Life with a Twist of Lime

2009-04-14T21:26:00.000-04:00

Tonight the new season of Deadliest Catch begins so of course that means crab for supper.

We love Deadliest Catch and never miss a new show (or periodic rerun or marathon). We’ve watched it from the beginning and of course have our favorite captain(s) and crew members. We gasp through the harrowing dangers and cheer when the pots come up full. We can’t wait to see who comes back (especially Phil) and to catch up on how they are fairing this season.

We love it so much that if I would have known earlier about Catch Con I would have tried to talk hubby into going. I’m sure since it’s being held in Seattle it wouldn’t have been too hard to talk him into visiting the Emerald City. At one time we were considering a move to the Seattle area and since then we have always said we were going to take a vacation in the area. One day…

Back to celebrating the new season what to have for dinner? Well duh…crabs…*g*. So we did take out from Red Lobster cause they do crabs, lobster and shrimp so well. We had snow crab legs of course and another favorite of ours is their Chef's Signature Lobster and Shrimp Pasta…mmm…got one of each and split them. Talk about stuffed, good thing Deadliest Catch is so suspenseful, I’m sure we’ll burned a few of the million calories we consumed by gasping and cringing during the show…*G*.

So if you haven’t seen the show, grab some crabs for dinner then sit back enjoy watching how your dinner was caught.

2008-11-11T09:50:00.000-05:00

Thank You!

Thank you Veterans for all you have done for us. I can’t imagine all you have sacrificed and endured for your country. You are the reason we were able to make history just a week ago. Thank you doesn’t convey what you mean to me and my family but thank you with all my heart.

Thank you to all the families of Veterans. I can’t imagine having a husband or a father serving in a foreign land. The sacrifice families go through when they have a husband and or father is sometimes forgotten. I’m sure you have tremendous pride in their service but the constant worry must weigh heavily too. Thank you for all the sacrifices you endure as well as your serviceman.

Thank you to all the mothers of Veterans. You have brought your child into the world, nursed them through sickness, taught them right from wrong, held them through their first heartbreak, and loved them through it all. Having an eighteen year old son makes me appreciate you more for the sacrifice you and your child have made for our country. Sending my child off to college was hard I can’t imagine what you went through sending your child off to boot camp. Thank you for all you raising such an honorable child and sharing him with our country.

To day is Veteran’s Day and I hope everyone remembers our Veterans today, but most important remember them every day in your prayers…especial all those still serving every day.

2008-11-10T12:55:00.002-05:00

Well this week’s menu is a crazy as this past weekend…*G*

If you read my last looong winded post you’ll remember this past weekend was my hubby’s birthday…really it was there, way towards the end after the equating the election to child birth (bet that’s a first…*ggg*)…anyway the weekend turned into a feeding frenzy of celebrating a milestone that we don’t talk about cause well hubby pretending he’s not getting any older…*g*. So how do you top off a weekend like that and follow it with a mini celebration again on Tuesday for Vetrans day?

You shop for enough recipes that anything you decide on you are ready to fix. Yup, that’s what I did…I have the fixin’s for several recipes and I have no clue what I’m going to fix or in what order I’m going to fix them…*g*.

I do know tonight I’m making Red Beans, Sausage and Rice (recipe will follow) and I’ll serve cole slaw made with cabbage, carrots, green onions, red and green bell peppers all rough sliced (not too thin) for a chunkier~crunchier slaw…and I cheat by using low fat Marzetti’s slaw dressing sparingly.

As for Veterans Day tomorrow…I really don’t know what I’ll make. Hubby will be home and we don’t really have any plans. I wanted to make something celebratory but my mind was totally blank. So I decided to just go with the flow tomorrow and fix what ever our taste buds want.

Here is the list of recipes I can make with the things I have on hand (in no particular order)…

~Impossible Chicken and Broccoli Pie
~Impossible Ham, Mushroom, Onion, Pepper and Swiss Cheese Pie (I love omelets made with ham, mushrooms, onion, bell pepper and Swiss cheese so this pie comes from that origin)
~Chicken, Potatoes and Peppers Hash
~General Tso Chicken Broccoli with Rice
~Southwestern Chicken Soup
~Chicken Layered Tortilla Dip
~Teriyaki Chicken and Veggie Stir-Fry with rice
~Chicken Salad (think Waldorf salad with chicken…and crasins for an extra fall feeling)
~Tuna Salad (think tuna salad with macaroni and green peas so it’s a casserole)

So you see I have quite a choice for this week’s menu. Even writing it down hasn’t helped me decide what I’m going to fix tomorrow or later in the week. These were just the things that sounded good at the time I was making my grocery list. It all sounds good but I have a feeling later in the week when it’s possibly rainy I’ll use that as my angle for choosing each nights menu.

As promised above I’m listing my recipe for tonight’s Red Beans, Sausage and Rice.

2 cups dried red kidney beans
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
½ bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 oz turkey kielbasa, halved lengthwise and sliced ½ inch pieces
5 cups vegetable broth
1 tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground black,
½ tsp crushed red pepper, or to taste
¼ tsp dried leaf marjoram
1 bay leaf
½ tbsp sugar
8 oz beer
hot cooked rice
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

Sort, rinse and set beans aside.

Heat oil in large sauce pan over medium heat. Add onions, bell pepper and garlic to pan and cook 3 minutes or until tender. Add sausage and cook about 4 minutes or until lightly browned.

Stir in broth. Bring to a simmer, scraping pan to loosen brown bits. Stir in beans, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, marjoram, bay leaf, sugar and beer. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until beans are soft and juice has thickened, about 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Add more broth or water if necessary. Discard bay leaf.

To serve spoon rice on each plate and ladle beans and sausage with liquid over top. Sprinkle with green onions.

2008-11-10T09:15:00.002-05:00

Where did last week go? Or A week's worth of thoughts in on post...*G*

It seems like after the election things just sort of moved in a weird slow ~ motion ~ alternate ~ universe ~ excited ~ overwhelmingly ~ let ~ down ~ hurry ~ up ~ and ~ wait kinda way. With all the excitement leading up to the election it seemed we couldn’t get enough of the polls and last minute campaigned push (we are in one of if not the ugliest Senatorial campaign districts ~ total disgusted with that mess). All day Tuesday I watched MSNBC even though I knew they really wouldn’t have any information on the results until the polls closed. I couldn’t help myself. It was like being when you are starving and you still have to make the pasta. You keep watching the pot of water come to a boil…you know it’s not going to go any faster watching it but you just can’t help but checking it constantly.

Hubby and I watched President-Elect Obama make his speech with tears of hope. Afterwards we couldn’t seem to settle down even though we knew it was late and hubby had to go to work the next day. Wednesday we were still in a daze of hope and exhaustion. From there the week gets a bit fuzzy. Still trying to grasp what’s happened not only for our country’s government but also culturally the hope for the future for everyone. How exciting it is to see such happiness on the faces of young and old.

Then all the talk on Friday about what President-Elect Obama had to say in order to shore up our economy. The jobs report was so bad and added to the automotive industry Friday was almost overwhelming on the economic front. But what’s worse you realize not only does President-Elect Obama have come out saying everything is going to be alright but he can’t start his new job until the middle of January. Hence the hurry up and wait syndrome…

Kinda like having a baby. You are all excited when the stick turns blue and can’t wait until the baby comes. Then it dawns on you after the first flush of excitement, you have to wait nine months (if it’s unplanned possible less) for that baby to actually get here. You go through morning sickness, sometimes you puke so much you wonder if it’s all worth it…I did six months of puking several times a day. Then the swelling and not just your tummy…the cankles that have mutated from your ankles and calves…we won’t even mention our bottom…TMI. Heartburn you have at just the thought of food…but not eating is totally out of the question. Don’t get between me and chocolate (it was really viciously ugly). Even through all this there were lots of wonder and joy…the ultra sound and the many times everything stop while we stared in wonder at my tummy moving around…an arm here, a leg there and of course the total shifting body. Delivery oh boy that’s an experience like no other…and who cares what your body feels or looks like afterwards cause you are holding that beautiful miracle in your arms. You realize it was totally worth all the adjustments, pain and even puking for months on end…the biggest shocker of all while holding that beautiful miracle, you forget all you went through to hold that baby in your arms.

