year, New Post
I had hoped to write my first post of 2010 on the actual New Year's Day but one of my new resolutions is to not beat myself up over things. That's not really my resolution but I thought it might sound better as an excuse for not writing yesterday.
The real reason for not posting yesterday is that I just didn't feel like it. I didn't feel like getting on my computer and making my brain think of something interesting to share with the cyber-world. Instead, I read more of my ebook, and watched a bit of the Rose Bowl Parade and movies, and ate far too much.
New Year's Eve this year was actually pretty fun. I had experienced a bit of a meltdown earlier in the day when I realized that I had lost the little booklet containing all my passwords for programs on my laptop which I would need if I'm to clear off the Dell before shipping it off later this month. I'm not sure why I let such things get to me. Perhaps my resolution for 2010 should be to not sweat the small stuff. In the grand scheme there is ALWAYS a way to get around to finding the password information we lose. Why do I freak out like that? Hmmmf!
We met our friends at the movie theater around 6pm Dec 31st to watch Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law and Rachel McAdams. Pretty good movie. Entertaining enough.
After the movie our friends, and their son, came back to our place. We settled "J" down by the video game system and t.v. where he remained content while we adults chowed down on some "Festive Fondue" (cheese fondue) and Chocolate Fondue for dessert. So glad I did most of the prep ahead of time! Somehow Fondue seems like a "healthy" meal with all the fresh fruit and veggies, yet we forget the calorie intake of all that cheese and chocolate.
After we ate we sat and chatted while Ryan Seacrest, Melissa Ryecroft-Strickland and Dick Clark counted down to 2010. We flipped between Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the festivities in our own Niagara Falls where the ET Canada crew were hosting and one of my teenage favorite bands, Styx were playing. I am happy to report that my anxiety was fairly tolerable as the seconds counted down. No tears. No heart palpatations. Okay, maybe a few but they were barely noticeable.
By 12:30 our friends were on their way home and the kitchen was being cleaned. Another year was behind and a new year of hope and expectation ahead. Perhaps it wasn't such a traumatic transition for me this year because God has healed so much of my heart and the things that used to cause me anxiety (like being barren and hoping that the new year would be THE year my dreams would come true). There is a lot to be said for letting go! With letting go of the control of the future (which of course I never truly had a hold on) comes letting go of the anxiety of those hopes and dreams. Hmm. Who knew!?
Before I end this first post of 2010, I want to share the recipe for our Festive Fondue I found in a magazine. It was so fast and easy to make and delicious to boot! Enjoy and Happy New Year!!
ENJOY!
The real reason for not posting yesterday is that I just didn't feel like it. I didn't feel like getting on my computer and making my brain think of something interesting to share with the cyber-world. Instead, I read more of my ebook, and watched a bit of the Rose Bowl Parade and movies, and ate far too much.
New Year's Eve this year was actually pretty fun. I had experienced a bit of a meltdown earlier in the day when I realized that I had lost the little booklet containing all my passwords for programs on my laptop which I would need if I'm to clear off the Dell before shipping it off later this month. I'm not sure why I let such things get to me. Perhaps my resolution for 2010 should be to not sweat the small stuff. In the grand scheme there is ALWAYS a way to get around to finding the password information we lose. Why do I freak out like that? Hmmmf!
We met our friends at the movie theater around 6pm Dec 31st to watch Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law and Rachel McAdams. Pretty good movie. Entertaining enough.
After the movie our friends, and their son, came back to our place. We settled "J" down by the video game system and t.v. where he remained content while we adults chowed down on some "Festive Fondue" (cheese fondue) and Chocolate Fondue for dessert. So glad I did most of the prep ahead of time! Somehow Fondue seems like a "healthy" meal with all the fresh fruit and veggies, yet we forget the calorie intake of all that cheese and chocolate.
After we ate we sat and chatted while Ryan Seacrest, Melissa Ryecroft-Strickland and Dick Clark counted down to 2010. We flipped between Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the festivities in our own Niagara Falls where the ET Canada crew were hosting and one of my teenage favorite bands, Styx were playing. I am happy to report that my anxiety was fairly tolerable as the seconds counted down. No tears. No heart palpatations. Okay, maybe a few but they were barely noticeable.
By 12:30 our friends were on their way home and the kitchen was being cleaned. Another year was behind and a new year of hope and expectation ahead. Perhaps it wasn't such a traumatic transition for me this year because God has healed so much of my heart and the things that used to cause me anxiety (like being barren and hoping that the new year would be THE year my dreams would come true). There is a lot to be said for letting go! With letting go of the control of the future (which of course I never truly had a hold on) comes letting go of the anxiety of those hopes and dreams. Hmm. Who knew!?
Before I end this first post of 2010, I want to share the recipe for our Festive Fondue I found in a magazine. It was so fast and easy to make and delicious to boot! Enjoy and Happy New Year!!
Festive Fondue
Ingredients:
1TBSP butter
1 shallot, chopped (that's a kind of onion for those like me who didn't know what a shallot is)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup white wine (or chicken broth or unsweetened apple or grape juice)
1/3 cup dried cranberries (Cranraisins)
1 TBSP chopped fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 lb (225 g) Gouda cheese, shredded
1/4 lb (115 g) Chedder cheese, shredded
1/4 lb (115 g) Swiss cheese, shredded
1 TBSP corn starch
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation and Cooking:
- In a fondue pot over medium heat, melt butter and saute the shallot and garlic for 2-3 minutes
- Add wine (or alternative liquid), cranberries and rosemary. Simmer about 3-4 minutes or until reduced 1/3. Add shredded cheeses and corn starch. Let melt over low heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon.
