Family Night

The weather has been SO nice I couldn't help but crave a BBQ and dinner out back.
Little sliders for our dinner will make a special treat.  Why is everything tiny so darn cute?

The girls made a sign and hung it on the back wall.
I'm wondering if that is for them or for me?

I will never eat a regular potato chip again.
Kettle chips in ANY flavor are oh-so much better!

The girls went all out and set the table, lit candles, picked flowers and were in happy heaven!

Told you sliders were cute!

 Twilight - the perfect time of night.

Fruity Lemonade.  Make lemonade then add every possible frozen fruit you have in and stir.  We had fresh leoms, frozen strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries.  So de-lish!

5 on Friday

 My 5 favorite finds this week:

Gluten-free Toasted Coconut Waffles - YUM! I am trying these abd you can too HERE

How in the world did they do this? Amazing right?  Glorious Treats shows us how HERE

Since I'm turning 40 this is perfect...except I am kind of excited about and don't think it "sucks" but what a funny present for all my friends who are also turning 40!  Go here to see more.

I think I will paint my shutters bluehttp://brabournefarm.blogspot.com/2011/01/just-because.html that my Aunt gave me...after Ashley uses them for the wedding.

If it wasn't so blasted HOT I would wear this darling outfit!  

But a sweater in 115 degree heat?  No thank you!

Where's The Beef

I got some wild hair and split a 40 pound order of hamburger with my neighbor.  This is half of my order.  There were two HUGE tubes of ground beef in my fridge!  Are you grossing out as much as I am?  I divided it up into 1 lb bags with the food saver and we are now set for a long time in the beef department.  Chili anyone?

Favorite Holiday Treat Ideas

Thought I would post some holiday treat ideas so when life slows down for me next week I can hunker down, decorate for Christmas (I don't have ONE thing up yet....) and bake.  Until then - enjoy

via food exhibitionist

via soupdejour

via earthboundwinglessdream

via earthboundwinglessdream

via acottageinthewoods

via acottageinthewoods

via jims pancakes

via one charming party

via prettyfoods

Love Week

In the spirit of Valentine's day, if you want to join me in posting all the things you love, it is a fun project.  My friend Anny (who's blog is private) is doing this fun thing and I just had to join.  Who doesn't love to love and post about it?  Please...it's a no brainer♥


DAY1 - COOKING
I love to cook.  I also love to eat out but lately I have been loving my cooking more than eating out.  Strange I know but it's true.  It gives me a sense of pride to cook for my family and know that I have this skill.  I have even started making bread.  I made bread years ago but stopped when I broke my beloved kitchen-aid.  Those things are not made for bread, cookies-yes, bread-no.  I had to make a tough decision and cookies won.  I now have a new Blend-Tec mixer that helps me make bread and cookies.  It's a win-win!  Bread takes practice but I'm willing to put in the effort.

Tonight I made sweet and sour chicken and rice.  It was a major hit so I'm sharing the recipe so you can be MOM-OF-THE-NIGHT like me (wink).
Sweet and Sour Sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. white vinegar
2/3 c. water
2 Tbsp. corn starch
4 Tbsp. ketchup
Mix all ing. together and cook till thick.

Sweet And Sour Chicken

sorry - I'm not a food photographer. 

It tasted much better than it looks!

Then I cooked some chicken in a skillet with salt, pepper and some soy sauce.  I I cut up the chicken into chunks, added chopped green bell peppers, chopped celery, sliced carrots, 1 can of pineapple chunks and some diced green onions.  Pour sauce over skillet and mix together.  Serve over rice.  De-lish!

Do you like my Japanese rice cooker?  

It's the best thing - I love it!!  

And I only use Calrose Rice - (Japanese rice)

I couldn't eat any other kind 

 Let's re-cap:

I love cooking and baking.  I love my new mixer.  I don't love making bread - yet, but I'm going to practice till I do.  I loved tonight's dinner and I love that everyone loved it too.  I love my rice cooker even though I can't read what it says since it's in Japanese and I love Calrose rice.  Oh and I love my friend Anny and think she's so fun for doing this love week thing!