We have lots of puking, cankles, cravings and pain ahead but hopefully we’ll have moments of wonder and joy. With any luck when it’s all over we will have a country we can all be proud of showing off to the world.

With all the overwhelming emotions and excitement of last week I almost forgot this weekend was hubby’s birthday. So as Friday dawned with all the depressing economic news and the build up of P-E Obama’s speech, I was planning a weekend to celebrate a day hubby doesn’t want to talk about why we are celebrating but celebrate it just the same. I know kinda kooky but what can I say, he’s like an old woman when it comes to his birthday. When we first started dating age didn’t matter to him. Now we don’t talk about age…*ggg*…unless he really makes me unhappy (which doesn’t happen often) then I’ll make a comment about him getting old…*g*. We are both scorpions and according to mother the either mix really well or not at all. I don’t really follow that stuff like mother cause apparently I’m a true scorpion and that’s not good (according to her at least). I don’t know about all of that but hubby and I mix really good…in other words don’t cross one and don’t think you’ll separate and divide (after 18 years even our son hasn’t figured out how to do that…*g*).

So this weekend we’ve celebrated all weekend and since hubby will be off again on Tuesday we’ll just keep on celebrating. What does it mean to celebrate birthdays in our house? Well food of course. We were raised in families that celebrated (or mourned) everything with food. A weekend of food celebration means all our meals are celebrations…mainly our favorites or things we haven’t had in a while. But that will continue into next week too. I know doing that every once in a while that’s not too bad. But November is a bad month for us cause it starts with Halloween then goes all the way into Thanksgiving. We have been pretty good this year because we didn’t have a lot of candy left over from Halloween…those last kids that stopped by got extra…*g*. Hubby’s birthday this past weekend we did lots of celebrating and with him off again Tuesday breakfast will be more than just cereal. And we still have another birthday and the big long weekend of Thanksgiving eating…I mean celebrating…*g*. Then December is here and my son will be home and wanting all his favorites that he missed while away at school.

By January we’ll be ready for things to get back to a consistent menu of healthy foods minus desserts. But until then we will slowly slid into the cauldron of heavier meals finished off with progressively more decadent desserts. So sad that we can see it coming and yet we still can’t stop it…well we try at least to slow it down, kinda…*G*

Well I think that pretty much covers last week. I have lots of reviews to work on but I don’t know that I’ll get those done anytime soon cause today I’m finishing my parting of purging, organizing and cleaning the den. For such a small room you would think all the work hubby did yesterday would have taken care of everything but it only made a big dent. Most of this post was written yesterday while he was asking about stuff he was pulling out of the closet or rearranging the furniture around me. We were together in body if not in mind set…it’s amazing I can spend all day by myself and not get as much thought on paper as I can while he’s moving my chair while I’m typing…*g*.

Later today I’ll post this week’s menu…really interesting menu choices this week. I hope I haven’t scared you off after not posting then doing a mental dump on you. Stick around, who knows what will end up here this week…*ggg*.

2008-11-05T15:04:00.000-05:00

Yes, We Can!

Just typing that chokes me up.

My son came home over the weekend to cast his vote for a man who moved him so much that getting up early Saturday morning and standing in line for over 2 hours didn’t faze him. He stood straight without wavering, complaining or fidgeting.

I got choked up when they called the race because I was excited for our country. When I called my son last night shortly after the race was called, the excitement in his voice choked me all over again.

Listening to President-elect Obama’s speech last night was so inspiring that even hearing snippets today make me stop in awestruck again. Thinking about the way he’s affected so many American’s with his speeches give me comfort in knowing he will be the person representing American’s when talking to foreign leaders.

How exciting it is to be living a history making day.

2008-11-04T11:06:00.002-05:00

This Week’s Plans and Menus…

I know I’m a bit late but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have dinner last night…*G*. We never miss a meal around here. Sometimes I plan and shop then we don’t necessarily have the menu I planned on the day I planned it. The end of last week things didn’t go that way I had it planned. When that happens it’s easy the following week (kinda sorta…well sometimes) cause I usually push some of the menu plans down the calendar if possible.

Yesterday we had Spicy Shrimp Creole because hubby got a late start taking our son back to college. Since he wasn’t home Sunday night we didn’t do our usual Cajun/Creole dinner and watch True Blood. And before you ask, even though I was home I didn’t watch True Blood, we’ll catch it together one day this week. We did enjoy dinner last night though and we’ll have it again on a Sunday night in honor of our show…*g*.

What’s planned for tonight? Well here’s how my mind worked on that possibility…

I know with the election I could have gone a couple of ways for a wonderful Election theme night…Fancy Tapas Party Night (and this was a theme I was leaning towards), or I could have gone with my candidates favorite meal which according to the Cooking Light site is Chili (wasn’t in the mood for chili even though it’s a cloudy drizzly day) or I could have fondue as a fun food choice (also a play on the water cooler conversation…what are they going to be talking about at the water cooler tomorrow morning ~ or the fondue pot tonight…*G*).

If you’ve been following the election coverage…especially Keith Olbermann…then you heard about the day pie was mentioned so many times they wondered if someone needed more pie. Well while trying to decide on what I was in the mood for…I remember we didn’t have Impossible Chicken Broccoli Pie last week cause of a schedule change. So that’s how I picked tonight’s dinner…Impossible Chicken Broccoli Pie…which I lighten up with skim milk, egg substitute, 2% cheese and Heart Healthy Bisquick)…so we’ll be having pie for dinner tonight…*ggg*. Of course I couldn’t just have one…remember so many references…I’m fixing pie for dessert too, Impossible Coconut Pie (hubby’s pick cause he loves it)...same lighten tips, skim milk, egg substitute and Heart Healthy Bisquick. I’m also throwing Waldorf salad with it too.

Tomorrow will be pretty and I hope to get in the yard and work a bit so it will be a good night to fix General Tso Chicken with broccoli and rice…easy cause as I mentioned before I use the bottled sauce from Iron Chef…*g*.

Thursday I’m fixing Mexican Chicken and Rice with a side of corn. Another easy night but that’s cleaning and laundry day so I’ll be on the move all day.

Friday will be rainy and cool again so I’m thinking it will be a fun soup night but I don’t have it firmed up yet…some thing fun though…*ggg*.

So that’s on this weeks menu…the schedule is pretty light this week but I guess that’s the vacuum effect since last weekend our son was home for the weekend…*g*. What’s on your schedule and menu for the week?

2008-11-04T08:37:00.000-05:00

Have you VOTED???

It sure would be a shame all the blood and tears shed for you to cast your vote…and you didn’t?

What reason could you have for not voting? Are you not feeling up to standing in line at the polls? Is the weather just too yucky? Have you had a death in the family?

Well what about those men and women in uniform? Think of all the things those men and women have to feel uncomfortable about but they still put on that uniform and do the job they were sent to do. Isn’t standing in line even in the cold and/or rain in anyway comparable to what they are going through every day they put that uniform on? Think about that while you are standing in line so you can vote.

If you have had a death in the family, I’m sorry for your lost. Since yesterday I have been remembering the death of my grandmother. She was more of a mother to me than a grandmother and her passing still brings a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. Seeing my son growing and changing has me remembering the hand she played in my life. How I wish she were here to see the way life has turned out. What I would give for her to see my son has turned out. For her to see him at college and maturing before my very eyes, I often wonder what she would say about my life and his.

