Champagne wishes and coupon dreams...

miss me yet? I'll be extending that sabbatical

2011-06-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

I've been missing for a bit. Working on some personal illness issues, and a few other things that have come up. I'm going to be unplugging for a bit. It's time for me to slow down again, re-evaluate where I'm at, and how that works with what road I want to be on.

Am I crazy? Maybe. I can't imagine not being online. In fact, I don't even want to promise that I won't be here, facebook, or other blogs next week. I just feel the need to back away for a bit. I find myself sucked into the next best thing, every day. I love all of the information that is out there and I want to implement it all into my life. But, I've found that I'm "researching" more than I'm sharing. My bookmarks are out of control, seriously, tasteology is dangerous. I haven't the slightest idea what to write about for my next addition to Homegrown.org even though I've tried many new things since my last article. I'm might take a break there too.

I feel burnt out. My eyes hurt. My brain hurts. I probably don't remember half of the stuff that I've crammed in my mind over the last week. But it's all been amazing, I'm sure of it.

Can I do it? Sure. Will I stick with it? Hopefully. If anything, I can re-evaluate what's going on with me and just slow down.

much love -

tory

a new dinner plan

2011-05-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

I've found a new, free menu planning site. Say Mmm.... is my new go to and it's basic service is FREE! It has features such as meal planning, creating lists, and recipe organization. It's really easy to throw everything in one place and be able to print up your shopping list from your menu plan and your recipes-you can even adjust it for what's already in your pantry! Below is this week's dinner menu plan, which is almost guaranteed to change at a moments notice.

Day	Dinner
Sun 5/22	Keilbasa, Potato salad, & rolls
Mon 5/23	Rice noodles w/ cabbage, Cilantro, & sprouts
Tue 5/24	Egg flower soup & rice
Wed 5/25	Scrambled egg burritos
Thu 5/26	Chicken & veggie skewers -stir fry veggies
Fri 5/27	Pancakes/pizza - crepes
Sat 5/28	Leftovers/new recipe

and sometime this week I'll start entering my recipes for the above mentioned dinners and have links that you can print from! Oh, how dreamy and technologically advanced I'm becoming. I know, I'm a little slow. Hey, I've got dirt under my nails from digging in the garden -so much more satisfying than seeing my recipes on the internets, but I get asked enough and I do love to share.

I'm a mom. It's what I do.

2011-05-06T21:29:00.000-07:00

Kids. You got ‘em? I do, just a few. And one extra. My kids are a lot like me. They love to get outside. They love to get dirty. They love to see what they can do, how to do it, and how it will affect them and others.

Sometimes they get distracted.

That’s alright. I’m there to clean it up. I’m a mom. It’s what I do.

Sometimes they forget.

That’s alright. I’m there to remind them. I’m a mom. It’s what I do.

Sometimes they don’t want to do it.

That’s alright. I’m there to do it for them. I’m a mom. It’s what I do.

They love that we can grow our own food. That we can bake our bread from scratch. That we can eat as a family for dinner. They love learning about conserving, reusing, recycling, reducing, sustaining. Learning is what kids do. I’m a mom. It’s what I do.

happy mother's day friends

More of the madness

2011-05-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

but I'm making my way back

natalie very proud of her seeds

chives doing well after being transplanted in the raised beds

Calendula and lettuce starts in the new raised beds

lucy's artwork displayed in the front of the house

Jaguar at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle

baby jersey at Dungeness Valley Creamery

lucy & me at preschool

we've been busy...

2011-04-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

llama at the Olympic Game Farm

Lucy and Natalie's arm

Mariah, Natalie, Lucy, and Zak ~March 2011

Happy Days!

my plans for the weekend -what are you doing?

2011-03-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

I'm am super excited for the Seattle Tilth Edible Plant sale this Saturday. I have managed to talk (no pressure) my mom and mother-in-law in to attending with me -both huge plant lovers, like me. I've been drooling over the plant list for weeks and trying to figure out what I'll be bringing home. I'm definitely going to have a hard time not bringing one or two of everything home with me!

This weekend we will be celebrating with family. My son's birthday was yesterday(the 16th) and my eldest daughter's birthday is the 28th. So, this weekend is when we can coordinate with everyone. We'll be doing the usual, dinner out, then to my sister's place in North Seattle to enjoy ice cream cake and prezzies. Then the next day is nothing short of epic. We are going to the Pacific Science Center to see a special exhibit.... STAR WARS!!! Everyone in this family is so excited and can hardly wait.

needless to say it has not been the frugalist of weeks for dinners. We've had take-out pizza, and chinese buffet so far. Tonight, seeing that it's St. Patrick's Day, we're having a very traditional -although, not special according to the Irish, Irish dinner. Corned Beef and Cabbage with potatoes and carrots. I totally cheated and bought my brisket at Costco as a packaged Corned Beef. But I cut the damn potatoes, carrots, and cabbage myself! Then, I threw it all in the crockpot.

Happy St. Patrick's Day my friends!

missing menu, missing camera, missing my laptop, and missing you.

2011-03-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

Better late than never, right? Friday morning I awoke to a major disappointment. My laptop was dead. There is nothing. I power it on, and it's black. No noise. Nothing. Tears and sad clown faces. That's how I feel. So, what is an internet addicted mama supposed to do? Steal her teenager's laptop. Mah, she doesn't really need it. She's at school all day, and when she's home doing homework, I'm usually in the kitchen. It all works out eh?

I forgot about spring sports starting this week. Really, I don't know how anyone can stick to menu planning when you have a preteen and teenager that are both in spring sports. It's a good thing that we have one more year before the littles start spring sports. I don't know how we'll do it then, but we might be taking some friend's parents up on those ride offers. For now, we split dinner times. Kids eat when they can -either before or after practice.

Sunday: leftovers
Monday: leftover sandwiches/pancakes/soup -Nice mashup? Not all together, but don't put it past us
Tuesday: Spaghetti
Wednesday: Quesadillas -chicken/cheese
Thursday: steamed chicken, brown rice, and broccoli
Friday: drive-thru :) -heading out of town for the weekend
Saturday: eatin' out
Sunday: eatin' out

The week before last, the kids and I decided to try out a new cookie recipe. Family Circle's Double Chocolate Cookies um. Yeah. These were great to work up with the kids - all four of my crazies helped out. We made them exactly as the recipe said - no substitutions needed. And they were great! They were quick to put together and pretty darn good. One comment was heard, but it was minor. The big kids wanted chunks in their cookies. So next time we make them, we'll definitely leave some of the milk chocolate in bigger pieces. If you have trouble viewing the recipe link let me know, I have no problem writing it up. Also, sorry no pictures. They're on the missing point-&-shoot Nikon. *sad face*

Wa ha what?

2011-03-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

Well, we're going down in a blaze of glory my friends. First, last fall my laptop crashed for the umpteenth time. Then, it came back to life after a few months of being idle and me hijacking my teenager's laptop, it miraculously came back to life- and I didn't lose anything! Now, my little Nikon point-and-shoot has gone and disappeared on me. Seriously. I took a couple of blackmail pictures of my sister-in-law, sat it down and it's gone. We looked everywhere for it and a week later it's still MIA. Shit.

However, I do have our faithful 2006 Nikon D70 DSLR. And while it is a lug to pack around, and rather funny to say "oh! hold that crazy messed up face just a moment longer so I can take this bad boy out". I still love it.

We had a crazy few days of snow, no snow, more snow, freezing icy snow, rain, then freeze and more snow. Now. I declare. Spring can arrive. ANY. DAY. NOW. Really, I miss dirt. I miss digging in it, picking it out of finger nails and my kids hair. I want to see green poking through the ground with the hopes of it bringing food to our table. I can't wait.

Menu monday was a fail. Two weeks in a row. I tell you, weather messes me up. I can sit here and surf the internet and yet I can't focus five frickin' minutes to type up a menu. Menu Monday will return next week with a vengeance. Seriously. Charlie Sheen serious -like.

photo credit

Speaking of my main batshit crazy man Charlie Sheen, I have to share a couple of links with you. My favorite crazy, say it like is, cross stitcher over at Subversive Cross Stitch has some frickin' awesome new products listed on her website. Charlie Sheen quotes. Yes, she has the PDF's for sale on some rockin' quotes from our favorite rockstar from Mars. Check them out and MORE here. So give her a high-five for putting these on paper and sharing with the world. We all need a little Charlie in our lives and why not have it framed on the wall for all to see. Enjoy my friends.

More information to share on URBAN HOMESTEAD(ing)

2011-02-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

This was recently posted on a facebook page that I happily support. This is, for now, the only way I know how to support and share their struggle and others affected by The Dervaes Institute's recent trademarking "scandal". Please consider supporting the effort or at least help by spreading the word.
many thanks,
tory

URGENT PROPOSAL (1) My wife and I own Denver Urban Homesteading and our Facebook page was shut down by the Dervaes Institute. THIS FB page on which we are communicating could be taken down and as insurance against that we want anyone who is interested in helping to continue our struggle and that of other homesteading groups and authors affected by the Dervaes Institute takedowns to email us now at trademark@freethechickens.com so we can remain in contact in case we lose this page. (NOTE that this is for storage of emails only and I will not respond. If you need a response from me my email address is below.)