Love Week - are you in?

What's for Dinner - Smoothie Recipes

I was talking to Tom yesterday about our "eating out" habit. It has gotten way out of hand. I think we eat out more than we eat in. Sad but true. Life's busy and dinnertime sneaks up on ya so what do you do?

Not anymore! I am banning eating out for awhile! How about a month? Think I can do it? Do you want to take the challenge with me? I already have something fabulous planned for dinner.

Last night it was homemade whole wheat pretzels and soup. The pretzels were way too wheaty yuck! (And I even prefer whole wheat!) I'm going to have to find another recipe for those.
What's for dinner you say? Pasta e fagiole al forno - by Rachel Ray

(click on the link and it will take you to the recipe. )

I was online last night searching for a different recipe for the pretzels and found a secret goldmine! Smoothie Recipes. But not any old smoothie recipes.....Jamba Juice Recipes! I kind of felt like Elane when she found the Soup Nazi's soup recipes. So I'm going to share them with you!

Jamba Smoothie Recipes: thanks to recipezaar
Hints: 1 scoop – about half a cup to a cup
Enlightened Base – found at a health food store or substitute it with juice
ALOHA PINEAPPLE
10 oz. pineapple juice
1 scoop plain yogurt
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop bananas
2 scoops pineapple sherbet
1 scoop ice
BANANA BERRY
12 oz. apple juice
2 scoops bananas
1 scoop blueberries
1 scoop frozen yogurt
1 scoop raspberry sherbet
1 scoop ice
BERRY FULLFILLING
4 oz. raspberry juice
8 oz. enlightened base
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop raspberries
1 scoop blueberries
1 scoop ice
BERRY LIME SUBLIME-Cara's Favorite
12 oz. raspberry juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop raspberries
2 scoops lime sherbet
1 scoop ice
BRIGHT EYED AND BLUEBERRY
12 oz. soymilk
2 scoops yogurt
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop blueberries
CARIBBEAN PASSION
12 oz. Mango-passion juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop peaches
2 scoops orange sherbet
1 scoop ice
CITRUS SQUEEZE
6 oz. pineapple juice
6 oz. orange juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop bananas
2 scoops orange sherbet
1 scoop ice
COLD BUSTER
12 oz orange juice
2 scoops peaches
1 scoop bananas
2 scoops orange sherbet
1 scoop ice
KIWI BERRY BURNER
12 oz. Kiwi juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop raspberries
2 scoops raspberry sherbet
1 scoop ice
MANGO-A-GO-GO
12 oz. Mango-passion juice
3 scoops mangos
2 scoops pineapple sherbet
1 scoop ice
MANGO MANTRA
4 oz. orange juice
8 oz. enlightened base
2 scoops mangos
2 scoops peaches
1 scoop ice
MIGHTLY CHERRY CHARGER
4 oz. raspberry juice
6 oz. soymilk
2 scoops cherries
1 scoop strawberries
2 scoops frozen yogurt
1 scoop ice
ORANCE-A-PEEL
12 oz. orange juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop bananas
2 scoops frozen yogurt
1 scoop ice
ORANGE BERRY BLITZ
12 oz. orange juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop blueberries
2 scoops pineapple sherbet
1 scoop ice
ORANGE CHERRY CHEER
6 oz. orange juice
6 oz. soymilk
3 scoops cherries
1 scoop frozen yogurt
1 scoop orange sherbet
1 scoop ice
ORANGE DREAM MACHINE
6 oz. orange juice
6 oz. soymilk
2 scoops frozen yogurt
2 scoops orange sherbet
2 scoops ice
PEACH PLEASURE
12 oz. peach juice
2 scoops peaches
1 scoop bananas
2 scoops orange sherbet
1 scoop ice
PINA COLADA-Cara's 2nd favorite
12 oz. pineapple juice
1 Tbls coconut
1 scoop bananas
2 scoop frozen yogurt
2 scoops pineapple sherbet
1 scoop ice
PUMPKIN SMASH
8 oz soymilk
1 scoop pumpkin mix (from can)
4 scoops frozen yogurt
2 scoops ice
RAZANATAZ
12 oz raspberry juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop bananas
2 scoops orange sherbet
1 scoop ice
STRAWBERRIES WILD-Amberly's favorite
12 oz. apple juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop bananas
2 scoops frozen yogurt
1 scoop ice
STRAWBERRY NIRVANA
4 oz. apple juice
8 oz. enlightened base
4 scoops strawberries
1 scoop bananas
1 scoop ice
STRAWBERRY SURF RIDER- Cassidy's favorite
12 oz. lemonade
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop peaches
2 scoops lime sherbet
1 scoop ice
SUNRISE STRAWBERRY
12 oz. soymilk
2 scoops yogurt
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop bananas
GUMMIE BEAR - secret recipe not on the regular menu
12 oz. peach juice
1 scoop peaches
1 scoop of each: orange, lime, pineapple, and raspberry sherbet
and frozen yogurt
1 scoop ice
TANGO TROPIC
12 oz. peach juice
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop peaches
1 scoop raspberry sherbet
1 scoop orange sherbet
1 scoop ice
TROPICAL AWAKENING- Tom's Favorite
4 oz. pineapple juice
8 oz. enlightened base
2 scoops strawberries
1 scoop blueberries
1 scoop bananas
1 scoop ice