I can only imagine what Barack Obama is going through now. The loss of his grandmother only hours away from the biggest day of his life must be overwhelming. No matter how the elections turn out, he won’t be able to call her and hear her words of praise and love that you know she would say. How hard it must have been for him to continue on with his day yesterday but he did. He continued with his campaigning through his feelings of loss. What strength that must have taken.

He was able to pull himself together and continue on and so can you. No matter your reasons or excuses just get up, get to your polling place and stand there no matter how long it takes. You can make a difference with your vote so why not get to the polls. Your country is calling on you to do your duty by casting your vote. Show all those men and women in uniform that you are doing your part by voting no matter the lines or the weather.

2008-10-30T16:53:00.001-04:00

Review of Bitten & Smitten by Michelle Rowen

Title: Bitten & Smitten

Author: Michelle Rowen

Year Published: January 2006

Why did you buy this book?

I bought this book but I don’t know how long ago because it was hidden in my massive to be read mountain. I pulled it out because I was looking for some paranormal books to read the last couple of weeks…cause of the Halloween season.

Do you like the cover?

The cover was ok but not really what I would consider eye catching.

Did you enjoy the book?

I did enjoy the book. I thought the premise was a bit different from your typical vampire romances. Thierry is Sarah hero saving her from a horrific blind date where she unknowingly became a vampire, her date~sire was killed before her eyes and suddenly on the run from vampire slayers. Unfortunately Thierry tired of living has decided it’s time to commit suicide. Sarah talks him into helping her with her new way of life before he ends it all. And that’s where the fun really begins.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again?

Yes, the author was new to me and I will try another book by her. I’m going to wait until after I make a dent in my to be read pile. Not that I didn’t enjoy the book but I don’t have an overwhelming need to rush out and get the next one by this author.

2008-10-29T16:21:00.002-04:00

A letter to Maya Banks about her new book Be With Me...

Dear Maya,

I don’t know how to tell you this…

The first book of yours I read was Coulters' Woman. That book so touch the romantic in me that I was hooked on your books and had to have them all. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with all your characters and to feel apart of each book of yours I read. But none of them touched me as much as Coulters' Woman for a couple of reasons. One being of all the ménages I’ve read they never touch me the same because Adam, Ethan and Ryan each had their own touching romantic relationship with Holly. It wasn’t just the four of them joining together that made the story but each individual man loving Holly in his own way. The second reason of course being the obvious it was my first and you never forget your first whether it’s your first romance in real life or your first romance with an author that touches you so deeply as Coulters’ Woman touched me.

Be With Me has become my favorite book even over Coulters’ Woman because it goes beyond any ménage book I have ever read. In the first glow of a ménage it’s so exciting and overwhelming you don’t really stop to think about the nuts and bolts of every day life. And since Reggie, Hutch, Cam and Sawyer were childhood friends it brings and even more complex relationship because of that long standing bond they each had with each other. On top of the fact that Hutch, Cam and Sawyer were foster brothers instead of biological brothers they each brought their own set of baggage. All of this leads to another facet of the story being how each of these very different, very strong men feel about knowing and seeing their brother(s) with their soul mate. They are all soul mates there is no mistaking that from the very beginning you feel they are all soul mates. As if that doesn’t make for a very different ménage story, you also have Reggie in the middle of these wonderfully different men each with his own temperament and baggage yet so loving and deeply in love with her. She has her own conflicts to work through one being how to handle her feelings for each man as well as her knowledge of their very different personalities.

Having a killer out to get Reggie on top of trying to work out a relationship with this wonderful group of soul mates makes for an exciting and nail biting read. Oh and let’s not forget the heart pounding, squirm in your seat lovemaking. Along with being totally different in personality and temperament each man has his own needs and ways of fulfilling Reggie’s needs. What woman wouldn’t want three men with three different styles and needs who want nothing more than to make her feel as loved and needed more than their next breath?

It wouldn’t be a Maya book without the Happy Ever After but the road there is more exciting and gut-wrenching than any ride I’ve had in a long time. My only disappointment with the book…it ended. I never wanted it to end because I loved Hutch, Cam, Sawyer and Reggie so much I wanted to move in next door and be a part of their lives because you know life in that household will always be exciting, rambunctious, and loving always loving even when Sawyer and Reggie but heads because they are so much alike or when Cam tries to get Reggie to cut out her junk food habit.

This book will definitely be in the re-read category for me. I books that I call comfort reads because they touch me so deeply and sometimes I just need a re-read of something so meaningful and touching. This will sit on top of that comfort read pile for times I just need a hot, exciting and loving read to lift my spirits and move my heart. Thank you for giving me many hours of wonderful reading now and in the future.

Kelly

2008-10-28T14:42:00.004-04:00

I blame Shannon for last night's purchases...

Or at least that’s what I told hubby…sorry dear hubby but she was the one that started it, really it’s like this…

Shannon mentioned on her blog about a book that was missing some pages. Well I can’t help it I had to look up the book because I didn’t recognize the book or the author (Night Echoes by Holly Lisle). Of course it was a book that wasn’t in any of the bookstore in town…you would think out of eight book stores (yes, I said 8) I would be able to find the book. Well since I couldn’t find it I really had to have it. Not only does the book take place in the Carolinas (we live in the Carolinas), it’s spooky and this is the season for spooky and it’s a suspense…I love spooky suspense romances…it was a must have.

Well at that point I was almost like a two year old that’s been told we don’t have it…Ok almost but not quite cause before I could fall on the floor wallering around whining cause I couldn’t have the book right now I call the bookstore and they ordered a copy for me. They told me it would be in within a week…and best of all no shipping cost…*g*…see honey I was thinking about saving you money.

Ok, that explains why I picked up one book…but the other five books I picked up? Well I picked up Virgin River Christmas by Robin Carr because she’s not only an auto-buy author for me and this book just hit the shelves but its part of a series I love so much. This author writes books that pull you in and hits all your emotional buttons just right. I don’t like to bawl but with this author she hooks with her characters, they all feel like family (and not just the hero and heroine). You can’t help but laugh and shed a tear or two while reading one of her books. I put her books down feeling like I’ve just finished a story I never wanted to end cause they were so wonderful.

Of course I had to pick up Maya Banks Be With Me because again she’s an auto-buy author, this book just hit the shelves and I have been looking forward to this book too. She’s another author that will pull you into a story and not let you go. I have laughed out loud and shed a few tears over her books but the difference with her books…the love scenes…*sigh*…the woman knows how to make you wiggle in your seat while you read her books. She writes wonderful characters that have you pulling for all of them no matter what’s going on or what they have done (her heroes aren’t always perfect and sometimes you want to smack them cause they are just so male…but oh boy you still love them just the same…kinda like males in the real world…*G*…sorry hubby but it’s true ~ in a good way, really). Maya always has a happy ever after but getting there pulls on all your emotions, she’s a must read definitely.

Another auto-buy with a new release is Shelly Laurenston's The Mane Attraction. Like Carr and Banks, Laurenston writes books that grab with her wonderfully written characters and you feel like they are a part of the family…her characters more so than Carr’s cause if you knew my family, well lets just say they can be real animals too…hubby I know what you are thinking now but remember glasshouses and all that…anyway, from the first book I picked up by Shelly (Pack Challenge) I was hooked. She not only writes books with compelling characters but she can pull emotions out of you even when you are laughing so hard it’s difficult to read. She’s funny, gritty and wonderfully intriguing cause you just aren’t sure how she’s going to pull her stories off…but again you hate to put them down when you get to the happily ever after, you just never want them to end.

I know, I know that explains four of the six books…I’m getting to the rest I promise.

Uhmmm…

Well can I help it if I get author notices like I did with Scent of Darkness by Christine Dodd…*clearing throat*…well not really this book, but this is the first book in the series she was talking about. You can’t expect me to buy the book she was talking about without reading the first book(s) in the series, can you? So you see I had to have this book…after reading about it, I don’t know why I haven’t bought it before…*G*.