(2) We plan to file a petition to cancel the trademarks of the Dervaes Institute and we want to find others who can simultaneously file petitions. We believe this is necessary because (a) Dervaes Institute is shutting down internet access for us and for others and because (b) if their trademark which is currently registered on the Supplemental Register remains for five years it may become registered on the Principal Register after which time it will nearly impossible to challenge it. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office “A petition for cancellation may be filed by any person who believes that he or she is or will be damaged by the registration of the mark.” Since the Dervaes Institute has stated that anyone using these homesteading terms must acknowledge their trademark, it seems that a petitioner could include anyone. Thus, we would hope to see petitioners fit into the following categories:
(A) Parties who used the terms “urban homesteading” and “urban homestead” commercially prior to the date of the trademarks, which is November 10, 2007.
(B) Parties who used the terms “urban homesteading” and “urban homestead” commercially after the date of the trademarks, which is November 10, 2007.
(C) A nonprofit group of homesteaders to be formed, perhaps here in Colorado, perhaps elsewhere, that would include any person who believes that he or she is or will be damaged by the registration of the mark.

I have been an attorney for more than 25 years, although currently I do not make a living practicing law - I run an urban homesteading center! If other attorneys show up and want to help, that will be great. While I will represent my company, other attorneys could represent other parties. I will make my filings available to all.

(3) I understand that some people are interested in helping contribute so we will set up a paypal account to receive funds in my attorney escrow account or the account of a nonprofit corporation that I will use to pay for the costs or expenses of the legal filings pro-rata with any others filing concurrently and any excess to be used as directed by the nonprofit.

Any comments, suggestions or other proposals are welcome. My wife and I – indeed the entire City of Denver, Colorado – have a lot to lose if we are unable to refer to our business as one that promotes urban homesteading.

James and Irina Bertini
Denver Urban Homesteading
www.denverurbanhomesteading.com
james@denverurbanhomesteading.com
200 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80223

I AM AN URBAN HOMESTEADER

2011-02-16T16:34:00.000-08:00

I was an urban homesteader at the ripe ol' age of 9. I built my first veggie garden to prove that I could grow one. I begged my parents to help me out. We tilled up the yard in the backyard, they helped me build up my raised garden, because after all, our neighborhood was built on an old arsenic site. I grew veggies, I shared my veggies, and I even sold some of those veggies. I had rabbits for many years. I even tried my hand at chickens and ducks only to have to give them up because of city ordinances at the time. All before 1985.

I was an urban homesteader. I am still an urban homesteader, even though my urban homestead is located in a very rural community. I live in a community with an homeowner's association, with strict rules. I homestead my .66 acres like there is no tomorrow. I will stick up for my fellow homesteaders, whether they are rural or URBAN. Why? Because I was an URBAN HOMESTEADER long before someone decided that they needed trademark the term. Claim it for themselves, claim they were saving it from big companies. Saving it for the true homesteaders. Yet, anyone who uses the word or phrases must refer back to the them. And they must state that it is a trademarked phrase. You can't trademark a lifestyle. And you can't trademark mine. I AM AN URBAN HOMESTEADER!

Happy Valentine's day! and a Monday Menu

2011-02-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

Well, we had a successful Valentine's Day at the Cross compound. The festivities started last Thursday with Lucy's preschool party -and while she had been counting the days until her party, I believe she was a far from impressed with how it turned out. For one thing she was under the impression the Valentine's Day party would focus on her, not the other six kids in her class too. And secondly, she thought that it would continue on forever. She felt that EVERY DAY should be Valentine's day. Bring on the chocolate!

Today was Natalie's preschool party, as it should be, on Valentine's Day. I must say, since when did Valentine's Day cards/candies turn in to full blown gift/swag bags??? Hello, a four year old does not need, nor should anyone receive this much candy. I'm trying to get away with a few chocolates and an itunes card at home and you all are sending full size candy bars, toys, baskets, jewelry, spa days and Starbucks gift cards home with my kid(okay, slight exaggeration there at the end), but seriously, how can I compete with that? Oh, and guess what the camera battery died. Who knows when, but obviously sometime after Lucy's party -it was probably shocked by all the shit they received.

Tonight we take it easy, and will not be eating the traditional Valentine's day grub for dinner. We won't be indulging in filet mignon, baked lemon herb crusted salmon, or even heart shaped pizzas. Nope, it's our Meatless Monday night and so we are having a giant delicious SALAD! Hmmm.... hear my heart singing? Yep, really it's singing, and those are tears of joy, not sadness.

As for the menu... here goes

Monday: Big ass salad!

Tuesday: Ham & Cheese Panini's and soup

Wednesday: Chicken Quesadillas & salada

Thursday: Lasagna & salad

Friday: Pizza or Pancakes

Saturday: eating out with family -we'll be out of town through Monday :)

Peace and love my friends. Lots of dancing hearts -with hoola hoops.

I'm calling it Menu Monday

2011-02-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

because I don't have anything better.

It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted and I'm getting back into the groove of things. Not quite what I used to be, but closer. My nasty, quick wit is still lagging. I blame the multitude of experimental PRESCRIPTION drugs I've been on over the last year. But I believe we've (my doctor and myself -I've haven't been diagnosed as having multiple personality disorder yet) finally found something that works good with the lupus, fibromyalgia, and alopecia that doesn't totally fuck me up. *Insert huge fake smile here*

The hubs and I took our first trip together, sans children, last weekend. I'll repeat that. Sans children, and by that I mean ALONE. It. Was. Fabulous. And even though we never slept in, we didn't stay up late, and we called to check on the littles several times, we enjoyed ourselves so much. We definitely needed the time away together. We ate fantastic food. Discovered cool, moody coffee shops. And in China Town, found out that there was more than chicken and pig on the menu. Dog. Barbecued, strung up, and ready to eat in hanging up in the window of a bakery. Um....yum?

We've already planned and booked our return trip for the end of April and this time we're bring all the kids. Yikes.

This week's menu will be a lot of the usual suspects: no imagination here

Monday: Salad day! Lots of green to recover from football food

Tuesday: Chicken noodle and grilled cheese sandwiches

Wednesday: Spaghetti, bread, and salad

Thursday: Broccoli Beef over rice

Friday: Homemade pancakes

Saturday: Leftovers or new recipe night

Sunday: crockpot beef, potatoes, and veggies

That's it! If there's a recipe that you'd like to have and can't find it on a search -I'm working on getting this organized- just send me a message, I'd love to share!

You all have a fabulous week!

menus and why we plan

2011-01-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

We're sitting here watching football. Yes, we watch football occasionally. Me? Not so much. I'll sit here and pretend like I'm into it, I'll snack on the mass amounts of football food that I've prepared, and I'll surf the internet, because really anything on the internet is more interesting than football on Canadian television. Today, I was bad. I went with prepared food. We were at Costco and I couldn't help but think of the things that I could be doing, rather than sitting in the kitchen slaving away over greasy, fatty, stomach turning football food. So, I picked up and heated up some Hum bao, vegetable spring rolls. Set out a plate of crackers, warmed pita, and Spinach Artichoke Parmesan dip. Mixed up some salmon and mayo. Opened a couple of bags of chips and called it good. Oh, and "football" food isn't complete without a Corona. Personally, I would have paired this all with a Session, but I'm not into football and the man get his choice today.

I've been picking away at weekly dinner menus and probably next month I'll line it up for a few months like I usually do. But for now, I will lay out what we had last week for ya, and then throw together the upcoming week's menu. I found that with planning our menus out, I make fewer trips to the grocery store and I don't have that last minute panic attack over what to cook for the gang. So not only is it going to help save money, but your sanity as well.

I usually have the kids (yes, all four of them) write out (the youngin's with the help of the older kids) their top seven favorite dinners to have at home. I then mark off the repeats and work out a menu for the week with what we already have on hand. Checking the refrigerator and freezers to make sure that we have enough to accommodate a meal or more. I like to make extra for lunch for the next day, but it doesn't always work out that way. Usually, someone finishes it off by the end of the night. We rarely deal with leftovers, and if we do, it's gone within a few days.

Last weeks menu:

Monday: Chicken vegetable stir fry over rice
Tuesday: Crockpot shredded beef sandwiches
Wednesday: Spaghetti
Thursday: Hamburgers & salad
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Mashed potatoes, ground beef gravy, steamed broccoli with mizithrah cheese

This coming weeks' menu:

Sunday: Leftover hangover from football food
Monday: taco salads
Tuesday: grilled cheese sandwiches & tomato soup
Wednesday: Beef enchiladas
Thursday: Tuna noodle casserole
Friday: Children will fend for themselves. Gma & Gpa will feed them, 'cause me & the hubs are heading to Victoria, BC ALONE. For the weekend!