- Pepper generously
- Serve at once with different breads, cured meats (we did cooked ham), vegetables (we did broccoli, carrots, celery, red/green pepper, mushrooms), fruit, nuts, etc.
ENJOY!
Monday, October 5, 2009
TGIM
Thank Goodness It's Monday! Can I just tell you what a horrible weekend I just had? OH MY GOSH!
Friday started out as a great day. Got the new wheels out on the first real ride... over to Sally Ann's... or Salvation Army for those of you who don't know the "slang" term..., the salon for a "trim"... more on that in a bit... and to the dealership to pick up the ownership that was missing my name along with hubby's and to exchange a cargo net for a cargo tray. It went from mediocre to terrible by the end of the weekend and I was thrilled to wake up this morning with last weekend behind me. Grab a cuppa and let me whine for just a bit if you please!
So... I hop in my shiny new SUV and head off to Salvation Army to drop off a bunch of stuff we'd had in the garage for what felt like FOREVER. It was only a few blocks from my hairdresser so it was perfect - kill two birds with one stone. I need to renew my passport so I thought... "I think I'll get a trim". I'm in the chair praising my hairdresser and the salon for a wonderful job every time and blah, blah, blah. I told her I'd never come home not liking my hair... that is... until that day. Now, here's the part where you tell me... "It doesn't look that bad" or "I like it" or whatever else you might want to say to make me feel better, but to me, the little "trim" felt like a scalping. I went from this...
Friday started out as a great day. Got the new wheels out on the first real ride... over to Sally Ann's... or Salvation Army for those of you who don't know the "slang" term..., the salon for a "trim"... more on that in a bit... and to the dealership to pick up the ownership that was missing my name along with hubby's and to exchange a cargo net for a cargo tray. It went from mediocre to terrible by the end of the weekend and I was thrilled to wake up this morning with last weekend behind me. Grab a cuppa and let me whine for just a bit if you please!
So... I hop in my shiny new SUV and head off to Salvation Army to drop off a bunch of stuff we'd had in the garage for what felt like FOREVER. It was only a few blocks from my hairdresser so it was perfect - kill two birds with one stone. I need to renew my passport so I thought... "I think I'll get a trim". I'm in the chair praising my hairdresser and the salon for a wonderful job every time and blah, blah, blah. I told her I'd never come home not liking my hair... that is... until that day. Now, here's the part where you tell me... "It doesn't look that bad" or "I like it" or whatever else you might want to say to make me feel better, but to me, the little "trim" felt like a scalping. I went from this...
Last Thursday's "Do"
to this...
New passport pic from today
Now, I realize that in my new passport picture I'm not smiling (it's not allowed) and I look OLD (or at the very least my "middle-aged" age)... and when I'm not feeling terrible like I did on the weekend it's truly not as heinous as I made it out to be but I am a drama queen... and rather vain to boot so there you have it! That was my "trim"... it is much shorter at the back btw.
At the dealership Friday, what was supposed to be a quick run in to pick up stuff and exchange stuff turned into waiting around for over an hour. Not fun but oh well. As I hopped in and out of the new vehicle Friday though, that stiff neck from earlier in the week turned into a HUGE muscle spasm in my lower back. Grocery shopping Friday afternoon was excruciating and my back only proceeded to get worse as the weekend went on.
Saturday was a pretty slow day with not much to show for it. I did though watch HGTV in the morning and realized that I really quite like that station and it's real estate/home improvement shows. Hmm... who knew? Saturday night, hubby and I went to the movies with friends and I must warn you as your movie reviewer extraordinare... Do Not... I repeat DO NOT... waste your time, money, anything... on going to see The Invention of Lying. It was terrible... and I really like Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner. It was crude, rude and spiritually offensive and had we not been with friends, hubby and I would have walked out. I apologized profusely for suggesting it. I felt dirty and sinful just sitting there... and I'm no prude! My official rating... BLECH!
After the movie our friends came back to our place for some carrot cake & a drink. As I served up the cake I noticed it was all gooey on the bottom. I thought it may have been the cake mix since I had used one that had been in my cupboard for I'm not sure how long... a year ... maybe two? Thankfully it had yummy cream cheese icing on top so it was satisfactory at best and some even had a second piece.
Sunday was the worst day of the weekend. I was in brutal pain when I got up with my back so I stayed home from church. Couldn't imagine sitting for 90 minutes on a hard wooden pew. Hubby & a friend prayed for me at the front of the church after the service and I have to say... my back improved immensely!
I had offered to bake cookies for a funeral at the church happening today (Monday) so after The Nephew (who is living with us again) and I cut up some veggies and I threw together the remaining ingredients for stew I began my baking. The first batch went in the oven and when I pulled them out at the buzzer's annoying buzz, I noticed the tops were brown (which they usually are not) but the bottoms were kinda gooey. Again with the gooey bottoms... what is going on? I called hubby and being the brilliant engineer he is, he noticed that the bottom element in my oven wasn't hot. DOH! That would explain a) the carrot cake disaster from Sat nite and b) the fact that the cottage cheese in Friday night's lasagna didn't melt. I had a little meltdown and then hubby suggested I stop my rant and call the neighbor and ask if I could borrow her oven. I am a submissive wife you know (hee hee)and so I did as he suggested and my neighbor was gracious and let me bake my cookies at her house. It wasn't until I opened her oven to take out the first batch (which I put in for a few minutes more to do the bottoms) that it donned on me that the burst of hot air in my face was indeed missing from my own oven. Again... DOH!