I bought Demon Angel by Meljean Brook cause I popped over to her sight because Larissa Ione mentioned Meljean's blog party. After check out her site and reading about her upcoming Demon book I had to check out the first book in the series and of course I checked out the excerpts. For the life of me I don’t know why I haven’t picked up Demon Angel before now. I mean I know a lot of people have talked about her books but for some reason I never picked one up. So you see why I had to get this one?

See honey I had a very good reason for picking up each one of these books. Now that you understand the reason for them, I’m sure you won’t mind that I have to go back to the bookstore tonight…Jaci Burton's The Darkest Touch hits the book shelves today and well it’s Jaci and I know you’ll want me to have it…*G*.

Sorry for the personal note to hubby but he was with me when I was shopping and just shook his head. No complaints thank goodness but still we would like our Significant Others to understand…at least when they are with us while we are purchasing…*G*

2008-10-27T09:22:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Larrisa Ione I found this wonderful contest over at Meljean Brook's blog. I think it's a wonderful way to celebrate her upcoming release Demon Bound as well and practicing for the upcoming election on November 4th (which is also the release day for her new book Demon Bound). Pop over and check out all the fun, the voting and commenting daily for a chance to win one of the daily prizes.

2008-10-26T16:15:00.002-04:00

This week's plans and menus…

Well this week is going to be chilly every day. The warmest day will be Thursday and that’s also the night before I drive across the state to pick up son for a quickie weekend home. I’ll want something easy and fairly light for Thursday night. Of course Friday will be pizza and wings delivery cause after 10 hours in the car I’m not going to be in the mood to cook much less clean up afterwards…*G*.

Tonight I’ll fix Spicy Shrimp Creole from The Southern Living Cookbook. It’s a great recipe cause it’s very tasty and really easy. We are avid True Blood fans (the new HBO series from the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris) so I usually fix something Cajun or Creole (or rather my version of Cajun or Creole)…the books/show takes place in Louisiana so you guessed it ~ theme night…*G*.

Tomorrow I hope to get the house cleaned up so I’ll be kinda busy all day so it’s another night I’ll want to do something pretty simply (both prepping and clean up) so I think I’ll go for Mexican Chicken and Rice…sauté chicken then throw in some rice, chilies, tomato, green onions, garlic and chicken broth…and with it I'll serve steamed broccoli (love those broccoli steam bags in the frozen food section).

Tuesday is supposed to be the coldest day this week so I’m thinking soup for supper. Home Style Vegetable Beef sounds like it will hit the spot…it has carrots, cauliflower, corn, green beans, potatoes and eye of the round roast…along with some crusty bread and a small salad and we have dinner without much fuss.

Wednesday will be chilly and also laundry day so I’ll be in the kitchen most of the day anyway so let’s prep time isn’t a problem. I’m going to fix a comfort food we love so much…Black-eyed Pea Stew from Cooking Light…we really love this stew cause it has all our favorite comfort foods in one bowl.

Thursday like I said will be a bit warmer plus that’s the night before I pick up my baby from college. Impossible Chicken and Broccoli Pie and a small salad will fit the bill perfectly. Hubby will have left-overs for lunch the next day and we’ll both have lunch for Saturday too. My son doesn’t care for broccoli and don’t even try feeding him a savory pie, not going to happen…*rolling eyes*.

And that leaves Friday night. Pizza and Wings are called for cause we usually don’t know what time we’ll be coming in and by then I’ll be totally numb…*G*. The rest of the weekend will be up for grabs with my son home. Sunday hubby will be driving him back so I’ll fix something that will hold until hubby gets back.

That’s my week ahead…what’s on your plate for this week?

2008-10-24T15:12:00.002-04:00

Cold and drizzly outside…

What a perfect day for reading and with Halloween right around the corner I’ve pulled out some of my spookier books…or at least books that fall in the paranormal genre. Since I have an extensive to-be-read mountain, I have lots of paranormal books that would fulfill my needs. After skimming through the books and picking the books that caught my eye first, here are my selections of possibilities (in no particular order) to read in the next week…

Witch in the House by Jenna McKnight
Dragon Heat by Allyson James
Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair
Mysteria by MaryJanice Davidson ~ Susan Grant ~ PC Cast ~ Gena Showalter
The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires by Katie MacAlister
The Witch is Dead by Shirley Damsgaard
50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom
Blood Brothers 7 by Nora Roberts
One Bite with a Stranger by Christine Warren
Arousing Suspicions by Marianne Stillings
Bitten & Smitten by Michelle Rowen
Bustin’ by Minda Webber

As you can see most of these books are on the lighter side of paranormal. I have a few darker books but I’m kinda in the mood for a chuckle with my spooky…but you never know I may read one or two of these books and then pick another group of darker scarier reads…*g*. I’ll let you know through the next week what I’m reading…and let me know what your reading too.

I’ll go finish reading The Rogue Hunter by Lyndsay Sands. She’s an auto-buy for me ever since I read Tall, Dark and Hungry…just before I went to my first Romantic Times convention…I’ll tell you all about my love for her stories in a later blog. Now off to fix some hot chocolate and snuggle up with the rest of Sam and Mortimer’s story.

Have a great weekend…hope to see you around here Monday.

2008-10-22T16:05:00.000-04:00

*envelope to forehead* ala Carnac the Magnificent
Politics, Religion and…Romance Books

*rip open envelope to find answer*
What are the three things you don’t talk about with strangers?

Ok for those of you too young remember the host of the Tonight Show before Jay Leno, I’ve totally lost you…sorry...I’ll move on to the topic now…

In our extended family we don’t talk about politics or religion cause hubby and I don’t agree with one half which causes too much friction and with the other half it turns a picking and prodding match (dad and I have the same temperament but not the same political views…and we do love any chance to pick on the other). But they know not to even ask about my reading cause they know what I read and my opinion of their opinion on my reading choices. But I never discussion any of these topics with people I just met cause I know these can be trigger topics for some people.

Well I usually keep my mouth shut until yesterday. I met someone at the bookstore with a Kindle. She showed me all the neat things about the Kindle which of course lead to a conversation about books. **I still love my eBookwise better** I didn’t say much about the specific books I read cause I know how most people react to romance readers. Remember I had seen her Kindle so I knew she read biographies as well as some other non-fictions books.

When she asked if I attended book readings or other author gatherings I went against my better judgment. I told her I had attended book signings and author gatherings. When we talked a bit more about the local book gatherings I really blundered further by mentioning I had attended the Romantic Times annual conventions. After explaining what RT is and about their conventions (leaving out the gatherings at the bar and party themes). I explained that what I really enjoy most about RT is the fact you could walk into a room full of people and within minutes you are talking with someone (or many someones) about books and authors I love. Well I lost her right there. I could see she was trying to stay with the topic as much as possible but she just couldn’t comprehend a gathering of romance readers.

All the way home I was thinking about why we have to avoid certain conversations. Topics that push certain buttons or choices that have others looking at us differently are really growing. When I have to cut myself off when chatting with someone because I don’t want to push those buttons it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to say anything to offend anyone. But it seems the list of offending comments grow more every day and I’m constantly trying to self edit before opening my mouth around others. To add in the possibility that some comment I say may make me seem silly or uneducated totally paralyzes me sometimes.

I tend to get nervous at gathers such as my hubby’s annual Christmas party because I worry I’ll say something that will have them looking at me differently (and in turn look at hubby differently). Most of these people I only see once a year so the first impression is important. Then you have to worry that at the end of the evening something I’ve said will have them remembering me by the impression that comment gave them. It’s a good thing my husband is extremely good at what he does and has been there for many years. I can’t possible screw things up for him with a comment I make but it still leaves that queasy feeling when it’s that time of year again.