Crockpot shredded beef sammies

A quickie and simple dinner idea is the Crockpot shredded beef sandwiches. I take a frozen beef pot roast. sear the sides of it in a cast iron fry pan. I then sprinkle it with salt and pepper and douse it with worcester sauce. When the outsides of the roast have a nice crisp brown to it, remove and put in the crockpot.

I then add some onion (dried or fresh chopped), more worcester sauce, and a package of (dare I say it's processed) au jus gravy mix. Yep, I do keep this on hand. The flavor is one that I haven't been able to reproduce and we all just love it so much.... sorry. Add a cup of water and close that puppy up, set it to low for at least six hours. The aroma that is about to fill your home is mouthwatering and coma inducing. Come dinner time the family is practically climbing the walls and I have to slap their fingers/hands to keep them from tasting too early. Here is where I like to remind my husband how much I like jewely, his eyes are always glazed over and he nods his head a lot. I think bits and pieces get through, but time will tell.

I pull it out and put it on a plate to sit for about 20 minutes before shredding it up with a fork. I put out hoagie rolls, mayo, worcester, and A1 sauce. I personally only need mayo on my hoagie. A delicious side to go with this and on your hoagie is COLESLAW! I have yet to find the perfect recipe, so if you have a favorite, send it my way. But I definitely love the crunch that goes along with my sandwich. YUM!

Here is where I lack in my commitment.... I always forget to take pictures of the finished product. I will I promise. It's a favorite here so I have many more opportunities.

a rambling, outright, nonsense post filled with fantastic information

2011-01-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

BTW.... there are no pictures in this post. gasp.

I had given myself a break from blogging, baking, and all around domestic duties for a couple of weeks now, and it has been pointed out to me that I better get my ass in gear before it all takes on a mind of its own.

Over the break I baked many dozens of my infamous cinnamon rolls. I made mucho amounts of no bake cookies -aka Gramma Lamb-a-Ding-Dong's Oatmeal Fudgies -recipe to come. Not to mention secret recipe banana bread and lemon poppyseed loaves of bread for gifts. My husband even got involved and prepared many loaves of his buried family secret Cardamom Bread -to.die.for. Really. So, now that we have finally come off of our sugar high, it's time to get back to work. Woo hoo!

As I type this up, I am munching on a simple snack. Simple. Cheese, crackers, and apple slices. I bake and cook up crazy amounts of food, some that take all day. And yet, we are eating cheese, crackers, and apple slices. It really is amazing how the simple things are most satisfying. Keep your Diet Real has some fantastic ideas on simple, good for you snacks. I worked up a quick easy dinner menu for this week, so I'll have that at the end of this post as well as a new recipe, because I love you. Really. Deep, I know.

Now that my husband and I are finished with our downstairs remodel, we have been going through things that just don't have a place anymore. For some reason I want to hold on to things that I feel would have a purpose in the future. I'm not up for the next episode of Hoarders or anything that extreme, and I most certainly don't have any problem throwing things out -unless, I feel that it could be recycled by us or someone else. I'm a huge fan of Craigslist and Freecycle - I use both sites almost weekly, but as much as I send out I also bring home. I might send out a bag of infant toys only to replace them with a bag of Barbies for the little girls or a few cookies sheets for the kitchen. Needless to say, I've got several bags, boxes, bins to go through in the garage and I'm dragging my feet. No reason other than I've been putting these particular ones off for quite awhile. They are the little girls' outgrown clothes and shoes. Yes, I still hold out hope that we might actually be able to add on to this family even more someday. I've taken step one and that was load three bags of clothes into the back of the van for donation. Next is going through the shoes. Baby steps I tell ya, baby steps.

Have you ever rolled a hula hoop across your waist? Not, with your kids' Walmart hoop. A seriously large, purpose made hula hoop? I can now check it off my list. My husband bought me my first hoop for Christmas. I ordered it from Hoop Mama on Etsy.com. A customized 40 inch, collapsible, Happy Hippie. The day it arrived I stalked our mail lady. When she pulled up the house, I could see it in the back. As she walked up giggling, she said that she had to fight everyone off because they all wanted to give a spin before she delivered it. I was so excited. I unwrapped the bubble wrap and tape and place it on my hips to give it a whirl. That fucker fell to the floor. I picked it up and whipped it again. Floor. What was I doing wrong? I got on the internet and brought up many of my favorite sites. First Hoop City, I watched a few videos. Not much help. Then, Hoopaholics. Yikes, I was beginning to think I was in serious trouble. I kept at it. Then my big kids got home and had to try it out. Sure as fuck they got it right off the bat. I started to think that I got the wrong size or that I just wasn't cut out for it. Then I remembered a couple of blogs that got me hooked in the first place. Sara over at the Happy Hoop and Rebecca over at Hoopenanigans. They both had posted about their earlier experiences and it gave me that little bit of confidence that I needed. I know I'm not going to be doing any isolations or shoulder rolls anytime soon, but if I could just get the core going, then I'd be happy with that.

I did it. It was awesome. Now I can keep it up and move it up and down from my waist to my chest with little effort and it's only been just over a week. I think I'll be just fine with daily practice and when spring arrives we'll move it outside. yes.

Oddly enough, I made this: Top 50 Urban Farming blogs from Masters in Public Health. I thank you and graciously accept my place on your Top 50. I have been placed among the best. *bows and dips head*

Our dinner menu this week is very simple and quite honestly if you can't come up with six days worth of dinner meals on your own, you are better off eating out.

Sunday: Hamburgers & green salad

Monday: Broccoli Beef with rice

Tuesday: Soup & Salad

Wednesday: Tuna noodle casserole

Thursday: Buttermilk pancakes

Friday: Pizza -either homemade or Costco :)

And now without further adieu.....

Grandma Lamb-a-ding-dong's oatmeal fudgies

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup margarine (I use butter)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa powder (I used hershey's baking cocoa)

Combine in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for a 2 minutes then remove from burner and add:

2/3 cup peanut butter (I use chunky, cause I can)
1 tsp. vanilla (please don't use imitation, you're so much better than that)
3 cups rolled oats (not instant -sick)

Stir it up all together and drop by the spoonful (or 2 tablespoonfuls) onto a preppped cookie sheet -greased, wax paper, parchment paper, silpat, what have ya- and chill until set.

Simple. Delish. Gone.

much loves, tory

slow.

2010-12-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas is quickly approaching and I feel as if I've missed the boat. Really. I mean, I've had a really had a tough year physically. I feel as though I've been in a fog, and here we are just days before Christmas. I've got a list of things to do in just a few days and I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around it.

Last summer, I thought that I would enjoy the Slow movement . I longed for connection. I wanted my kids to feel the connection to the land, the people, our food. And somewhere along the road I lost sight of this. I don't know if it was my physical illness, or that life just got busy. I'm uncomfortable, I feel like everything is moving at warp speed. I feel like I'm really missing out. I have the desire to slow down, to see and feel moments for all that they can bring and give to me.

Slow down. Listen to the water splashing on the shoreline, the boats in the Strait, the kids asking me to come with them outside. The wind blowing through the trees, the neighbors chickens, ducks, and goats chattering. Feel the sun on my face, the kids blowing kisses, and the grass in between my toes. I need to slow down and focus on being still.

I'm going to learn meditation. I always thought that I knew how to do this, but little did I know exactly what meditation is. I can't sit still for two minutes, let alone ten. I can't not focus on anything, my mind is constantly running. I need to slow down. I need to try a be in the present with a clear mind and focus on the silence, the silence is a killer. That's where I fall. I have learned that meditation is not self learned. You need guidance, I have found someone who wants to guide me in meditation. Yeah! I'm ready.

I am looking forward to Christmas, albeit a busy holiday for us, I'm going to focus on the moments. As each one comes. I'm going to enjoy now and not rush to what's next. I'm going to slow down.

peace and happy holidays to you all!

'tis the season...

2010-12-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

for sharing, because that's what I do.

I have to share this website with you.

Everything is beautiful an incredibly inviting.

Santa, for Christmas, I want it all. Thank you.

in absence there are cinnamon rolls

2010-12-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

I could hear your gurggling tummies crying out for some attention all the way across the webisphere. I know you've missed me and perhaps wondered why I haven't been here. Well, I turned some much needed attention to myself and did a bit of healing. So that's my faboosh update and I'll leave you with a picture that will have everyone wondering....What the hell?

Yes, what you are looking at is my famous cinnamon roll (muffins). If you take a closer look, all of these have lots of nibbles or chunks taken out.

This child, unarguably, is the culprit. Really. She even admitted to it when asked as if it were no big deal. The sticky hands, frosting covered hair and face were also a let on. Yes, she is eating grass in this picture. It just goes to show you, she'll eat anything.

If you're looking for the cinnamon roll recipe you can find here - it's faboo and after a few years it gets tweaked a bit everytime, but no matter they are pretty much THE BEST.

Happy Birthday

2010-11-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

You old fart!

sickness

2010-11-09T12:40:00.001-08:00

I've been a little sick as of late. Actually, for the past two years, it has it's ups and downs. I've been diagnosed with many an illness and only then to have it retracted and called something else. I've been on a multitude of supplements, vitamins, prescription drugs, therapies, and treatments. I've been to many doctors and even been referred out to the big city a couple of times. I'm tired. My body aches. I feel deprived.