As a thank you to J, I offered her not only some cookies once I got them home and iced, but also some of the beef stew we would be eating for dinner. As Murphy's Law days go though, the carrots and potatoes were taking their sweet time to cook and it wasn't until after 9pm (and we three at home had already devised a Plan B for dinner) that I showed up at J's door with beef stew in a bowl for her and her sister to share. Oy! Is it bedtime yet? lol
Needless to say, I was incredibly happy (well actually that's not true... I was pretty blue after the emotional roller coaster of a day... make that weekend) to get into bed and bid this weekend good riddance!
One highlight I forgot to share though was from last Thursday, before the weekend started. It was 1:30pm, right before we were heading to the dealership to pick up the vehicle. Hubby walked in the door from work with these...
Just Because Flowers
Now it's Monday and I'm hoping the week is a far cry from the weekend! One thing that's improved... my back isn't as sore. Prayer works!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time Out
Not having small children, I am not a regular on the "time out" circuit. That doesn't mean though that "time outs" are not needed in my home. Today for example... I did/do indeed need a "time out".
I'm not sure if it's hormones or staying up too late but for some reason today I am BIG TIME "Miss Crankypants". Remember her? She is that cranky, overbearing, impatient and rather ugly individual who shows up on my doorstep unannounced and takes over my body.
She first made her presence known today when I went downstairs to start laundry. I know... MORE laundry. Like the 6 loads I did last week weren't enough, let's add 4 more today! I think I told you about the green shorts and top that hubby AND my brother-in-law bought while down in Raleigh. They looked like bobbsey-twins. Anyhoo... those green shorts are the bain of my existence right now. Last week, I washed the said shorts and hung them neatly to dry on the rack for fear that they would shrink in the dryer. Fine. No problem. A couple days later I took them off the rack and noticed that there were pink stains along the waistband on the outside of the shorts. I looked inside and WHOA... there was tons of pink stains... right along the edge of the binding tape along the seam... the RED binding tape along the WHITE seam.
Okay. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but seriously... who puts RED binding tape along a WHITE lining in GREEN/NAVY/WHITE shorts?? Anyone?? Anyone?? Bueller??
I called my sister to ask her what she did/would do if/when this happens to her hubby's identical shorts. Fortunately for her, D's shorts hadn't made their way into the laundry yet. "Thanks for the warning" she tells me. She suggested that after I try "Spray'n Wash", "Sunlight" bar soap, Dynamite (okay maybe not that one), that I should use a mix of vinegar and water to set the red dye in the waistband. Okay. I can handle that I think.
So, Tuesday, I scrub and scrub at the shorts getting almost all of the pink out, dosing the one last little spot along the side of the band with more Spray'n Wash. I go back this morning and now there is MORE pink along the front by the zipper, worse than was there originally. Oh my goodness... I just about lost it. I was ready to find a match and burn the stupid shorts. Instead, I called hubby like the hysterical SAHW I can be somedays, and we try & figure out what to do with the shorts. He suggested that I leave them with the pink and just do the setting with vinegar so no more gets pink and he'll just wear his shirt out with the shorts. Whatever!
I was SO upset that I actually went online to find the company that made the shorts and give them a piece of my mind. Lucky for them they don't have a website! Grrrr.
So, after my meltdown, I decided to knit and watch a movie to calm me down forgetting of course that prayer and meditation on God's Word would be a MUCH better alternative. I spent 2 hours with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Nottinghill. Can I just say how much I LOVE that Ronan Keating song, "When You Say Nothing". Have you heard it?
I felt better and thought Miss Crankypants had taken her leave but nope... she came back again at dinner as I was making a mess of our meal. I'm so glad my hubby is patient and has a stomach of steel! Let's just say... too much lemon on the fish. That's all I'm going to say about THAT!
So... that was my day in a nutshell. Laundry/meltdown, movie/knitting, dinner prep/meltdown. Now I wonder what tonight will bring??? Let's just say that quality time with God will be part of it for sure!
I'm not sure if it's hormones or staying up too late but for some reason today I am BIG TIME "Miss Crankypants". Remember her? She is that cranky, overbearing, impatient and rather ugly individual who shows up on my doorstep unannounced and takes over my body.
She first made her presence known today when I went downstairs to start laundry. I know... MORE laundry. Like the 6 loads I did last week weren't enough, let's add 4 more today! I think I told you about the green shorts and top that hubby AND my brother-in-law bought while down in Raleigh. They looked like bobbsey-twins. Anyhoo... those green shorts are the bain of my existence right now. Last week, I washed the said shorts and hung them neatly to dry on the rack for fear that they would shrink in the dryer. Fine. No problem. A couple days later I took them off the rack and noticed that there were pink stains along the waistband on the outside of the shorts. I looked inside and WHOA... there was tons of pink stains... right along the edge of the binding tape along the seam... the RED binding tape along the WHITE seam.