Now you are questioning yourself about what I could possible have to worry about? Well I’m a stay-at home mom with my only child in college…actually my title has changed since my baby has flown the coop…I’m a homemaker. I love to cook, enjoy grocery shopping and want to make sure hubby’s weekends are mini-vacations away from work. As if that doesn’t make eyes roll. I’m an avid romance reader, I read several blogs and chat on loops with others just like me…oh and lots of the romance books I read are paranormal and~or erotic…is your hair standing on end?

No I don’t like bon-bons but I make some wonderful cookies and muffins…but I don’t spend my days eating them cause I don’t have time…as unbelievable as it is I stay pretty busy.

Now if all this make this blog post sound depressing or sad. No it’s not because I have also been thinking about all the wonderful friends I’ve made around the world through my romance reading and RT attending and I wouldn’t have missed a minute of it. I’m very blessed with lots of romance reading friends and even more romance books to read. Thinking back on some of the gatherings I’ve attend online and in person make me smile (and some even make me laugh out loud ~ and blush).

I’m really sorry there are people out there that are really missing out on the romance genre. They would really be surprised at not only the fantastic reads but some of the most interesting people and events. Nope I don’t go around commenting to stranger about what I read but when I do find a fellow romance reader I thoroughly enjoy our time together. No matter whether we read the same authors or not we really enjoy talking about our favorites. Nine times out of ten we will walk away with a list of authors~books we really must get.
So next time you are thinking how tough some topics are out there today, just remember…someone out there thinks just like you do…when you find them, enjoy your time together…it’s worth all the times you’ve had to bite your ton

2008-10-22T13:38:00.002-04:00

Recipes...Thanks for asking Angie.

Since Angie asked I'm posting the recipes for the Layered Chicken Tortilla Casserole and the Loaded Baked Potato Soup. The Chicken recipe I don't even remember where it came from but I do remember it was orignally a casserole. Now I fix it as a dip~heavy appetizer...or fun friday dinner. The potato soup is a combination of a couple of recipes...plus a bit of laziness on my part. I didn't peel the potatoes one time cause I just didn't feel like it and I thought what the heck we like the peel on our smashed potatoes. Hubby loved it and so that's the way I make it now even when I'm not lazy...*G*. Both of these recipes are really easy and very good so give them a try and adjust them to your liking (that's they way I cook all the time...*G*).

Layered Chicken Tortilla Casserole

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 can diced green chilies (4 oz.)
1 small onion chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 can cream of chicken soup
10 oz frozen corn, thawed and drained
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1 ½ cups salsa
Tortilla chips

Preheat oven 350*

Cut chicken into small bite-size pieces. Heat half oil in non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and sauté until chicken is browned cooked through (about 8 minutes). Remove chicken and keep warm. Add remaining oil and sauté onion until browned (about 4 minutes). Add green chilies, chicken, cumin, oregano, soup and corn. Mix thoroughly. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of the cheese mixing thoroughly.

Put chicken mixture in individual shallow casserole dishes. Sprinkle tops with remaining cheese the spoon salsa evenly over the cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Serve with chips for dipping. I usually have guacamole and other appetizer~snack type foods with it.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

1 ½ lbs baking potatoes
3 cups low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsps low fat bacon bits
extra virgin olive oil spray (I have a mister I fill myself)
small onion, chopped
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
½ tsp Tabasco sauce
1 cup fat-free ½ & ½
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 bunch green onions, sliced and divided
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup light sour cream

Preheat oven to 400*.

Wash, dry and pierce all around each potato with a fork. Put potatoes in the oven for an hour or until potatoes are done.

When potatoes are done place on wire rack until cool enough to handle. Dice up the potatoes (I leave the skins on cause I like them you can peel). Set aside for now.

In medium saucepan over medium high heat mist your pan once or twice (take pan off heat so you don’t start a fire while you spray). Add onions and sauté until soften a bit. Add potatoes mashing a bit with the back of your spoon but leave them mostly chunky. Stir in the broth, bacon bits, garlic powder, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes or until the flavors have blended, stirring occasionally.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the ½ & ½ and the flour. Whisk into the potato mixture along with half the green onions. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 3 to 4 minutes or until mixture has thickened. Add half cup of cheese, stir until melted and blended.

To serve, ladle into bowls. Top each serving with a little sprinkle of cheese, a small dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of green onions.

2008-10-20T15:53:00.000-04:00

How I plan my week…or better yet my weekly menu…

Every Monday morning (or Sunday afternoon) I plan my weekly menu then head to the grocery store for the week. For most it’s not that exciting or that big of a deal. But it’s something I truly enjoy doing. Not only do I love to cook but I love reading cookbooks. As a matter of fact I have a large collection of cookbooks ranging from baking and holiday cookbooks to heart health and diabetes health cookbooks.

As if that’s not enough to keep our menus interesting, I also plan for occasions. Every Friday is Fun Friday and we usually have…you guessed it fun foods that usually consist of bar or party type foods. If there is a movie we are looking forward to watching then it would be something special to go along with the movie theme. The awards shows are another way to fancy up dinner, dessert and cocktails.

There’s race weekends (most weekends if you follow it like we do) but there are a few special races that call for special party foods…mostly night races but there are some special day races too. Most of the time it’s your typical race foods like barbeque and chili dogs but some take on a life of their own…or rather a location of their own…such as foods for that region or race sponsor… or the Daytona races especially the 500 which calls for an all weekend celebration.

Then there’s the other sport…you know football…that’s pretty much stadium food or if we (the Panthers) are playing a team like the Saints that would call for a Cajun or Creole speciality. Philidelphia eagles call for philly steak and cheese…you get the picture.

Holiday shopping is coming up…that means holiday fare in quick bite-size proportions and of course a hot toddy to warm you up and help those aching feet. Or even closer, election night…now that will call for grazing food all evening and a cocktail too.

And that brings us to the next portion of menu consideration, the weather and my schedule of activities for that week. I mean if I’m busy all day I surely don’t want or have time to come home and fix an extensive recipe. And cool weather calls for warm comfort foods where hot weather calls for salads and lighter fare.

Now you have all the proponents for making up my weekly menu.

What’s on tap for this week?

Today it’s chilly and I’m working on the laundry…even though throwing on a pot of soup sounds like the best idea, I’ve wanted to try a new recipe from my cookbook Reader’s Digest Vegetables for Vitality…Chicken Hash with Potatoes and Peppers.

It calls for a cup of cooked chicken. ** I grilled chicken Saturday to go in some left-over Waldorf salad and presto-chango chicken salad** So now it’s just a matter of baking the potatoes which will warm up the kitchen and chopping up the peppers and onions. I’ll let you know how this turns out.

Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week. I’m meeting someone uptown so that means something quick and easy.

General Tso Chicken with rice and stirfry broccoli. After starting the rice, I’ll stir-fry the broccoli then pull it out of the pan, keeping it warm while I stir-fry the chicken. When the chicken is done I throw in some Iron Chef General Tso marinade and basting sauce. Plate up the rice top it off with the chicken and put the the broccoli around the chicken and rice. How much easier can you get than that?

Wednesday is supposed to turn cool again so I’ll make a super easy soup recipe. Southwestern Chicken Tortilla soup…chicken, chopped onion, green chilies, taco seasoning, can of diced tomato, drained can of corn, drained and rinsed can of black beans, 2 cans of chicken broth, lime juice. Top with shredded cheese, green onions and tortilla chips. Another easy recipe that’s also pretty healthy too.

Thursday it gets even cooler so another soup night. Loaded Baked Potato Soup…what’s nice about this you warm up the kitchen while baking the potatoes. I have a recipe that is a combination of two recipes. I’ll post it if anyone is actually reading by blog and interested…*G*. It’s as low fat and calorie as I can make it but I still use regular cheese in it. Hubby likes wings with this soup so we’ll have those too.