I paint myself up and pretend everything is great. I put on a great face and just deal with how I am. I find myself obsessive, pill popping, and eating to suppress the pain, the exhaustion, and the depression.

I know soon, I'll find someone who understands, knows how I feel, and will listen to what I have to say. Until then I will march on to my own beat, trying what I can to stay sane and comfortable.

Fermenting -Part 1: Homemade Yogurt

2010-10-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

I have come to the conclusion, that after many months/year of researching homemade yogurt techniques and recipes, that they are pretty much all the same. Some are super technical and strictly to the book and other recipes are just throwing stuff together and waiting for the natural fermentation process.

I do not own a yogurt maker, and quite frankly, glad I don't. I've made runny yogurt and the super thick shit -both massively tasty and always just right. All are relatively easy once you've got the basics down and I hope my clumsy tutorial helps.

milk, raw milk yogurt starter, quart jars

~non reactive pot -enamel cast iron dutch oven, stainless pot

~food themometer -

~wooden spoon/high heat spatula -I've used both

~2 quart jars with lids-sterilized and prepped

~1/2 gallon milk -I've used everything from 2% to raw, unpasturized whole milk

~yogurt starter -my fave is a plain greek yogurt starter or some leftover yogurt from thelast batch

~dry milk powder -

milk -in this case I used whole raw jersey milk

1. Pour milk into pot and bring to a steady boil. Add powdered milk sometime during this process, I usually do around 160-170*F. I've read it helps thicken it up. Milk should be warmed to 180*F. Turn on oven to 350*F for one minute, turn off and turn on oven light -it shouldn't be 350*F, but more like 100* or less. I like to put the jars of yogurt in the oven for a bit and then move them to a cooler for the night or afternoon.

milk, slowly brought to 180*f

2. Immediately move pot to a sink filled with ice cold water(add ice if needed). Cool milk to 110*F. Drain sink. Pull out a cup or so of the heated milk and stir in the yogurt until dissolved. Approximately 2tbsp. of yogurt starter per 1/2 gallon of milk. Then add milk/yogurt mixture to heated milk and stir to completely mix in the yogurt mixture.

sorry that I don't pictures of this process for some reason

3. Pour your yogurt into the sterilized jars and screw on sterilized lids.

4. Put your jars of yogurt in the oven and cover with a towel. An hour or so later I usually put them in a cooler with the jars wrapped in many towels for 6-8 hours (really, this can be anywhere from 4-24 hours depending on your taste).

5. Pull the jars from the oven/cooler, and take a peek to make sure they have thickened up a bit. Put in the refrigerator for overnight or 8-10 hours, this will help thicken up even more.

6. DONE!

finished product! Your own yogurt

We love to add a bit of sugar (shh...yes, white sugar), brown sugar, honey, granola, jam, or fruit to ours. Yogurt is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and the health benefits have been lauded world wide.

For more information on the benefits of making your own yogurt check out this article on Motherearthnews.com or some of the other books I used for reference over time are listed below.

Look for part 2 of fermenting on Homegrown.org in the next couple of days

Cheers!

The Urban Homestead by Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen

Reader's Digest Back to Basics

The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan

More-With-Less by Doris Janzen Longacre

absence of mind

2010-10-12T15:04:00.001-07:00

I'm really am feeling a bit of writers block. I think it's more so that my beloved laptop has passed on to the electronics afterworld, then a humanly brain fart though. It isn't to say I haven't been doing stuff around the homestead or coming up with crazy shit in my head. It also doesn't help much that when I take an ambien with a pain pill, I have some messed up dreams and those become my writings. Everything of course, is in pencil and paper form and doesn't make much sense to anyone, but me. Dammit for being a creative, lead smearing lefty.

I'm going to leave you with a post I did a while back on granola within it contains the recipe that I swear by. When I'm feeling an urge to make a major sweet mistake of snack, I just dip my hand into the granola jar for a handful and it's enough to curb. Awesome eh?

Easy Homemade Granola

By the way... ugh I hate this text size and color, what the hell happened?

You have some stuff to look forward to. I'm working on a fermenting post that will be in two parts. The first part will be here, and you'll have to catch the second part on Homegrown.org when I do my monthly post there on Wednesday, October 27th! Thank you and I bid you adieu - bowing out.

death of a laptop... my day job

2010-09-24T19:05:00.001-07:00

It was beautiful. It gave life to Facebook, Craigslist, Twitter, and Homegrown.org. Hundreds of favorites bookmarked. Blue on the outside, covered in My Little Pony stickers. The occasional sticky keys from cracker crumbs, spilled coffee, or syrup. Smudged screen from sticky fingers, sneezes, licks. Rarely was it ever idle unless I was chasing down kids. Perhaps it was jealous.

Sadly, my laptop has died. The black screen of death came again and it could not be revived. No CPR. No jump drive with special coding and updates. Nothing. An untimely death. And of course a deadline was looming and pictures needed to be edited. I'm sad. I cried. I'm still mourning. You may shed a tear for me.

Thankfully, I was able to copy my pictures, recipes, and notes to the external hard drive. Now I'll be camping, temporarily, on my daughter's laptop. She's glaring at me as I type.

Now, I'll be saving my tips for a replacement. Sigh.

Weekly dinner menu

2010-09-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

Below I've included our dinner menu plan through Sunday, September 26th. I won't claim that we stick to this exclusively, sometimes something like a volleyball game, soccer, or life gets in the way and we have to switch things up for convenience, but I'm hater on drive-thru so usually it's exchanged for some breakfast dinner or snack night.

Sunday, Sept. 12 - BBQ Salmon with steamed baby reds and green beans - or it'll be pancakes

Monday, Sept. 13 - steamed veggies with rice noodles

Tuesday, Sept. 14 - minestrone and fresh whole wheat bread

Wednesday, Sept. 15 - Chili dogs and home fries

Thursday, Sept. 16 - baked macaroni & cheese with green beans

Friday, Sept. 17 - homemade personal pizzas

Saturday, Sept. 18 - leftovers/new recipe

Sunday, Sept. 19 - keilbasa, potato salad, & homemade rolls

Monday, Sept. 20 - rice noodles, with cabbage, cilantro, & sprouts

Tuesday, Sept. 21 - won ton soup and cabbage salad

Wednesday, Sept. 22 - scrambled egg burritos

Thursday, Sept. 23 - chicken/beef/veggie skewers

Friday, Sept. 24 - Crepes! Sweet or Savory

Saturday, Sept. 25 - leftovers/new recipe

Sunday, Sept. 26 - Turkey Dinner!

If ever, you have a question about how I do my menus or recipes just send me a message. I'm more than happy to share.

Doh! part deux & a recipe

2010-09-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

Since I've clearly been neglectful to this blog, I have decided a recipe is in order. Something I haven't done in ages, therefore, it should be a treasured treat for you all.
COWBOY COOKIES dude!

So simple a four year old can do it or George Bush's wife -what's-her-face, Barbara. No. Laura. That's the right Bush wife, Laura.

Cowboy Cookies
(recipe adapted from Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies)

makes about 3 dozen large cookies depending on size
prep time: 15-20 minutes bake time: 12-14 minutes

ingredients - adapted for what we had on hand
3 cups all purpose organic flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon -this is too much for us, so I use just a bit less
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter at room temp.
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla
3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
3 cups organic old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups organic flaked coconut

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Cookie pans should be coated with parchment paper or silpats

2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt

3. In mixer bowl, cream butter on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Beat in sugars, scraping sides until fluffy for about 3 minutes.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, cream well after each egg. Add the vanilla.

5. While reducing the speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture gradually, until just combined.

6. With a big spatula or wooden spoon, fold in the oats, chocolate chips, and coconut.

7. For each cookie drop 1/4 cup of cookie dough onto the cookie pans, about 3 inches apart. Bake until the edges are set and browned, and the middle is still fluffy looking. Baking about 12-14 minutes. Cool on the pans and chow down baby!

Happy AUGUST! and where did our summer go?

2010-08-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

I've been contemplating a boring blog post for a while now. You know the kind that really has no meaning or benefit to anyone except for the writer? Yep, that's the one, and this may be it. I usually enjoy the month of August, but we're coming up on the half way point and I feel like it hasn't even begun. Blame it on our lack of a summer season, me feeling under the weather, or just that life is going by too fast.

My oldest two children have been gone since the fourth weekend in July and don't return until this weekend. I have missed them so incredibly much. I may have days were I am beyond frustrated with a certain teenage girl or the tween boy who on occasion likes to press my no-no buttons. I've been doing this shared summer for the past ten years and it hasn't gotten any easier on me. The day they leave, I begin my countdown until their return. To top everything off, Zak broke his hand right before he left. So, I haven't even got to see him in his cast yet. Mi so sad.