Okay. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but seriously... who puts RED binding tape along a WHITE lining in GREEN/NAVY/WHITE shorts?? Anyone?? Anyone?? Bueller??
I called my sister to ask her what she did/would do if/when this happens to her hubby's identical shorts. Fortunately for her, D's shorts hadn't made their way into the laundry yet. "Thanks for the warning" she tells me. She suggested that after I try "Spray'n Wash", "Sunlight" bar soap, Dynamite (okay maybe not that one), that I should use a mix of vinegar and water to set the red dye in the waistband. Okay. I can handle that I think.
So, Tuesday, I scrub and scrub at the shorts getting almost all of the pink out, dosing the one last little spot along the side of the band with more Spray'n Wash. I go back this morning and now there is MORE pink along the front by the zipper, worse than was there originally. Oh my goodness... I just about lost it. I was ready to find a match and burn the stupid shorts. Instead, I called hubby like the hysterical SAHW I can be somedays, and we try & figure out what to do with the shorts. He suggested that I leave them with the pink and just do the setting with vinegar so no more gets pink and he'll just wear his shirt out with the shorts. Whatever!
I was SO upset that I actually went online to find the company that made the shorts and give them a piece of my mind. Lucky for them they don't have a website! Grrrr.
So, after my meltdown, I decided to knit and watch a movie to calm me down forgetting of course that prayer and meditation on God's Word would be a MUCH better alternative. I spent 2 hours with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Nottinghill. Can I just say how much I LOVE that Ronan Keating song, "When You Say Nothing". Have you heard it?
I felt better and thought Miss Crankypants had taken her leave but nope... she came back again at dinner as I was making a mess of our meal. I'm so glad my hubby is patient and has a stomach of steel! Let's just say... too much lemon on the fish. That's all I'm going to say about THAT!
So... that was my day in a nutshell. Laundry/meltdown, movie/knitting, dinner prep/meltdown. Now I wonder what tonight will bring??? Let's just say that quality time with God will be part of it for sure!
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Pitfalls of my Internal Clock
My internal schedule feels totally out of whack lately. I tend to be a night "hawk" by nature, in fact my parents were both late night lovers, as are many of my 5 siblings. I come by it honestly, but it really can be rather bothersome. You see, first of all, hubby goes to bed earlier... sometimes around 10pm so when I crawl into bed I often times wake him either with the typical bathroom noises of washing my face and brushing my teeth (or flushing the toilet). Other times, I get in bed and become "Chatty Cathy" filling him in on results of one of our favorite reality shows. Then there are the nights where... well... you know (wink wink)
Back to my internal clock. So, this week I've been really bad at getting to bed earlier than say 12:30pm. I generally get a second wind around 9 and that's without the help of caffeine. Then on weekends, I can stay up til the wee hours of the morning either on my computer or watching a movie. The worst part of this though is that I HATE getting up late because my day seems to whoosh away.
I never would have been called an "early riser" well... ever, but in the past couple years (as my years keep climbing up that hill... or are they starting to slowly make their descent downwards?) I find that I enjoy getting up earlier... between 7 & 8 am. When I'm up then I get so much more done after I open my emails and check out my regular stops on the internet each a.m. This week though, I've been lucky to be awake by 8:30 and even then, I'm still trying to pry open my eyelids from the goop that's got them locked shut. I realize I could set an alarm clock and sometimes I do, but some days I just need to let my natural body clock set the tone for the day ... or else those old cranky pants magically appear once again!
Anyhoo... all THAT to say... today was a late morning start. I first peeked my eyes open at around 9am. I did get out of bed, make my tea, open my laptop to engage in "vital" communication with the internet world and before I knew it, the clock said NOON and hubby was calling for our lunchtime chat. I sheepishly relayed my day's events (which weren't much to show for at the time), said good-bye and closed the lid of my laptop. I had Crack Brownies to make!
Our ladies' group at church is having our annual banquet tomorrow night so I've offered to donate a pan of Crack Brownies to our Silent Auction. The money from the auction supports the daycamp our church runs each summer for community kids who can't afford summer camp. I'm also, as a separate item, offering the "Top Secret" Crack Brownie recipe in the hopes that more money can be raised.
I did get a walk/run in on the treadmill this afternoon so I didn't feel completely slothful today but I did feel very guilty when hubby arrived home from a hard day at work and had to load dirt into our flower beds from the big heap of dirt our complex leaves for all the townhouse owners each Spring. I could never lug it myself but I felt so bad that I was inside with wet hair (from my shower) while he was out there doing the dirt thing. He's such a saint, I swear!
After my hair was flat-ironed (and I looked human again) and hubby was showered and dressed we were off to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian at the IMAX theater. Great movie... VERY funny... but not necessary to see it in IMAX. Can't wait for the DVD! I LOVED the first one and this one was just as funny if not maybe a little more. Amy Adams was adorable, as usual. Owen Wilson and Hank Azaria steal the show they are so humorous! It was wonderfully creative and if you enjoy history and/or have been to either the Museum of Natural History in NYC or the Smithsonian in DC you'll enjoy how they bring the characters to life! I may just have to go back to the theater and see it again!