Friday is suppose to be rainy and even cooler. A lot of times we’ll order out pizza and wings but I’m thinking this will have to be a different kind of fun food Friday. I got a recipe years ago for Layered Chicken Tortilla Casserole. I’ve changed it here and there over the years and now it’s something that I fix in individual baking dishes and serve with chips. We eat it like a dip so it makes a wonderful fun Friday food.

It has a mixture of grilled chicken, drained can corn, cream of mushroom soup, cumin, oregano, green chilies and cheese…layer this in your dishes and top with salsa, bake and then melt some more cheese on top…super easy and a great make ahead recipe if you wanted to use it for a super bowl party.

Well that’s it for this week’s menu. I know you are wondering what happened to Saturday and Sunday. Well those days are usually left until Friday. We usually don’t know what our weekend plans are until then so how can you plan a menu if you don’t know what you are celebrating…*g*.

I went to the grocery store last night so I didn’t have to go today. I’ve got my week planned and more importantly my menu planned so I’m ready to start my week, what about you? Do you know what you are having for dinner?

2008-10-20T12:02:00.001-04:00

How does it become a mountain?

Not too long ago I posted on the Writeminded Readers loop about my To Be Read (TBR) mountain. I had gone through the piles of books I have on my bookshelves upstairs. I put each book on a list in my computer just so I could see what I had. I was completely shocked at some of the books that had gotten shuffled to the back and bottom of the stacks. How does an avid reader end up with stacks and stacks of books?

I think part of it dates back to when I read series books. Every time I went to the store I would see which lines had new books. Since I only read series books I didn’t have enough books to read until the next release date. That’s when I learned about used bookstores. I know authors would only get royalties from books bought new but since I was buying back issues you could no longer buy new I didn’t feel too guilty. So I got to where I had enough books to hold me until the next trip to the bookstore.

One day I was at the bookstore and saw this really pretty book on display close to the front of the store. It had a pink cover and a pretty woman on the front. It was a historical and I’d never really enjoyed those much…even though I had picked up a couple of the regency series books. But how could I pass up at least looking at the back of the book. That’s all it took to get me hooked on Julie Garwood. Later when her books started coming out in hardcover, she was the first author I bought in hardcover.

From Garwood I moved on to other authors in single titles, historical and then contemporary. I thought I was really in the know when it came to romance and for a while I was. Then while chatting on a authors~readers loop someone mentioned Christine Feehan. When my friends found out I wasn’t familiar with the paranormal genre they couldn’t give me names of books fast enough. At first I was leery of vampires and wolves. Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee just didn’t come across as a sexy hero type…but I did like Frank Langella’s Dracula was sexy and the first time I pulled for the guy with the fangs. So I picked up the paranormal books they recommended. I started getting backed up with books ‘I have to read’ but it wasn’t too overwhelming…yet.

It wasn’t long until I was addicted to a genre I was amazed I loved. But little did I know there was more to come. Shortly after I started my paranormal jaunt I went to my very first Romantic Times (RT) convention. What I found there totally blew me away. Not only were the even more authors out there that ‘I had to read’ but there was a whole genre that ‘I absolutely had to read’.

**I won my first ereader at RT that helped in my down fall but those books weren’t purchased until I got home. And I didn’t even counted ebooks in my trb mountain cause they all fit in my ereaders or on computer.**

Along with all the books I bought from the authors I had previously read, I added several new to me authors and books including some in the new to me genre of romantica. These purchases added with the books they were giving away I ended up shipping my clothes home so my books would fit in my luggage. I came home with a mountain in the making.

For several years I attended RT conventions and the mountain continued to grow. After my first RT I joined a couple author and publisher loops. Of course that added to my mountain because I’d hear about a book and had to had it. I had plenty of books to read and didn’t need to shop for more but still the need for this book or that book kept me purchasing books. Not to mention auto-buy authors, how can I pass up those books?

So now that we know how the mountain made. The next question is, how do you get rid of it?

Ok I had to stop there and think. I mean the shudder that went through me at the thought of not having that mountain of books racked my body senseless. Or maybe the shear magnitude of not having a book or two waiting to be read overwhelmed my mind.

Not have a book sitting there waiting for me when I finish what I’m reading now? That’s terrifying. And if it were only one book sitting there it would be just as bad. What if it were a book in the same genre? After the book I’m reading I may not want to read that genre again. Or maybe I want another book by the same author and I don’t have her backlist. If I just finished an emotional book sometimes I need a romantic comedy. Or worse what if I’m pms-ing and the only book I have is a Diana Palmer. I love her books but hubby has complained in the past that he suffers when I read her books while pms-ing…something about hubby paying for the hero’s shortcomings. I don’t understand it but I try to keep that in mind when I read one of her books.

So I guess it’s really not so bad that I have a tbr mountain. It may sound silly to those not addicted~obsessive about books but it’s a quirk I suffer from. It could be worse. I could suffer from a shoe addiction and need a larger closet to hold all my shoes…oh wait I minor in shoe addiction…*blush*

2008-10-19T15:13:00.002-04:00

First times are so memorable.

Once you’ve done it, you can do it again and again but it’s still not your first. You may feel strongly about the second, third or fifth time you’ve done it but it’s still not your first…unless it’s your child’s first time.

This election is very monumental for me. Not just because I think our country is on precipice of major decisions. We are in need of a leader to help pull this country together and move us forward. But that’s not what makes this a monumental election for me though important it’s not what makes me misty eyed thinking about going to the polls this November. This year my son will be voting his convictions this November.

I thought I was through with those parent hurdles for a while after dropping my son off at college this fall. But alas this hurdle is looming in a short while. I guess from now on those parent hurdles will show how much of an adult my baby is becoming. Even though he’s across the state my son will be coming home to vote.

Now you ask if I’ve helped shaped his views on who will win his vote. No, I’m sorry to say that I didn’t really do my job as a parent properly. I didn’t sit him down lecture him on importance of the next president. I didn’t give him a litmus test to use in determining his choice. And until a conversation a several weeks ago he didn’t even know my view on one of the hottest political buttons. I didn’t give him my politic view, I gave him my personal view as a woman and a mom…if he found himself in the same situation it’s her body, her decision.

Now that you are thinking what kind of parent I am, I’ll tell you. I’m a very proud parent. My son has followed the rallies, the debates, the news and Potus channel on XM radio…and yes, the Daily Show and Cobert Report. Over the last couple of years we’ve talked about what’s in the news and how the candidates handle themselves when questions or issues come up. He’s able to have an adult conversation about the candidates and why he feels the way he does about his choices.

No I’ve not molded my son’s political views or his choices. He has made his choice on his own. He has his own views and convictions. He hasn’t waffled on his choice or his view and he’s not afraid to voice his opinion. Whether I agree with him or not he is his own person. He took everything the media has thrown out there, filtered through the political rubbish and made his decision based on what is important to him. I’m proud my son has a mind of his own.

Life is full of decisions and choices. I know my son can filter out the crap and come to a decision that works for him. He has enough character to stick to his choices no matter what anyone says. He’s a staunch believer that if you have an opinion you better be able to back it up with facts and/or personal reasons. Feeling that way he won’t ever be accused of being a blind follower.

Yes, this election is a monumental occasion for me because my son will cast his vote for who he believes should be the next president of the United States.

By the way…we’ll both be voting for the same candidate…not because I’ve told him who to vote for it just happened that way.

2008-10-04T21:27:00.000-04:00

Does it get dusty in cyberspace?

I mean if you left your living room unattended for over 21 months you wouldn’t be able to walk in for the mutant jurassic size dust bunnies. You would have to open a window and wheel in the snow blower to tackle the dust that’s collected in all that time. So if you leave a blog alone for that long other than changing from just plan old blog spot to google blog spot does it also collect dust? Should I be renting a sandblaster to clean the place up or just call in a maid service to tidy the place up for company?