It's been rather depressing, the weather and all. We had a few awesome days at the beginning of July, and then gloomy. I mean, we live in Sequim and really we did okay for the sunshine part of it, but no where it usually is. My garden is suffering hard from it too. Well, either it's the weather or that my black thumb of doom has returned.

our sad, sad garden

one of many sad tomato plants -it did give two beautiful tomatoes before dying back

And I discovered this blessed soul. More to come on this little piece of heaven.

hello beautiful

ww July 28 2010

2010-07-28T12:53:00.001-07:00

mmm...what's that taste like?

2010-07-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Holy moley, I have been busy! With our camping vacation behind us, and we're now to the half-way point of our remodel -more of that to come on a later post -I've got more time to spend here, surfing the internets, my farm, baking, and POSTING AS A CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER at HOMEGROWN.ORG!!!! Yes, that noise you hear is me jumping up and down and screeching like a 14 year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert -I know this because I experienced this first hand only a few weeks ago. See.

You can check out my posts the fourth Wednesday of every month over at HOMEGROWN.ORG! Oh, the giddyness is worse than the jimmy legs!

Okay, now seriously. I know you are all dying to read about my weekly menus so I'll post the plan for the next two weeks. All menus are subject to change, shirt and/or shoes are not required-hell, clothes are optional at most meals.

Monday, July 26th - Yakisoba noodles with veggies

Tuesday, July 27th - Bean soup with homemade wheat bread -too frickin' hot man!

Wednesday, July 28th - White rice with Chinese BBQ beef

Thursday, July 29th - Tacos beef/chicken/veggie -to be determined

Friday, July 30th - buttermilk pancakes or if I get my way strawberry crepes!

Saturday, July 31st - leftovers/new recipe or we'll eat out -lazy asses

Sunday, AUGUST 1 - Crockpot chicken with rice and veggies

Monday, August 2 - warm chicken salad pitas (use leftover chicken from sun.)

Tuesday, August 3 - Grilled tomato and cheese sammies with salad

Wednesday, August 4 - Rice stick noodles with stir fry noodles

Thursday, August 5 - Spaghetti with olive oil and veggies

Friday, August 6 - buttermilk waffles and strawberries

Saturday, August 7 - leftovers/new recipe or eat out 'cause I'm tired as hell

Sunday, August 8 - Keilbasa and Eggs!

Monday, August 9 - Pasta salad with veggies and bread

and there you have it. If you are interested in any of the above recipes, just ask. I'm more than certain I haven't posted many of them and I'm happy to share. More pictures to come as well.

If your interested, the following is what we'll have for breakfasts. In no particular order and of no particular nutritional value. Hey, we're working on this one.

Oatmeal, Eggs -anyway you want 'em and with whatever I'm handing out at the moment, toast, english muffins, yogurt, granola, fruit, boxed or bagged cereal -pretty much whatever was on sale except for the sugary shit, pancakes, waffles -usually not frozen, but every once in-awhile I get a wind up my skirt and pick up eggos, and/or hashbrowns -the real stuff, just like at the restaurant with clarified butter and all that fatty goodness.

I'm up for questions anytime. Just throw 'em at me. You'll either get a great answer or one with absolutely no value to you at all. Cheers!

wordless wednesday 15th of july

2010-07-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

wordless wednesday July 7 2010

2010-07-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

a food related matter

2010-07-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

I love food. There is no denying it, and I am proud to say it. I LOVE FOOD.

I have bred it into my children as well. I love to try new recipes and we have a rule you have to at least try it and then decide if it's something you like or dislike.

Like the time I made cheezy potatoes. I found the recipe online and looked at it sideways when it mentioned 1 1/2 cups of oil, but then didn't bat an eyelash as I drizzled (drowned) the tater wedges with it and topped it with a massive amount of cheese. When I pulled the casserole dish out of the oven... I almost spilled the oil, but I still put it on the table for my family to ooh and aah over. As I was scooping the potatoes onto their plates I made a declaration: "If you don't like how this tastes it's okay, you don't have to finish it." Thank goodness, because I still have that taste in my mind. It was awful, so much that we dumped it immediately in the trash and ate cereal and top ramen noodles. I so wish I would have taken pictures. It was such an greasy, soupy mess that it was comical. I'm pretty sure I could paint a picture of it for you, but I think I've done enough with the description alone.

A quick menu plan for you is posted below. It contains meals for the Fourth of July weekend and our camping trip. Enjoy!

Friday, July 2 - pancakes/homemade pizza

Saturday, July 3 - new dish -undecided, we have guests!

Sunday, July 4th! - BBQ pork ribs (slab), BBQ chicken thighs/drumsticks/breasts, tater salad, my special bbq sweet beans, green salad and corn on the cob. We'll throw some desserts in there foo!

Monday, July 5th - first day of camping: leftover chicken/ribs, baked beans, corn

Tuesday, July 6th - tacos -beef/soft tortillas

Wednesday, July 7th - spaghetti w/ salad

Thursday, July 8th - hamburgers w/ salad/veggies

Friday, July 9th - hotdogs w/ salad/veggies

Saturday, July 10th - keilbasa, beans, veggies

For breakfasts we'll have eggs/bacon/toast/oatmeal/fruit/cereal/yogurt

For lunches we'll have sandwiches and/or leftovers

snacks will be veggies/fruits/chips/cookies/brownies/homemade bread/cheese and crackers

I'm not totally creative in this area yet because I haven't been camping in ages. I can't wait!!!

wordless wednesday 30th of June 2010

2010-06-30T16:58:00.001-07:00

absent minded? nah, just distracted

2010-06-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

I feel like it's been awhile since I've been here. I've hit a road block of sorts - there is so much going on in this house it's driving me nuts. We're doing a remodel on our downstairs -pictures to come, the kids are out of school, we've had the in-laws visiting, and we are going through a horrendous spell of the terrible two's.

I've got some great recipes to share soon and a new menu plan, including a weeks' worth of camping meals.

wordless wednesday 23rd of june 2010

2010-06-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

piss-poor photo, damn gym lights

wordless wednesday 16th of June 2010

2010-06-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

wordless wednesday 9th of june 2010

2010-06-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm having issues uploading my pictures

so, you get two.

homemade lavender deodorant

our newest addition to our family -"chewy" chewbacca

Dinner Menu Plan

2010-06-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

Once again, I am lame. I am admitting this only because I said that I would post pictures of my food, and I haven't. It's just by the time I'm finished making this shit, I'm so damn hungry that taking out the camera just seems like too much trouble. And quite honestly, I don't even think about it until there's no food left. Sorry.

and now, The Menu, Madame/Monsieur

Sunday, June 6 - Crockpot Dinner -tater tot casserole

Monday, June 7 - Salad -surprise me!

Tuesday, June 8 - veggie panini's & salad

Wednesday, June 9 - taco soup in the crockpot

Thursday, June 10 - baked macaroni & cheese

Friday, June 11 - pizza/pancakes *that is and/or

Saturday, June 12 - leftovers/new dish

Sunday, June 13 - Crockpot dinner - french dips

Monday, June 14 - veggie pasta salad w/ keilbasa

Tuesday, June 15 - homemade chicken noodle soup or warm chicken pasta salad

Wednesday, June 16 - chicken yakisoba & veggies

Thursday, June 17 - marinara & noodles (meatless)

Friday, June 18 - pancakes/pizza

Saturday, June 19 - leftovers/new dish

and now for a recipe!

GYROS!

meat -beef, chicken, lamb, pork -what have you and slice thin

lettuce -torn up

tomato -sliced

onions -sliced and grilled if you like

greek seasoning (i found this awesome shit at the store)

tzatziki sauce (I'll post this soon or you lazy asses can pick it up your favorite at the store)

pita bread (store bought or homemade, I'll post a recipe soon)

We used beef and sliced it up sort of thin. Pound the living hell out of the slices and then sprinkle some seasoning on it and pound it up again.

Cook the meat up -you can use your grill, a cast iron pan, panini grill, George Forman, a hot side walk to your liking (white meats should be thoroughly cooked).

Grill up your pita bread. We've used our griddle(most effective for us), the panini grill, pizza stone in the oven, cast iron pan, or grill. Grill 'em up nice and toasty on both sides.

When everything is ready, start layering! I usually put a few pieces of lettuce on the pita, then the meat, then a couple of slices of tomato, NO ONION for me, but have at it!, then the mother load of tzatziki, because I love that shit. Then kind of roll together and chow down.

you want one now, don't you?

Oatmeal...ewww...ohhh!

2010-06-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

I've never liked oatmeal. Perhaps it was the texture of the mush or the creepy resemblance to frog eggs, or who knows I was a frickin' kid.

Recently, I've had this odd craving for a good hot cereal, but I hate buying the processed crap at the store. So, this mama went to our local country store and bought some organic rolled oats from the bulk bins.

I'd seen on the webs somewhere, a recipe to make it in the rice cooker. So, high and low I searched and found many. Realizing it wasn't difficult to figure out, I threw some together one morning and to my utter suprise it was exactly what I'd been craving! It was creamy, and warm and the texture wasn't at all what I remembered. The smell was heavenly and it emanated through the entire house.