cake, girlfriends and being a cool mom

Yesterday I went to the cutest place for lunch with the girlfriends. It was birthday time so we had to celebrate. One of the girls found this darling little cafe that served us yummy salads with little macaroon cookies on top. Each chair at the tables were painted a different color (or colors-they were quite Mary Engelbreitish) and had a local business ad painted on it somewhere. What a great idea! I love clever people.
After we were done eating the waitress brought out two of the most divine little layer cakes made for just one person with a candle on each. One white – one chocolate. Well, we thought it was white until we had a taste. It was unbelievable. Seriously! It had this yummy, creamy not quite cream cheese frosting but not a true butter cream either. The cake, come to find out was some kind of caramel cake. I have got to find a recipe for it. We were all dying over it. In fact we gobbled it up with not much left over!
I just went and did a search. Can’t find it but Paula Dean has one that sounds pretty darn good! Why are things that taste so good so bad for us? Jeez!
This morning Tom and I woke up at 7:55am. Oops! The girls are supposed to leave for school at 8:30am. I was about to get up to start the rush when Tom said, “lets let them sleep” and pulled out his book. The covers were so cozy and I was so comfortable I said O.K. and pulled my book out too. We read till about 8:30 when the girls came in. Cassidy saw the clock, had a panicked look on her face then crawled in with us. I guess she figured “oh well” just like us. I felt like a cool Mom having a lazy morning with my little family. I hope the truant officer doesn’t find out. Is there a truant officer in elementary school?
Today I’m off to clean and prep for book club tomorrow. Most of my decorating/remodeling plans have poofed into smoke but I’ll live. It will still be fun even if I don’t have new doorknobs, an ottoman, my bathroom painted, etc.
Have a happy Wednesday! And here’s a fun quote for you and me.

picture curtsy of Mary Engelbreit

Questions:

What’s on your To-Do list?

What’s your favorite cake?

busy

 

Just a little something I whipped up. 

About Last Night........................

.................... I got to sub at Bunko.
It was super fun and I am always game to sub for this group because we have such a good time. Last time I subbed I got lowest score this time - 2nd lowest score. Yes, I think the dice are against me. That's o.k.

One of my favorite things was the BIG pile of purses on the floor in the corner. Everyone - and I mean everyone had an amazing purse. It made my heart go all a flutter! There was a yellow leather purse with a BIG yellow leather flower on the front that I might just have to find. It was DARLING!!!!