I don’t know why I’m worried about company. I have to entice people to stop by. Since I haven’t written more than an email response on one loop in so long I don’t even know where to start. Should I start with how much my life has changed in the last 21 months or post the recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Soup I made last night? Would a book review do it or the latest additions to my ‘To Be Read’ mountain? Maybe ya’ll would like to hear about my latest kitchen addition along with a review of how well they work…cookware Sue, get your mind out of the gutter…*G*.

As you can see this blog has a wide variety of possibilities…which is a better way of saying I’m kinda scatterbrained so no telling what I’ll post next. So stay tuned and maybe one of my wacky and~or rambling posts will interest you. And who knows you might even add to your To Buy or To Read or To Do lists.

2006-12-25T06:43:00.000-05:00

Do you still hear the Bell?

Everyone really does want to believe, even if they scoff at it all through the season. In that split second when they see those presents under the tree, they want things to be like a holiday movie…full of hope and wonder and possibly a little bit of Christmas Magic.

When you are young it’s easy to believe in the Christmas magic and a jolly old guy that would some how get into the house and leave those special presents under the tree. Mom and Dad claim he is able to get in when no one else can and leave bikes, electric cars, and of course those hard to find action figures, and video games. Common sense tells you no way but hope and dreams for your most treasured requested present let’s you suspend logic just long enough to see if you wake up to your Christmas wish.

All of the Christmas magic flies out the window when you hit those tumultuous teenage years. You won’t believe because it’s just not cool or you are too smart and logically can prove no one can get into your house without getting caught. With the screen covering the chimney not even birds can get in the house that way. Besides there’s no way one man can do all he supposedly can do in one night. It might be cool to see the Norad report (when dad forces you to look at it of course) but that’s just plain dumb in this day and age of homeland security. They would shoot that red sleigh out of the sky before he could identify himself. And airport security would have him tied up for weeks with all his excess luggage.

But when you roll out of bed before Mom & Dad (after staying up long after they went to sleep) you hope for just an eye twinkling moment that maybe there really is a Santa. When you go downstairs and there it is, the present you had hope for since it hit the store shelves (or at least the ‘sold out’ sign did). Some how someone was able to bring you the video game you couldn’t even find yourself no matter how many times you went to the stores.

How is it possible? Where is the logic? What does it matter, once again there are presents under the tree that weren’t there hours earlier and no way did mom and dad get past your guard to deliver them…of course they had to have done it but how?

Only someone with and inside scoop or the jolly old fella himself could pull off such a feat as getting the game you wanted and delivering it without your knowing it. So as you are playing with your new game, you know deep down that there really is a Santa or at least a bit of Christmas magic. You are just thankful you were pretty good this year and that he is a bit forgiving for those few times you may have not been on your best behavior.

Here’s wishing everyone a bit of Christmas magic and let us hope all our wishes and dreams come true this holiday season.

2006-12-05T08:52:00.000-05:00

Being a Domestic Goddess is like pulling a band-aid off…

Some days you rip that sucker off hair and all. You feel invincible because you were able to grab that band-aid without fear of end results and yank it off. And that’s admirable of you for doing such a thing even though you knew you were going to loose a hunk of body hair and it would not only be painful before and yes after the deed was done but you now have a bald spot to go along with the scare from the original injury.

Other days you wet the band-aid and work a tiny little bit then stop and question whether it’s the right time to take off. Maybe the band-aid should stay on for another day, hour or yes even a minute at this point sounds reasonable. You get out a little lotion to try working around the band-aid to lessen the total hair-skin ripping affect. You run water over it in hope that the waterproof guarantee was just advertising and it really will wash itself loose. And finally after agonizing over this task and working at it for several minutes, hours or even all day it finally works itself off. You still have a bald spot to go along with the original injury but it’s FINALLY done.

Well that’s the way I face being a Domestic Goddess. Some days armed with my “To Do List” I tackle every task with a vengeance. I plow right through all the gory details of clean without a care that it’s disgusting and full of germs. I’m forging a path with my Clorox clean-up, duster, vacuum cleaner and mop. I’m making my home free of the evils of dust-bunnies and germs to gross to even think about. When I’m done there is no dust to settle or germs to infect. My list is clear and I feel invincible in my ability to tackle any thing on my “To Do List” in an expedient and efficient manner. I’m simply a Goddess.

Then there are the real life days when I look at my list and wonder how in the hell I’m going to finish it much less survive all the evil attacking dust bunnies and germs ready to invade my body and cause me unmentionable pain and illness. Yes, that’s why they call them germs. They are sitting there on the toilet and floor waiting for me. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen them rubbing their grubby little hands together when you walk in the bathroom…”Oh boy, let me at that sexy goddess so I can make her body quiver and flame with all my infectious charm and she will think twice before she invades my castle with her smelly bleach.”

And don’t even get me started on the warm fuzzies waiting for me under the bed or in the corner. I don’t even know how they got the name dust bunnies cause those rabid creatures are just waiting to attack your ankles when you walk in the room with the vacuum cleaner. Then they hop right back under the bed or behind the end table to hide from your vacuum cleaner’s sucking power.

Yes, some days you spend an inordinate amount of time pondering the best way to attack these tasks without actually touching the surfaces or at least tackling them with the least amount of contact. You’ve tried all those gadgets and widgets touting great success in busting all the floating particles and pathogens with the least amount of effort and-or contact with said particles and pathogens.

You look at Martha and wonder how she scrubs her bathroom without wanting to don a haz-mat suit complete with oxygen tank. Then you remember she didn’t have a teenage son and was working in corporate America when her daughter was a teenager so you can excuse her “whistle while you work” attitude.

So after much pondering the problem and the outcome of coming in contact with those monstrous bugs and bunnies you trudge through your tasks as best you can. You take as many time-outs to wash your hands, grab a cup of coffee and meditate on how you are every going to make it though the ridiculous list you started with. You question the wisdom of becoming a Domestic Goddess in the first place. You never really cared to keep up with your own room and clothes before you had a husband and a child to handle too. Can you give up your addiction to buying books to pay for someone else to clean this mess…HA…like that would happen?

Finally the end of the day has arrived and your house isn’t as clean as you know it should be but when the husband and teenager walk in you are at least gifted with the fact they didn’t point out your failings. The teenager doesn’t even notice a change and the husband thinks you’re a Goddess and he is blessed to have you…*G*. Or at least he’s glad he didn’t have to tackle the job himself.

No matter which category you fall into, give yourself a clean tub to relax in cause at the end of your treacherous day you need to pamper yourself. And remember, besides the ol’…grass is always greener crap…no one else is going to do it and they will think you are fabulous because you did…if they don’t there’s always the threat of them doing it themselves…*G*.

So go forth and make your self a legend in your own mind because a positive self imagine is one of the most important things you can give yourself…and besides it’s cheap and easy to boot.

2006-12-04T10:12:00.000-05:00

My Holiday “To Do List” For This Week

Not only do I have the regular list of “To Do’s” (i.e. the regular chores of a Domestic Goddess and other such mundane things) but now that we are on the Holiday Count Down, I have a long list of things to do such as…

1. Shove batteries up several snowmen’s butt…hubby’s description for loading the batteries in my collection of musical snowmen (you know the one’s Hallmark has been putting out for the past 5 years). I also have to load up our Jingle Bell Rock(ing) Santa who “dances” and watches over all the holiday fun from his vantages point on the mantle.

2. I have to run to the fabric store for material to make a tree skirt for our little tree we picked up yesterday at Lowe’s…a dwarf Alberta pine not quite a foot tall…*G* I’ll have to blog the story of our first tree…kinda like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree but with lots of laughter. This of course won’t take the place of our 6’ real Fraser fir tree we picked up at the tree lot yesterday.