Here's how I did it:

2 cups of organic rolled oats

4 2/3 cups (approx.) water

a pinch of salt

All into the rice cooker and turn that sucker on. About 10 minutes in, open it and give it a good stir. Close it back up and about 5-10 minutes later it'll be ready.

Add cream/milk and whatever topping makes your heart sing. For me, it's brown sugar -oh it's a beautiful song. About 3 (tee hee) bowls worth.

That's it kids. Easy peasy!

Wordless Wednesday 2nd of June 2010

2010-06-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

book and magazine whore

2010-05-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

This is just the stack next to my recliner in the living room. Did you notice the variety of books? Too bad it's such a crap cell phone picture or you'd be able to see that the variety doesn't stop at the books, the magazines are as follows: Martha Stewart's Everyday Food, Mother Earth News, Urban Farm, Grit Magazine, Organic Gardening, a handful of RealSimple, Martha Stewart Living, and a single Country Living. I have subscriptions for most of these, the remainder a family member does and then passes them to me.

I have two other places where I "stack" my readables. I keep one or two stacks on my nightstand or next to it. I also have a stack on our bistro table. Those ones get moved about quite often and then they usually end next to my bed. I love books! I love magazines! I devour every page over and over again. I bathe in its information, and then once again after the water is dirty and cold.

Last freaky deaky weekend in May!

2010-05-30T05:44:00.001-07:00

It's 5:30 a.m. on a sunday. I'd like to think I should be sleeping, but my body (and mind) have other plans. So, here I am writing a post about it. Nope, don't think so.

Quick update on the "farm" -we've got green stuff growing and for once, it's not mold. The rhubarb came back to life, I certainly thought that I had killed the bitch. But she's a strong one and had to show me one up. She actually likes 30 year old chicken shit in a tire.

Peas are producing! We've had a couple of yummy snow and snap peas, but just enough for snacking right off the vine. *note to self: next year plant, like, fifty of these. Twelve is definitely not enough for this family.

CUKES! They had seen the light in my mini cold frame and are thriving now that we transplanted them next to the trellis. *another note to self: next year plant, fifty of these. Again, twelve is NOT going to be enough. Good thing is, I started these from seed and still have plenty left. We'll get more started soon!

Potatoes were finally planted and nothing has spouted yet. These bastards are supposed to be one of the easiest to grow. Let's hope so, because my black thumb does not need a come back.

AND... that's all I've got. Sorry no pictures -I'm lame like that at 5:30 a.m.

We had a most excellent time with a new friend on Friday, and guess what I have a few pictures from it.

Yes, that's all I got out of our entire exciting day. I had the camera out for a brief moment and forgot about it. We were so wrapped up in laughing, sharing, and wondering how in the hell we hadn't met before! Carrie, I had so much fun on our first date, I hope we can meet up again soon. I truly think we were great friends in another life - there is just too much weird stuff that we have in common, and that we were destined to meet up again. Am I being stalkerish now?

Saturday we spent the day at the Juan de Fuca Festival and had so much fun and little tears. When we got home it was time for me to get domesticated again and start our new recipe for the week. Now, usually I'm not one to go all out on a new recipe, and I wasn't about to start it now. I just so happened to have all the right stuff in my freezer/fridge for this next recipe.

Now, have I a fantabulous recipe for you. You must go out and get this stuff right away -although 6 a.m. may or may not be the best time for this. I originally came across Old Bay seasoning in Martha's latest Everyday Food mag. The memories started flooding in about dinners at the Crab Pot on Seattle's waterfront and on Lake Bellevue. I HAD TO MAKE THIS!

THE ORIGINAL OLD BAY SHRIMP BOIL SHRIMP FEST

find the website and original recipe here

INGREDIENTS

4 quarts water (16 cups)

1 can (12 ounces) beer (optional)

1/2 cup OLD BAY® Seasoning

2 tablespoons salt

8 medium red potatoes, quartered

2 large onions, cut into wedges

2 pounds lean smoked sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces

8 ears fresh corn, shucked and halved crosswise

4 pounds unpeeled jumbo shrimp (21 to 25 count)

DIRECTIONS

Bring water, beer, OLD BAY Seasoning and salt to boil in 12-quart stockpot on high heat. Add potatoes and onions. Cook 8 minutes. Add smoked sausage. Cook 5 minutes. Add corn. Cook 7 minutes.

Stir in shrimp. Cook 4 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink.

Drain cooking liquid. Pour contents of pot into large serving bowl or platter. Or, mound on paper-covered table. Sprinkle with additional OLD BAY Seasoning, if desired.

And now my pictures

aweful picture- but true to color on the stock, I forgot to whip out the camera early enough. In the above picture is the water, Old Bay seasoning, and onion. I also didn't get a pic of the potatoes. Note: yukon golds are not baby reds and they cook faster.

polska kielbasa

chop those sucka's up

toss 'em in

corn for the lazy -thank you costco

break them in half -hardly enough to feed my family

toss all that in

wrap your table in paper and get the kids wound up early

again cooked & peeled shrimp for the lazy

drain off liquid into an already dirty sink...don't look!

finished product! YUM!

we would have totally dumped it on the table, but I didn't put enough paper on the table and I think my kids would have freaked a bit.

Also, look! I made my special beans too. I'll share the secret recipe someday, I promise.

Enjoy!

wordless wednesday 26th of May!

2010-05-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

Just another manic monday...er Sunday

2010-05-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm rather enjoying my bit of work that I'm doing for my friend at her coffee shop, The Cracked Bean Coffee Company. About a month ago, I started working the "early" shift and even though it's only two-three hours it gives me that little break I need during the week. I actually look forward to getting up at 4:30 a.m. and I get home just as the little ones are starting to crawl about. I'm there when they wake, fully dressed, and with makeup to boot!

I'm not adding links to the recipes this week 'cause I'm so damned tired. One of these days I'll get them all in one spot so they are easily linked or searched. Dammit for being unorganized from the start. Also the pictures are sparse -tough.

Sunday, May 23: Crockpot Beef pot roast with Au Jus, smashed potatoes, & green beans

Monday, May 24: beef hot dogs and salad bar -baseball game

Tuesday, May 25: grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup

Wednesday, May 26: pad thai noodles with beef strips

Thursday, May 27: Spaghetti, salad, and french bread

Friday, May 28: homemade buttermilk pancakes or waffles

Saturday, May 29: leftovers/new recipe :thinking shrimp boil!

Sunday, May 30: Keilbasa, eggs, and biscuits

Monday, May 31: veggie stir fry and rice -happy Memorial Day!

Tuesday, June 1: pulled pork sammies & cabbage slaw

Wednesday, June 2: tuna noodle casserole

Thursday, June 3: no bake lasagna -ala food magazine, thank you Martha!

Friday, June 4: pancakes or homemade pizza

Saturday, June 5: Leftovers/new recipe

I hate this fucking dog

Wordless Wednesday 19th of May

2010-05-19T11:32:00.001-07:00

Going no 'poo - not that poo silly

2010-05-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I finally decided to do it. I am ridding myself of commercial cleansers. I started it to see, first off, if it was for me and then slowly introduce the kids to it. The husband knows that I do it, but hasn't quite fell off the deep end yet. Secondly, I hate the smell of chemicals. Dropping fabric softener was something I did years ago, the chemical smell would drive me nuts, and really a little static I can deal with. I knew it was going to be hard to give up the frizz-free conditioner, bleach wipes, and facial toners, and I think every day we struggle, but I'm committed so we'll see how they do.

I had already started breaking in with the kitchen cleaners last year. We use a vinegar and water mixture, usually a 50/50 mix to clean the table, counters, and floors. I also use the same mix to wash windows and mirrors. I also like to use baking soda as a paste to scrub some things that are a little tougher to get up. I know some of the family still likes to grab for the clorox wipes or comet. I hate the smell and I can't wait until we run out. (WE RAN OUT!)

As I making this huge leap to using no commercial cleaners I also decided that I might as well go ahead and give OCM, Oil-cleansing method, a try to clean my face. I have pretty much been a plain jane face cleaning girl. Although I've been know to use clinique toners, Origins foaming wash, I really like Dove soap and water and for a toner I'd use witch hazel -never religiously, but whenever I had time or if I had a major breakout. You know, desperate times call for desperate measures.

There is some great information out there on OCM, I found mine here at Simple Mom. While I did research other blogs, I kept coming back to that site. In order to find the right combination for me, I start witht the the basic 1 part castor oil and 1 part EVOO(extra virgin olive oil). So far I love it. My skin is soft, not oily, and not dry. I tried doing to try this every day for the first week and then I cut it back to every other day and On the off days I'd wash with just water. I found that I was having some issues so I'm back to every day and haven't had any issues with it.

The next step was going no 'poo. Reducing shampoo use was going to be HUGE! I tried this a few years back. I cut shampoo out but still used conditioner. I found it to be liberating, but still wasn't sure about my choice, because I wasn't completely dropping the commercial stuff. About a year into it I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata and returned to using shampoos that were medicated and I'm sure loaded with chemicals. I hated the way that my hair felt. Since being diagnosed my hair has changed, the hair falls out and new, brittle, dry, thin hair grows back and it's never the same texture, not to mention that other shampoos and conditioners didn't seem to work right and gave me a dry scalp. I did feel that one specially marketed shampoo/conditioner combo for my alopecia helped, but in the end it left me with empty pockets, and heavy build up which, I'm sorry, is never cool. I mean, my hair already falls out, I don't need flakes too.