For dessert Paige brought out the new Cold Stone Creamery Cupcakes. Have you seen these? I hadn't and they were not only too-cute-for words! But they were too-tasty-for-words-too! But I'll talk about them because I'm all about the words!♥
I don't eat dairy. I don't even cheat(very often) because of how it makes me feel after wards. But I was not going to let this treat pass me by. No sirree! And I have to say it was worth it! The chocolate cup was so YUM, the cake - moist, the frosting not too sweet and the ice cream (I had the sweet cream) was yummy! Who ever thought these up were brilliant! I'm so bringing these to my next something. Not sure what yet....but I'm bringing them BABY!

Thanks girls for the fun night. I loved it. I'm tired today but I got my house cleaned, floors mopped, laundry folded and had a Dr. Appointment. Very productive! And........I'm doing a very good job at tracking my weight watcher points. (even though I cheated and had that sinful cupcake).

This week is going to be a very good week!
I can feel it!
I'm thinking positive -
I don't weigh any less yet but positive is very helpful don't you think?

So here's to a great week,
good times and being productive.
Cheers!

Yesterday turned out to be very interesting.

My elbow wouldn't go straight at all. If you know me you know my elbows don't go straight anyway but this was bad. It was totally bent like "I was trying to touch my shoulder bent." So all morning I had to use my left hand instead of my right. Having only one arm/hand can be difficult. Let's hope you don't ever have to deal with that.

Don't worry though, I took full advantage of my disability and watched TV most of the morning. I then helped Abby organize her toys. This is always a fun chore. We dumped all the buckets out onto the middle of the floor and then put everything back in the correct buckets.
Bucket #1 Barbies
Bucket #2 Barbies - this girl is a true Barbie girl - LOVES THEM!
Bucket #3 Barbie clothes
Bucket #4 Polly Pockets
Bucket #5 Littlest Pet Shops
Bucket #6 Dolly clothes
Bucket #7 Tea Party Dishes and play food
Bucket#8 Doll House Furniture
Bucket #9 Random things like purses, cell phones, play make-up, etc.

NINE Buckets people. 9!!! I told myself that she will soon out grow all these little girl toys and to just enjoy them. Half of them are Cassidy's old toys that she doesn't play with. She hardly plays with them too now that her and Cassidy spend so much doing gymnastic things outside. So we got them all organized and truthfully I think she will play with them MORE now that she can find everything.

After that I got Abby ready and took her to school. She's practicing for her school play and is singing all the cute garden songs and her part all around the house 24/7. So cute!

I was driving home from dropping her off at the bus and decided to go see my friend Christi. She just moved and I love going and seeing what she's done next to her house. We sat in the shade of her HUGE orange trees and had a nice visit. When her kids came home they picked me a BIG bag of lemons to take home. Christi - I may have to visit once a week if you keep spoiling me with lemons. I would also like to say that this was the highlight of my day. Everything after that went downhill and FAST!

I left Christi's and made a quick stop at the grocery store. I had 7 items on my list and walked out of there $137.00 poorer. And yes, I did buy more than the 7 items.

I was so excited to come home and try a new low fat yummy desert.

Angel Food Cake recipe.

Pineapple Angel Food Cake 1 box Angel Food Cake (1 step kind)
1 can crushed pineapple
Pour cake mix and pineapple with the juice in a bowl,
beat till blended,
pour into bunt pan and cook as directed on the box.
Serve with whipped topping of your choice & fresh fruit.

All was going well until I tried taking the cake out of the oven. It smelled and looked so yummy I just could hardly wait. Then I lost hold of the pan and dropped it making the light, fluffy cake fall and pretty much disintegrate right before my eyes! I was so sad and I was NOT going back to the store to get another cake mix and can of pineapple. DARN!

Don't worry - things get better....I mean worse!

I started making Dinner:
Taco Salad
Homemade Salsa
Tostadas

I started with the salsa. We love the Chili's salsa. Lets be honest, I love any fresh salsa but the kids eat the chili's salsa. I went to Recipe Zaar and got the recipe. After making it once I altered it a bit. Here's my version:

Cara's Salsa

• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can whole canned tomatoes (plus the juice)
• 1/4 cup jalapenos (fresh)
• 1/4 cup yellow onion (diced)
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 of a lime or more (juice)
• a handful of cilantro

Directions

1. In food processor place jalapenos and onions.

2. Process for just a few seconds.
3. Add both cans of tomatoes, salt, garlic powder, and cumin.
4. Process all ingredients until well blended but do not puree.
5. Place in covered container and chill

   A couple of hours of chilling will help blend and enrich the flavor.