Back to my internal clock. So, this week I've been really bad at getting to bed earlier than say 12:30pm. I generally get a second wind around 9 and that's without the help of caffeine. Then on weekends, I can stay up til the wee hours of the morning either on my computer or watching a movie. The worst part of this though is that I HATE getting up late because my day seems to whoosh away.
I never would have been called an "early riser" well... ever, but in the past couple years (as my years keep climbing up that hill... or are they starting to slowly make their descent downwards?) I find that I enjoy getting up earlier... between 7 & 8 am. When I'm up then I get so much more done after I open my emails and check out my regular stops on the internet each a.m. This week though, I've been lucky to be awake by 8:30 and even then, I'm still trying to pry open my eyelids from the goop that's got them locked shut. I realize I could set an alarm clock and sometimes I do, but some days I just need to let my natural body clock set the tone for the day ... or else those old cranky pants magically appear once again!
Anyhoo... all THAT to say... today was a late morning start. I first peeked my eyes open at around 9am. I did get out of bed, make my tea, open my laptop to engage in "vital" communication with the internet world and before I knew it, the clock said NOON and hubby was calling for our lunchtime chat. I sheepishly relayed my day's events (which weren't much to show for at the time), said good-bye and closed the lid of my laptop. I had Crack Brownies to make!
Our ladies' group at church is having our annual banquet tomorrow night so I've offered to donate a pan of Crack Brownies to our Silent Auction. The money from the auction supports the daycamp our church runs each summer for community kids who can't afford summer camp. I'm also, as a separate item, offering the "Top Secret" Crack Brownie recipe in the hopes that more money can be raised.
I did get a walk/run in on the treadmill this afternoon so I didn't feel completely slothful today but I did feel very guilty when hubby arrived home from a hard day at work and had to load dirt into our flower beds from the big heap of dirt our complex leaves for all the townhouse owners each Spring. I could never lug it myself but I felt so bad that I was inside with wet hair (from my shower) while he was out there doing the dirt thing. He's such a saint, I swear!
After my hair was flat-ironed (and I looked human again) and hubby was showered and dressed we were off to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian at the IMAX theater. Great movie... VERY funny... but not necessary to see it in IMAX. Can't wait for the DVD! I LOVED the first one and this one was just as funny if not maybe a little more. Amy Adams was adorable, as usual. Owen Wilson and Hank Azaria steal the show they are so humorous! It was wonderfully creative and if you enjoy history and/or have been to either the Museum of Natural History in NYC or the Smithsonian in DC you'll enjoy how they bring the characters to life! I may just have to go back to the theater and see it again!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
What's For Dinner Wednesday?
It's time for another "What's for Dinner Wednesday"! The menu tonight was "Zesty Vegetarian Spinach Lasagne" from the back of the oven ready whole wheat lasagna noodle box.
Here's the recipe:
Here's the recipe:
Zesty Vegetarian Spinach Lasagne
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, thinly slice
4 spring onions, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup Sunflower Oil
1 can (28 fl oz) Crushed Tomatoes
1 can (5 1/2 oz) Tomato Paste
2 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1 lb Ricotta Cheese*
285 g finely chopped fresh spinach or 1 package frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
pinch of nutmeg
1 package Whole Grain Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles
1 lb grated Mozarella cheese
Garnish, if desired, with fresh chopped basil
Saute mushrooms, onion and garlic in oil using medium size saucepan until garlic is lightly browned. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, red wine vinegar and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Combine in a medium size bowl Ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, basil and nutmeg, whisk to blend. In a 9X13X2 baking dish, spoon 1/4 of the sauce over the bottom. Next use lasagna directly from package. Layer lasagna over sauce, always leaving at least a 1cm (1/2") space between strips since lasagna will expand during baking. Spoon another 1/4 of the sauce then another layer of noodles and then spread all the Ricotta cheese/spinach mixture on top. Arrange another layer of noodles then 1/4 of the sauce followed by 1/2 of the Mozarella cheese. Finally layer the last of the lasagna then the remaining sauce making certain that all noodles are coasted in sauce. Top with the remainder of the mozarella. Bake in 375F oven uncovered for 35-40 minutes. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving. Makes 8-10 servings.
* I substituted Cottage Cheese for the Ricotta cheese.
Wanna see the end result? Can I just say too... it was DELICIOUS (if I do say so myself). Honestly, I've always had lasagna with meat inside but this... DELISH!
4 spring onions, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup Sunflower Oil
1 can (28 fl oz) Crushed Tomatoes
1 can (5 1/2 oz) Tomato Paste
2 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1 lb Ricotta Cheese*
285 g finely chopped fresh spinach or 1 package frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
pinch of nutmeg
1 package Whole Grain Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles
1 lb grated Mozarella cheese
Garnish, if desired, with fresh chopped basil
Saute mushrooms, onion and garlic in oil using medium size saucepan until garlic is lightly browned. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, red wine vinegar and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Combine in a medium size bowl Ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, basil and nutmeg, whisk to blend. In a 9X13X2 baking dish, spoon 1/4 of the sauce over the bottom. Next use lasagna directly from package. Layer lasagna over sauce, always leaving at least a 1cm (1/2") space between strips since lasagna will expand during baking. Spoon another 1/4 of the sauce then another layer of noodles and then spread all the Ricotta cheese/spinach mixture on top. Arrange another layer of noodles then 1/4 of the sauce followed by 1/2 of the Mozarella cheese. Finally layer the last of the lasagna then the remaining sauce making certain that all noodles are coasted in sauce. Top with the remainder of the mozarella. Bake in 375F oven uncovered for 35-40 minutes. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving. Makes 8-10 servings.