So prepare a bottle of 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 cup water solution in a bottle that I stole from the hospital after I had Natalie. You know those ones that they give you after giving birth for "cleaning" up down there? Yep, I held on to it, and actually I found that I had two of them. yeah for repurposing! I'll use the baking soda/water as a replacement for shampoo. And to replace the conditioner I started using a tablespoon apple cider vinegar to a cup of water. I add a couple of drops of lavender oil to that, because one cannot get past the smell of vinegar. While it doesn't completely mask the vinegar, it does make it manageable and the smell does go away before I'm done in the shower. I only squirt the ends of my hair with the vinegar mix. Now I've managed to con the eldest daughter into trying it, but whenever she goes away she uses that other stuff and it takes her a couple of days for her hair to recoup.

This most certainly is going to be an adventure and it'll be one that I can definitely feel good about. Next will be tackling deoderant. I can't wait!

wordless wednesday 12th of MAY!

2010-05-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

peace be with you or wif u

2010-05-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm sorry. I abandoned my 9 followers for approximately 10 days. My sincerest apologies.

Now, moving on from the groveling crap. We've had a very productive couple of weeks here at the Cross Compound. We tore out more trees, we built our pea/bean trellis and prepped and planted the bed, we had a birthday party, put up trim in our living/sitting areas, and started laying the brick around the house. All the while, the camera was AWOL. Yep, sorry yet again, no pictures.

I did prepare our dinner menu through the Fourth of July and I will share a whole two weeks with you now.

Sunday, May 9 - Keilbasa with Macaroni & cheese and biscuits

Monday, May 10 - Veggie casserole

Tuesday, May 11 - grilled turkey & cheese paninis and tomato soup

Wednesday, May 12 - chicken tacos

Thursday, May 13 - Spaghetti & salad

Friday, May 14 - homemade pancakes

Saturday, May 15 - leftovers/new dish

Sunday, May 16 - crockpot beef pot roast & taters

Monday, May 17 - caesar salad

Tuesday, May 18th - crockpot minestrone soup & rolls

Wednesday, May 19th - beef teriyaki and white rice

Thursday, May 20th - taco casserole

Friday, May 21st - pizza

Saturday, May 22nd - going out to eat :)

There you have it! I'll be posting my yogurt recipe fail & tweaked with version soon! Also, be on the look out, I'll be posting about my adventures with "no poo" and using the OCM soon!

Wordless Wednesday 28th of April 2010

2010-04-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

This one turned four years old yesterday
Happy birthday Natalie Freyja!

Wordless Wednesday 21st of April 2010

2010-04-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

a weekend of work and play

2010-04-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

all work and no play. Ha! Who are they kidding? We love "working" in the yard!

Funny thing is that none of this shows what we actually worked on this past weekend! My camera's battery died and so these are some before or after shots. Oh well, better luck next week!

Relief

2010-04-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here, well before anyone else is up and it's quiet. I'm enjoying the sounds of the birds, the waves, and off in the distance the early morning roar of a lion waiting for his breakfast. errr.... yes, I said lion. We live only a skip, hop, and a jump from the Olympic Game Farm. It's lovely there. We love it!

It's calming to know that all the lions, tigers, bears, and bison are locked up behind a simple cow fence just beyond the hay field. Ha!
Actually, the sounds are really enjoyable. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would live so close to the wild- even if the "wild" has been trained and used in countless Disney flicks.

My son's appointment went well the other day and they were able to rule out the Juvenile degenerative disc disease (thank you!)but are now doing labs and going over all the MRI's, CT scans, and XRays that they did to try and rule out rheumatoid arthritis -ugh. I found out this week (after his appointment) that I too, had been tested several (yes, several) times for RA when I was little. The doctor's never did figure out what caused me to be uncomfortable and experience pain in my back and joints -even though it frustrated my parents to no end. So, hopefully with all the technology now we can find some answers and help him out.

We're working in the yard this weekend and I love getting grubby. I'll post pictures later, but for now here is what has been going on -on the sidelines.

All for the boy

2010-04-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

This is just a real quick post, because we've been so busy around here lately and I haven't uploaded my pictures yet from the past week.

We're heading into Seattle tomorrow. My son is going in to see a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. We had some MRI's done a couple of weeks ago due to some unexplained back pain he has been experiencing for several months.

We've been told by his pediatrician that he has Schmorl's nodules, which they believe has caused juvenile degenerative disc disease. Neither which is good. Our pediatrician couldn't give much insight as to how or why this was occuring, and just referred us on. Hopefully, the new doctor can give him some relief and an explanation. I do know that he is a little young to have the JDDD set in -usually hits children in the 14-18 age range- and at 10, when he first noticed the pain, is definitely early and hence the concern from our pediatrician.

So, I'll update and post a WW sometime when we return.

Cheers and peace friends

hmmm... turkey stock

2010-04-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

My house smells like TURKEY!

We didn't have one for Easter, but I had the carcass of one from Thanksgiving or Christmas -can't remember, but there are a couple in that thar' freezer. I haven't had the chance or maybe I wasn't willing to, but I knew that I wanted to make a stock from those bones, and today is the day. I know, it's random and I don't have anything on the menu that will use it, but I want to make a homemade noodle soup soon and will need it for that.

Here's what I did -sorry, no pictures yet but I will post something so you get the idea.

frozen turkey carcass -most stripped of everything, there's even some surprise frozen inside.

a couple of carrots, scrubbed and sliced/chopped up tops and all

an onion, quartered with skin and top

half dozen peppercorns

a dash of kosher salt

approx. 2 tsp of parsley

approx. 2 tsp of rosemary

approx. 1 tsp of celery seed - I would have used celery stalks if I had any around

water to cover the carcass

put it in a large enough stock pot, boil then set to low and simmer for several to 24 hrs. Let cool a bit and strain the broth through a colander with cheesecloth or clean muslin over a large bowl. If not using cheesecloth or muslin, strain a couple of times to get all the chunks out. You can then either fish out the veggies and freeze separately for further use in a soup or toss the whole mess into the trash. Then put the stock into your choice of freezer container and freeze until you're ready to use in soups, gravies, or sauces. I'm going to freeze mine in freezer bags.

wordless wednesday 7th of April 2010

2010-04-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

I'm really going to miss that fence

a quick two week menu, more to come

2010-04-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a little late with the menu for this week and next -hopefully I can get some pictures posted of it when I make them.

Monday, April 5

Chop Salad - leftovers from Easter, there were none so we just had a giant salad :)

Tuesday, April 6

Crockpot Chili and cornbread

Wednesday, April 7

Chicken Rice a Roni - someday I'll perfect a homemade recipe, until then it's boxed

Thursday, April 8

Wet beef burritos

Friday, April 9

homemade buttermilk pancakes

Saturday, April 10

nephew's first birthday party -HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHILIP!

Sunday, April 11

undecided - something easy since we'll just be arriving home

Monday, April 12

Taco Salads

Tuesday, April 13

Chicken sandwiches, ala natalie with homemade french fries

Wednesday, April 14

Baked Macaroni and cheese with ham -maybe, we've got doctor's appointments in Seattle

Thursday, April 15

Nacho bar

Friday, April 16

BBQ'd pizza -this will be a first for us, can't wait!

Saturday, April 17

leftovers/new recipe

Sunday, April 18

Keilbasa and eggs

Doing alot of nothin'

2010-03-31T17:22:00.001-07:00

The only thing I baked this week, besides two box mixes of brownies (eldest child's birthday choice-and holy shit it wasn't homemade!), and meals was mini cinnamon rolls that I made from the Bread in 5 minutes a day brioche recipe... and I didn't even take pictures. Really. I'm hanging my head in disbelief too.

The reason I haven't done much is we had a hideous case of the "cold" eh hem... cough cough, (ha! you thought I was going to say herpes or something huh?). Usually I'm the last to get it, if I get it at all. I got it, and bad. It took me out for a couple of days, and I'm still working it out. Bleh.

I made the mini rolls a bit bigger because I don't have a mini muffin pan(duh), they took hardly anytime to make, AND were yummy without being too sweet. Like anything is really too sweet. HA!

borrowed from www.artisanbreadinfive.com

For some reason they didn't appeal to the younger crowd -tee hee more for me and a happy dance- the boy told me that they weren't as good as the big ones and he'd prefer MORE frosting on them. Well, we'd all prefer everything with more frosting, wouldn't we?

You can see how to make them here and the recipe for the brioche here. Sorry I don't have more time to go into detail but will, because somebody is making these again real soon.