6. Serve with your favorite thin corn tortilla chips.

It sure is tasty and easy! But be sure and pop it in the fridge 1st. It tastes better after it's sat awhile and is cold!

I used a fresh jalapeno because I have two plants in the garden plus I think you can monitor the heat better with fresh. I cut the jalapeno in half, de-seeded and sliced it up. I then put it in the blender with the tomatoes. I washed my hands and was very careful that I hadn't touched the seeds of the pepper. I finished the salsa then went to work cutting up veggies for the taco salad. Lettuce, tomatoes, celery, green bell peppers, avocado, olives and cheese. I got that all ready, started cooking the meat and beans, set everything out for dinner and waited for Tom to come home. By the time we were ready to eat my left hand was on FIRE!! I was soaking them in a cold glass of milk to try and ease the pain. I then went to ice cold water but nothing helped. I could hardly eat! This went on for hours. I couldn't clear the table, help my family, do the dishes. All I could do was keep my hand in ice or I would be dying!

I got on the Internet and found a site that had ideas that had worked on others. Tip King I tried aloe vera - coating my hands. That helped for awhile. I then tired a baking soda paste. I did that three times. I was so desperate I took one of my pain pills from my surgery! I didn't even take those after my surgery this is how bad it was. My last attempt at relief was rubbing alcohol. I tired this three different times before I could get some relief. When I woke up this morning my hand was fine.

I think what happened was: I didn't change the cutting board after cutting the hot pepper. I kept using it to cut the rest of the veggies (because we all know you only change the cutting board after cutting raw meat). My left hand was affected because I kept rubbing it on the cutting board each time I cut and picked up the veggies. How was I to know? I can say that NOW I DO KNOW and am passing on this information to you! I hope you never have to experience pain like that....EVER!

I was able to eat leftovers for lunch today and enjoy the yumminess. Last night I was in too much pain to like my food, family, TV, my bed......I pretty much didn't like anything last night!
Today was a much better day - yipee!!!

***Side Note: For those of you who "got me" on your silly little April Fools Day jokes - HA HA and watch out!

The best one?
Abby's teacher sent all the kids home with a red ticket.
Red tickets are BAD - Principal BAD!!!!
Abby gets in the car and say's "Mom I got a red ticket"
Ohhhhhh I was so mad - I was about to lecture her when she turned it over and said
"April Fools!!!"
Her teacher had written April Fools on the back of the red ticket....so sneaky!!!!!

Lemon Cake

The Little Chef and her Lemon Cake

The lemon cake turned out pretty good. Abby had fun making it and that's all that's important. She's becoming quite the little chef. She knows her way around the kitchen and she's only 5! Quite impressive. The cake did turn out a little dry but that's my fault. My oven tends to be a little on the hot side so I need to make sure I cut the time by about 10-15 min. Or at least check it early. I think if I would have the cake would have been perfect. I made a note on the recipe so next time I'll remember. We have been eating lemon cake and have been loving it. Thank heavens for "comfort food" it sure brightened my day! (And the beef stew was fabulous!)

I'm sick.
I've got a cold.
Sniff - Hack - Sniff


What I need is comfort food
Have you seen this site?
The Joy of Baking
It has yummy things that would defiantly
bring me comfort.

I think I might make this: The Coffee Cake (I love a good coffee cake)

Abby wants to make the Lemon Cake. That sounds good too.

And I printed off the recipe for Gingerbread Cake because that screams comfort to me!

I think it should be a law that when you are sick calories don't count. You should be able to eat whatever - whenever and if it makes you feel even a teensy bit better then YIPEE!!!I'll let you know how it turns out. I think it may be the Lemon Cake. I just squeezed 12 cups of lemon juice the other day and I need to use it up. And yes, I do realize that I am wierd and that baking does make me feel better. Some people read, some sleep, some whine.....I bake.