* I substituted Cottage Cheese for the Ricotta cheese.
Wanna see the end result? Can I just say too... it was DELICIOUS (if I do say so myself). Honestly, I've always had lasagna with meat inside but this... DELISH!
This made double of what you see here so I took this portion of the dish to D & E. I got a snuggle in with Baby C while we were dropping it off on our way to Home Depot to pick up a French Door to replace the old solid door at the top of our basement stairs. Trying to spruce up the place!
The weather is beautiful here in Southern Ontario. I went for a long walk this afternoon and hopefully I'll get out in the sunshine tomorrow. So much for my inside to do list ;-) Maybe I should wash the windows tomorrow... Hmmm. We'll have to see about that!
DWTS last night had a pleasant outcome as Shawn & Mark beat out Gilles and Cheryl. It wasn't so much Gilles that I minded. It was Cheryl and her attitude that turned me off their team. I did think that Shawn and Mark outdanced them in the finale too. Melissa and Tony gave a valiant effort to come in 3rd, especially with that rib injury of a few weeks ago. Ouch!
Tonight is the finale of American Idol. As I type this I already know the outcome but I won't spoil it for the west coasters if they happen to pop in tonight. It was quite the show with so many varied talents singing along with the top 13 finalists. That's another show done for the season. I should be finding more time to read in the days/weeks ahead as long as I don't find something else to watch (but I probably will). Oh well!
The weather is beautiful here in Southern Ontario. I went for a long walk this afternoon and hopefully I'll get out in the sunshine tomorrow. So much for my inside to do list ;-) Maybe I should wash the windows tomorrow... Hmmm. We'll have to see about that!
DWTS last night had a pleasant outcome as Shawn & Mark beat out Gilles and Cheryl. It wasn't so much Gilles that I minded. It was Cheryl and her attitude that turned me off their team. I did think that Shawn and Mark outdanced them in the finale too. Melissa and Tony gave a valiant effort to come in 3rd, especially with that rib injury of a few weeks ago. Ouch!
Tonight is the finale of American Idol. As I type this I already know the outcome but I won't spoil it for the west coasters if they happen to pop in tonight. It was quite the show with so many varied talents singing along with the top 13 finalists. That's another show done for the season. I should be finding more time to read in the days/weeks ahead as long as I don't find something else to watch (but I probably will). Oh well!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Home Stretch!
Well, many of you commented on my crazy busy week up until Wednesday and it didn't stop there.
Thursday morning was Ladies' group at church. A few weeks ago a friend had mentioned the "Crack Brownies" I made for the baby shower last month which got a couple other women all excited. "You HAVE to make them" they exclaimed. I found the "snack list" and added my name for April 30 and told them that I would indeed bring some "Crack Brownies" that day.
Some thought it would be last week and were disappointed to find that there were brownies at the group last Thursday but not THE brownies they'd been anticipating.
This Thursday, I drove into the church parking lot, with the plate full of calories beside me (and you'll know why at the end of this post) and chuckled as I saw one particular woman, L, walking her small children into the church. L was the one most excited about the Crack Brownies.
I placed the plate on the table, unwrapped the saran from the top and like ants at a picnic, women were diving in to the plate to grab their "sugar high on speed". When L saw the babysitters downstairs with brownies in hand, she raced up to the fellowship hall, grabbed a chair, and sat down next to the plate of brownies.
The morning was abuzz with news that "THE" brownies had arrived. All the while I'm killing myself laughing at the brouhaha over my snack. G, the leader of the ladies' group had difficulty rallying the women to silence 20 minutes later as the sugar buzz had hit and like excited school children everyone was talking, laughing and carrying on.
One of the announcements mentioned that morning was the silent auction that would be held at our banquet May 23. From the back of the room S piped up, "I'd like to start the bidding on a pan of Crack Brownies at $50". Others began to chime in. Guess I have to donate that pan of brownies now I thought to myself. I had planned to anyway but now I'm thinking, I need to have the recipe offered as another item - placed in a sealed envelope for the women to bid on. The money goes to a day camp our church runs every year for kids whose parents can't afford to send them to day camp.
After Bible Study (which we all finally settled down for), I went to lunch with one of my friends who was picking up 2 of her 4 kids at school and the 5 of them, plus me enjoyed a quick lunch at the local Tim Horton's. After I left there I head over to another friend's to pick up her donation towards the bridal shower and then I was finally home... for a couple of hours.
Later Thursday night I was off and running with my friend A, to shop for the bridal shower gifts, grab a bite to eat and then home again to catch up on Survivor.
I stayed up late after watching Survivor on DVR to finish my latest writing assignment and then plopped in bed around 12:30.
This morning I was up around 8am and gathered myself together and was off to meet with K, the new friend from my book club. At our last meeting, M, the lady who runs the book club, asked for a volunteer to take the club in May while she vacationed in Europe. Thinking that K was very interactive with the group, I suggested her. Simultaneously, she thought the same of me and volunteered me for the job. We decided that we would co-lead together because we all know there is strength in numbers! So, this morning I drove to her home and we started working on combining our questions we had thought up from our latest read. Now had M been doing this herself, I'm sure she would have been done in an hour, 90 minutes tops, but both K and I enjoy talking (and laughing) and well, let's just say I was on my way home at 3pm! It was a fun day!!