3. I have to hit Target for another string of multi-colored lights. We are really going all out this year because we found a pole-thingie to hang the lights on the gutter without using a ladder. My Alpha-Hero has a thing about heights (he won’t admit to it of course) so we have finally found a way to do our own Griswoldian version of external illumination extravaganza.

4. Pulling together all my addresses for my Christmas card list. I have my lists from years past but have never combine them together so every year I have to print them all out and then cross reference them to make sure I don’t double card someone…*G*.

5. Make out my baking lists. One for what I’m going to bake, one for my shopping list, and one for my shipping list (for those unlucky enough to get stuck with a care package from me…*G*). No Dad, you’ll just have to pass out the chocolate cherry cookies to neighbors and friends cause I’m still sending them to you even though they aren’t your favorite…they aren’t mine either but hubby loves them…*G*

6. Finish the wrapping the last few gifts for shipping. Most of these are done but I still have to get a couple of packing boxes and such to get these packages sent off to family and friends. I don’t mind standing in line at the post office but I hope to get this one done this week so the lines won’t be too long…*G*. Of course being an avid reader I just spend my time reading while shuffling along in line…*G*.

That’s about all I have right now but I have faith -- for every item I cross off my list I will add one or two more items…*G*. That’s OK though because I’m in a much better frame of mind (and body) this year than last year and that’s a wonderful feeling. I’m also very thankful I have a list of family and friends I have to do things for whether it’s send a package or card. I’m thankful all my family and friends are in good health and good spirits…you are aren’t you?

Keep checking back cause I’ll be posting pictures in the coming weeks of what makes our holiday season brighter.

Just for the record…21 days until the jolly fella comes to visit…*G*

2006-12-02T22:15:00.000-05:00

2006 Holiday Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends

Jaci tagged me for this bit of Christmas Cheer…since I don’t know how to get the Santa picture over here just picture the jolly fella in your mind…*G*

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Hot chocolate but I do have a fond memory of my Gramma making egg nog every year for our family Christmas party. The last year her brother was alive he brought all the fixings and told her he had been thinking about it for while and wanted to make sure she didn’t run out (like that would happen)…it was the last Christmas he was with us.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

He mostly wraps unless they are really too big to wrap (the year my son got his electric 4X4…he sat in it to open all his other presents…*G*)

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Colored and lots of them

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Not since my silk mistletoe became too frazzled to put up (haven’t had the heart to replace it)

5. When do you put your decorations up?

The weekend after Thanksgiving…the tree goes up the following weekend.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?

I associate Christmas time with cookies because Gramma and I baked them every year…I still do and it always brings back wonderful memories of our cookie fests.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:

The year my great uncle brought all the fixings for egg nog…he was so happy that year and spent a long time talking to my grandmother about how special she always made it for their siblings and their families who gathered at her house every year and it wasn’t just the nog talking…*G*.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I still hear the bell...*G*

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

No (well Santa and Mrs. Clause have been know to open a “special” present for their eyes only)…but everything else is open on Christmas day.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

For 22 years hubby and I collected ornaments for our tree, the year before we were married. We have everything from Our First Christmas to 3 Santa Bells, thanks to a special friend who picked them up for us after I told her how much we loved ‘Polar Express’…(Thanks Sherry). It’s so much fun open up each box and taking out the individual ornaments…the memories come back as if it were yesterday.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love it…but have yet to have a white Christmas…*G*

12. Can you ice skate?

I did a few times when I was a kid…but wouldn’t want to try now.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

Roller Skates…I got a special doll every year but I remember when I got my first pair of skates.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Being with my family and everyone being happy.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Pecan Pie

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Decorating the tree with all our memories.

17. What tops your tree?

An angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?

Giving - I try to find that special something for everyone on my list because I want them to know I thought about them while I was shopping for their gift. I want them to feel special and loved.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

It use to be “Jingle Bell Rock” but then when Polar Express came out I fell in love with “Believe” by Josh Groban

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

Yum

I don't know anyone else that reads my blog other than Jaci and Sherry...so Sherry your tagged. Anyone else popping in here to check out my blog, give it a try and let me know so I can get to know you too...*G*.

2006-11-13T14:38:00.000-05:00

Not You’re Ordinary Veggie Sandwich…According To Hubby

Another successful lunch for hubby’s mini-vacation.

Today I fixed a veggie sandwich filled with some of our favorite flavors/veggies. I also pulled out one of hubby’s kitchen ‘toys’, his panini maker (yes, he has kitchen ‘toys’ too cause he loves cooking some things too).

Today I used my stovetop grill pan (everyone should have one of these cause they are fabulous for veggies as well as meats). I used it to grill the mushrooms, asparagus and red bell pepper. Which if you read my blog yesterday, it’s basically the same thing I did for the asparagus (except I sprinkled garlic powder and Morton’s Natural seasoning on the mushrooms when they were done).

Now hubby says I need to come up with a great name for it cause Veggie Sandwich just doesn’t cut it. He claims this sandwich wasn’t just good but “very satisfying in a comfort food sort of way”…his words…*g*

8 thick sliced (crust removed if preferred) whole wheat seeded rustic bread
spicy brown mustard
4 portabella mushrooms sliced and grilled
20 spears asparagus grilled
1 large red bell pepper cut in big chunks and grilled
4 tbsp. tapenade from a jar (green olive & tomato flavor)
4 sliced Danish Swiss cheese

Turn on you panini maker so it can start warming.

Put mustard on each slice of bread to taste. On 4 of the slices start layering the items listed then top with other bread and grill it until heated through and smooshed down enough to fit in your mouth…*G*.

I really enjoyed this but like I said these ingredients are some of our favorite ingredients so how could I go wrong…*G*

2006-11-12T21:34:00.000-05:00

Dressing Up A Turkey Sandwich

Hubby and I met for lunch last week. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed a couple of sandwiches too. When I was looking over the menu, I noticed that they had several common sandwiches with unique twists. Of course, I don’t go into town for lunch enough to try all the things on the menu (plus we usually don’t go to the same place twice). So I got to thinking about how I could fix up my plain sandwich fixin’s (especially since hubby is taking a long weekend now and a few next month too).

I wanted interesting sandwiches but I have to watch the fat grams. This sandwich is one that’s not too bad and since I don’t eat sandwiches normally it will be great for special lunches (like when hubby is home…*G*).

4 slices whole wheat bread
honey mustard
4 slices smoked turkey (from the deli)
2 tsp. Ocean Spray Cran-Fruit Crushed fruit for Chicken Cranberry Orange flavor
10 grilled asparagus spears **method follows
4 slices Danish Swiss cheese (I don’t have it often so I splurge for flavor)

Toast bread and let cool. Turn on broiler. Spread all four pieces of bread with honey mustard (to taste). Divide turkey between two pieces of bread, spread each with a teaspoon of cranberry spread, lay 5 asparagus spears on top of each sandwich then top with cheese.

Place open faced sandwiches on a foil covered pan and place under broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly (DON’T TURN AWAY CAUSE IT TAKES LESS THAN A MINUTE). Take the sandwich halves out and top with remaining piece of bread. Slice each in half (slice in the direction that will cut the asparagus in half cause then it will stay together better and you will have asparagus in each bite…*g*).

**Grilled Asparagus is so easy you could fix it while making the toast and afterwards when you are waiting for it to cool.

Rinse off the asparagus and dry. Bend one in two until it snaps. Use this as guide for cutting the rest of the asparagus (discard bottoms unless you are saving them to make asparagus soup or something).

Spray fry/sauté pan (I have a Misto that I fill with extra virgin olive oil but you can us any spray oil) and heat to meduim. Put asparagus in pan and let it cook until tender crisp (will brown a bit but keep moving to keep from burning). When done, salt & pepper to taste. This just takes a few minutes total.

This was really good and I'll probable be making it again (after Thanksgiving...*G*)