(I'm also making Beef Stew for Dinner -Now that's comfort food!)

Just a little F.Y.I.

Remeber those brownies I made for the six kiddo's the other night? Well, let me inform you that:

IF you leave a Pyrex 8x8 pan of brownies on the stove and,
IF you decide to accidentally turn the wrong burner on that stove and,
WALK AWAY thinking you are heating up the tea pot,
that Pyrex dish of brownies will EXPLODE AND CATCH ON FIRE!!!!!

Remember this next time you make brownies.
It will save you a lot of cleanup time.
I have had to wash down walls, cupboards, floors, ceilings,
vacuumed carpets, swept, swept and swept some more.
Luckily the Pyrex dish was blue so it made it a teensy weensy bit easier to clean up.
My house still smells like burnt smoke - ew!

Abby's Cupcake Birthday Party

I posted a TON of pictures of Abby's party. The problem is....I posted them backwards. The ones up here at the top are at the END of the party. So to get the full effect you have to scroll to the bottom of this post and read as you scroll up. So sorry!

One thing I would like to mention about this party is that the girls were so well behaved. My MIL and I just kept looking at each other in amazement. Such a huge difference from the night prior. They were so quite and well behaved. So impressive!

I also had to clean everything up from Cassidy's party friday night at 9pm and re-decorate for Abby's party because EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! I know - I'm a nut-ball. Next year - same party theme different day. Not different party theme same day - dummy!

Another thought was how cute the girls were when the doorbell rang and they saw their kindergarten teacher. Shaylee was invited so of course Lynn came along. The girls were so excited to see her!

Two hours was the perfect amount of time for everything we did. Abby and the girls were happy and had fun with everything we did. They were so EASY!!!! After the party I didn't see Abby for the rest of the day. She spent it opening and playing with all her new loot! Thank you everyone for a great party!

Now don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the post and read. Sorry about the backwards picture post!

The girls dancing to the music on Abby's CD that we made for everyone to take home. Cassidy taught the girls a few new moves that we learned the night before. They had so much fun dancing. I guess that goes to show you that it doesn't matter how old you are you can dance at any age!

Abby's BIG cupcake cake. I wonder what her wish was?

This is the face she made when I said it was time for presents. Pure excitement. Especially since she watched her sister open presents the night before. She knew exactly what was coming!
All the pretty little girls in their aprons that I made from a Dollar Store dish towel and ribbon ($2 total)
Abby had her turn 1st and got it the closest. We didn't have a winner because I forgot about prizes and gave the girls their lip gloss and rings at the beginning - oops! Good thing they didn't ask.

We played "pin the candle on the cupcake"

Abby in her apron. Love the pose girlfriend!

The girls took a break and ate a little snack. They were so quite and good! After the party the night before my MIL and I just kept looking at each other at the difference!

Taking a turn at mixing the cupcake batter

Love this shot of the cuties and their apron strings

Then we made cupcakes.
The girls were so good about taking turns and following directions.

We read the story Pinkalicious where the little girl ate too many pink cupcakes and turned pink!
A terrible shot of the pink and black birthday banner that Panda made and I bought. I had made the one I had up for Cassidy's party and a valentine one so when I saw this one for sale at Panda's I snatched it up quick. And it was worth ever penny! It's so cute and sparkly and glam!

Punch and plates. Why am I posting pictures of this? Boring?! Sorry about that.
The island all dressed in pink and white fru-fru!! Candy, donuts, lip gloss, marshmallow bites,
Fruit, pink marshmallows, more candy. Who knew the girls would NOT eat the chocolate dipped strawberry's but ate ALL the raspberry's.?
I think these are so cute. Not sure how they tasted but they are cute none the less. (pink marshmallos dipped in white chocolate them sprinkled with red, pink and white sprinkles.
More fluff and fru-fru with a glimpse of the cake.
Yummy treats for the little girls. And me!