On the way home from her place I stopped in at the grocery store to pick up fruit for my fruit tray I'm bringing to the shower tomorrow and after dinner I began gathering my punch bowl, 3-tier cake plate tray, table cloths, scrapbooking supplies and other stuff I'll need for the shower tomorrow.
I'm thrilled to be in the home stretch of this busy time. After the shower tomorrow the only thing on my agenda really is Book Club Tuesday night and my normal housekeeping chores (which I can't wait to get to come Monday). I'm absolutely exhausted, but I am so grateful to God for giving me the endurance to get through everything on my "To Do" list that just thinking about overwhelmed me last weekend.
Now as a reward for enduring through this entire post I have for you, my blogging friends, the coveted recipe for Crack Brownies, but before I post it, let me give you a little background on this "addictive" snack.
A few years ago our next door neighbor had been dating this guy. He ended up cheating on her & they broke up. In her healing process she read the book It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken, written by the same authors that wrote He's Just Not That Into You. Inside the book was a recipe for "Crack Brownies" and the gist of them was that the grieving reader was to make these brownies and share them with the significant people in their life that helped them through the break-up. So, J, our neighbor, brought us over a few of these absolutely, deliciously, best brownies I've ever tasted. (When you see the ingredients you'll know why!). They are called "Crack" brownies because like the drug, they are highly addictive and I'm sure the massive amounts of sugar and sweetness give you some sort of buzz (as witnessed by the women in our ladies' group Thursday morning!). So... without further ado...
Thursday morning was Ladies' group at church. A few weeks ago a friend had mentioned the "Crack Brownies" I made for the baby shower last month which got a couple other women all excited. "You HAVE to make them" they exclaimed. I found the "snack list" and added my name for April 30 and told them that I would indeed bring some "Crack Brownies" that day.
Some thought it would be last week and were disappointed to find that there were brownies at the group last Thursday but not THE brownies they'd been anticipating.
This Thursday, I drove into the church parking lot, with the plate full of calories beside me (and you'll know why at the end of this post) and chuckled as I saw one particular woman, L, walking her small children into the church. L was the one most excited about the Crack Brownies.
I placed the plate on the table, unwrapped the saran from the top and like ants at a picnic, women were diving in to the plate to grab their "sugar high on speed". When L saw the babysitters downstairs with brownies in hand, she raced up to the fellowship hall, grabbed a chair, and sat down next to the plate of brownies.
The morning was abuzz with news that "THE" brownies had arrived. All the while I'm killing myself laughing at the brouhaha over my snack. G, the leader of the ladies' group had difficulty rallying the women to silence 20 minutes later as the sugar buzz had hit and like excited school children everyone was talking, laughing and carrying on.
One of the announcements mentioned that morning was the silent auction that would be held at our banquet May 23. From the back of the room S piped up, "I'd like to start the bidding on a pan of Crack Brownies at $50". Others began to chime in. Guess I have to donate that pan of brownies now I thought to myself. I had planned to anyway but now I'm thinking, I need to have the recipe offered as another item - placed in a sealed envelope for the women to bid on. The money goes to a day camp our church runs every year for kids whose parents can't afford to send them to day camp.
After Bible Study (which we all finally settled down for), I went to lunch with one of my friends who was picking up 2 of her 4 kids at school and the 5 of them, plus me enjoyed a quick lunch at the local Tim Horton's. After I left there I head over to another friend's to pick up her donation towards the bridal shower and then I was finally home... for a couple of hours.
Later Thursday night I was off and running with my friend A, to shop for the bridal shower gifts, grab a bite to eat and then home again to catch up on Survivor.
I stayed up late after watching Survivor on DVR to finish my latest writing assignment and then plopped in bed around 12:30.
This morning I was up around 8am and gathered myself together and was off to meet with K, the new friend from my book club. At our last meeting, M, the lady who runs the book club, asked for a volunteer to take the club in May while she vacationed in Europe. Thinking that K was very interactive with the group, I suggested her. Simultaneously, she thought the same of me and volunteered me for the job. We decided that we would co-lead together because we all know there is strength in numbers! So, this morning I drove to her home and we started working on combining our questions we had thought up from our latest read. Now had M been doing this herself, I'm sure she would have been done in an hour, 90 minutes tops, but both K and I enjoy talking (and laughing) and well, let's just say I was on my way home at 3pm! It was a fun day!!
On the way home from her place I stopped in at the grocery store to pick up fruit for my fruit tray I'm bringing to the shower tomorrow and after dinner I began gathering my punch bowl, 3-tier cake plate tray, table cloths, scrapbooking supplies and other stuff I'll need for the shower tomorrow.
I'm thrilled to be in the home stretch of this busy time. After the shower tomorrow the only thing on my agenda really is Book Club Tuesday night and my normal housekeeping chores (which I can't wait to get to come Monday). I'm absolutely exhausted, but I am so grateful to God for giving me the endurance to get through everything on my "To Do" list that just thinking about overwhelmed me last weekend.
Now as a reward for enduring through this entire post I have for you, my blogging friends, the coveted recipe for Crack Brownies, but before I post it, let me give you a little background on this "addictive" snack.
A few years ago our next door neighbor had been dating this guy. He ended up cheating on her & they broke up. In her healing process she read the book It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken, written by the same authors that wrote He's Just Not That Into You. Inside the book was a recipe for "Crack Brownies" and the gist of them was that the grieving reader was to make these brownies and share them with the significant people in their life that helped them through the break-up. So, J, our neighbor, brought us over a few of these absolutely, deliciously, best brownies I've ever tasted. (When you see the ingredients you'll know why!). They are called "Crack" brownies because like the drug, they are highly addictive and I'm sure the massive amounts of sugar and sweetness give you some sort of buzz (as witnessed by the women in our ladies' group Thursday morning!). So... without further ado...
Crack Brownies
50 Kraft caramels
1/3 c skim evaporated milk
1 pk German Chocolate cake mix (or any chocolate cake mix)
3/4 c melted butter (not margarine)
1/3 c skim evaporated milk
2 c milk chocolate (or semi-sweet) chipits
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In heavy saucepan, combine caramels and 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted.
Grease and flour a 9x13" baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry cake mix, melted butter and the other 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Stir by hand until the dough holds together.
Divide dough in half and press first half of dough into prepared baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over baked crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble the other half of the dough over caramel layer.
Return to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove and cool for 15 minutes then cut into squares (I actually let it cool for much longer!)
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving and return to refrigerator when not eating as they can get goopy at room temperature.
*Warning... each bite is about a TRILLION calories so cut into small bite-size portions... or jog around your block TEN times! And ENJOY!!!
1/3 c skim evaporated milk
1 pk German Chocolate cake mix (or any chocolate cake mix)
3/4 c melted butter (not margarine)
1/3 c skim evaporated milk
2 c milk chocolate (or semi-sweet) chipits
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In heavy saucepan, combine caramels and 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted.
Grease and flour a 9x13" baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry cake mix, melted butter and the other 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Stir by hand until the dough holds together.
Divide dough in half and press first half of dough into prepared baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over baked crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble the other half of the dough over caramel layer.
Return to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove and cool for 15 minutes then cut into squares (I actually let it cool for much longer!)
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving and return to refrigerator when not eating as they can get goopy at room temperature.
*Warning... each bite is about a TRILLION calories so cut into small bite-size portions... or jog around your block TEN times! And ENJOY!!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Domestic Diva... sort of!
Now that the "crankies" are gone, I seem to be back to embracing my life as a "domestic diva". Mind you, I am no Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray or Paula Deen. I am a mere homemaker, trying to please my sweet hubby!
Amidst preparing for Ladies' Bible Study this week, working on my next writing assignment and running a few errands, I decided to prepare for my hubby yet another delicious meal for dinner. At this rate, he'll never want me to go back to work regularly
On tonight's menu was homemade Cannelloni... and by that I mean ... not frozen! I got my recipe from the Primo "Oven Ready" Cannelloni noodle box. As per request of my pal, Julie, here is the recipe from the box:
Amidst preparing for Ladies' Bible Study this week, working on my next writing assignment and running a few errands, I decided to prepare for my hubby yet another delicious meal for dinner. At this rate, he'll never want me to go back to work regularly
On tonight's menu was homemade Cannelloni... and by that I mean ... not frozen! I got my recipe from the Primo "Oven Ready" Cannelloni noodle box. As per request of my pal, Julie, here is the recipe from the box:
Primo Cannelloni alla Fiorentina
Cannelloni pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, baked in a tomato sauce
Cannelloni pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, baked in a tomato sauce
Prep time: 25 minutes
1 pkg (454g) ricotta cheese, regular or light
1 pkg (300g) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 egg
1/2 cup parmesan grated cheese, divided
1 tsp dried basil leaves
24 Primo Oven Ready Cannelloni
1 can (680ml) Primo Thick & Zesty Original Recipe Pasta Sauce, divided
1 pkg (454g) ricotta cheese, regular or light
1 pkg (300g) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 egg
1/2 cup parmesan grated cheese, divided
1 tsp dried basil leaves
24 Primo Oven Ready Cannelloni
1 can (680ml) Primo Thick & Zesty Original Recipe Pasta Sauce, divided
- Combine ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese, and basil. Mix well. Season to taste.
- Fill cannelloni with spinach mixture. (HINT: I put the cheese mixture in a ziplock baggie to squeeze filling into the cannelloni)
- Spread 1/2 cup of pasta sauce on bottom of 13x9x2 baking pan. Arrange stuffed cannelloni in single layer and cover with remaining sauce, making sure to cover all of the pasta.
- Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350degrees for 45 minutes or until tender. Makes 8 servings
This is what it looks like ready to go in the oven
And.... Voila... Dinner is served
with fresh salad (w/ Olive Garden Dressing) and
Fresh-made Garlic Bread
The best part... lots of leftovers! This recipe was so simple it's a great idea for a meal you need to take to a potluck, send to a sick friend or new parents, or to share with friends. Enjoy!
And.... Voila... Dinner is served
with fresh salad (w/ Olive Garden Dressing) and
Fresh-made Garlic Bread
The best part... lots of leftovers! This recipe was so simple it's a great idea for a meal you need to take to a potluck, send to a sick friend or new parents, or to share with friends. Enjoy!