We've been celebrating birthdays this month and had another one this last weekend for the eldest child. We surprised her with tickets to see Justin Bieber when he comes to Everett. The only catch, she has to go with me. *snicker*

Wordless Wednesday 31st of March 2010

2010-03-31T17:15:00.000-07:00

the children at Salt Creek State Park

a quick menu and plans

2010-03-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

We are now at the end of March and will be entering into Spring break for the big kids next week. My oldest is excited because her birthday is on Sunday. Yes, we have two birthdays within twelve days. She will be celebrating with friends on Thursday -spring break starts then for them- with a slumber party and then she has her last volleyball tournament on Saturday. For the most part we'll be hanging around here during break, prepping the garden, planting some starts, and setting pavers. Next friday we'll be heading out for the Easter weekend to visit family. My husband's sister that lives on the east coast will be out and we are so excited to see them. It's been too long!

Our menu through the end of the month

Monday, 3/22
Salad bar
Tuesday, 3/23
grilled cheese sandwiches & tomato soup
Wednesday, 3/24
chicken teriyaki and rice
Thursday, 3/25
fractured tacos
Friday, 3/26
homemade pancakes
Saturday, 3/27
leftovers/new recipe
Sunday, 3/28
Mariah's birthday -her choice!
Monday, 3/29
Baked potato bar w/ side salads
Tuesday, 3/30
homemade chicken noodle soup
Wednesday, 3/31
chicken skewers w/ rice & veggies

no recipe for today, I did make some no bake cookies this last week with a new recipe using honey instead of sugar and they never set. Still delicious, but gooey.

My book arrived!

2010-03-24T09:15:00.001-07:00

I was so excited when I found out that I had won Shannon Hayes' book, Radical Homemakers, on Homegrown.org, I told everyone I could about it. The package arrived a week later and I ripped it open. What a treat to discover that Shannon had even autographed it for me *squeal!* It totally made my day when this arrived, and I couldn't wait to get started on it. So, I kicked back next to my burn barrel, drank my yerba tea and started reading it aloud to my own little homemakers.

Wordless Wednesdays... last of March

2010-03-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesdays

2010-03-17T13:26:00.001-07:00

I've decided to participate in Wordless Wednesdays. I was already doing something similar and since I've never been officially invited to do it - I'm just doing it, my way, 'cause that's how I roll.

it was the boy's eleventh birthday yesterday - our friends honored him which he thought was totally cool

Yogurt, Pancakes, & Buttermilk oh my!

2010-03-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

I made yogurt! And it's actually good! The girls have mentioned a couple of times they wanted yogurt. Funny thing is, when I buy yogurt they either don't like it or it doesn't get eaten before the expiration date. I like plain yogurt, okay vanilla too, but I like to add stuff to it and the stuff you buy at the store is either too sweet, has too much old fruit in it, or it's too sour. So, I decided to do some research to see how I could make yogurt without a yogurt maker.

I finally decided to try this recipe. It was a very easy process -although I wanted to add some sugar and vanilla to the batch, I'm glad I didn't- and my son got to help. This morning when we opened the jar to have some it was the best plain yogurt I have ever had. Nothing in the stores compares. It is definitely one that we are going to keep. We are going to tweak it a bit next time, as I would like a thicker product. I made a half batch and I may have been off a bit in my measurements.

Next time I make it I will photograph the process and share the recipe with my tweaks.

Of course we made pancakes this last week and with homemade buttermilk too! I've raved of these pancakes before and now I'm going to share with you the recipe. I've shared before how much I enjoy Happy's recipe I make her recipe and the only exception is I've been using unbleached flour. I did discover with our homemade buttermilk I need to use a little bit more buttermilk (really just a couple of tablespoons)because of the thickness of the batter. It is a thick batter on its own but add in our buttermilk and it's almost a dough :)

Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes

Ingredients
3 cups buttermilk *homemade buttermilk recipe to follow
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups whole wheat flour *or in our case just flour

Mix all the liquid ingredients, beat for one minute on high. Mix in sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly mix in flour until batter is smooth but thick.
Cook on a hot (350 degree) buttered griddle.
Making your own buttermilk is incredibly easy, you just have to be patient. I could have sworn that I took pictures, but I can't find them. So, I will have to share those at a later time. The recipe, as mentioned, is so easy.

Homemade buttermilk

3 cups milk
1 cup buttermilk starter (any buttermilk)

Pour it directly into a clean quart size jar, mix well. Put the lid on. Wrap it in a kitchen towel and place in a warm place, undisturbed for 24 hours. *I put mine in the oven with the light on overnight, but it was on the counter before that* After the 24 hrs is up, shake it up, and open to make sure it has thickened up and smells sweet. Perfect! Just put it in the fridge, it will thicken more once it's in the fridge. You've made buttermilk and now you can go enjoy your pancakes. If you save a cup of this buttermilk, you'll have a starter for next batch and you'll never run out of buttermilk and all the land will be happy because they can have pancakes and buttermilk whenever they want.

easy homemade granola

2010-03-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

No excuses! Granola is incredibly good for you and easy to make. It is versatile, delicious, and completely customizable. My family likes it as a snack and I love it as a cereal too -toss some nanners on it and hmmmmm.

I'm also brewing two kinds of tea today. One jar of black tea for iced tea -which I love just plain, nothing added except lots of ice. The other jar will be a concentrated batch of Yerba Mate -which I bought in bulk from my local herbal shop. There are a few brands out there that you can pick up that are both certified organic and fairly traded. I really enjoy my yerba served over ice with a dash of milk and bit of vanilla syrup. Next time I'm at Costco I'm going to pick up the organic agave syrup and give that a whirl with it.

A few weeks ago I stumbled upon The Happy Housewife's recipe for granola. Seemed easy enough and we've had a hankering for a good snack. I've made this twice in the last week and obviously it's been a hit with everyone. So I'll share not only her recipe, but a step-by-step with pictures on how to make it. Like I said, it's so easy to make that there is no way you can't make this! Next week's batch I plan on adding sunflower seeds and almonds to it. Just think of the possiblities! Thank you so much Happy!

Easy Granola

3 cups dry oatmeal
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup wheat germ

First melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat.

excuse this picture bad kitchen pic day
Add the honey and salt and briefly heat with the butter.

Turn off the heat and add the oatmeal and wheat germ. Stir.

Pour the mixture onto a cookie sheet. Spread the mixture out evenly and bake it at 375° for 10 minutes.

It will be a golden brown color. Remove from the oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Just a couple of notes -the ten minutes in the oven is not quite long enough for us, we like it a bit crunchy, so somewhere between 10-15 minutes depending on how hot your oven runs.

Read more: http://thehappyhousewife.com/granola/#ixzz0h8uJ8goD

Oh, the humanity

2010-03-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

Lately tears have been the happening thing here at the compound. Everyone has these feelings that I just can't figure out. There will be a toy or a swing that one of the kids wants to play with and then suddenly, everyone wants it. Forget that we usually have a spare somewhere, or that there is tons of other things to do. Mind you, it's just not the kids 'cause occasionally you might catch me curled up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor, but that's another story.

I'm a giggler. I can't help it. It's my defense mechanism. If someone cries I laugh. Not because it's funny, but because that's just how I react, it's my way of dealing with pain. I hurt when one of my kids gets hurt, but I find a way to laugh about it. Laughter is a wonderful healer. I don't panic, I giggle. It eases tensions and occasionally the pain of a scraped knee.

Today it was an argument over the swing. It's big enough to seat two toddlers, and when I last checked on them they were swinging together. But somewhere among all this cuteness and bliss someone decided they no longer wanted to share. There were words, hair was pulled, some shoving, then someone got hit with the swing. Next thing I knew I had two crying toddlers laying in the grass under the swing.

I went out, not rushing -I'm not a helicopter parent and I try to let them work it out on their own first -to see if they were injured or just frustrated with one another. Sure enough I laughed. They looked at me with these eyes as though I was poking fun. I laughed and grabbed them both and hugged them, assured them they were just fine and to play nice and share. Off they went to go dig in the dirt together.

unfortunately I missed the dirt digging event today, so here's one from a couple of days ago

your point? and a menu!

2010-03-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

I need to take pictures of my food more often. When I post my menus I'd love to share what it looks like in my house. However, I forget and we just gobble it up. Then sometimes I have something on the menu and we have to tweak things a bit, and then they don't look like they probably should.

this is poached chicken
Last week we were to have beef 'n broccoli with rice. Guess who forgot to pull out the slab of meat to slice some up? Yep me. So we changed it up a bit. Chicken with cheesy cream of broccoli over rice. Half of the family enjoyed or rather, tolerated it and the other half gave the "I'm going to puke" face and went on strike. This happens from time to time in our house and unfortunately for them I'm a mean mom. The deal is you have to taste it. JUST TASTE, one bite and then decide if this really is the worst meal I've ever made. If it's still gut turning, then we work out a deal -say just eat the rice and pick out the chicken -which is what the eldest did and the youngest ate rice and picked out the broccoli. That left one kid who wouldn't touch it, her eyes watered just looking at it. I am not incredibly cruel, I didn't hover over her with my spankin' spoon until she ate every last drop. I simply pushed it aside -still on her plate- and served her some plain rice. That's it. When she asked for a snack, I told her that her dinner was still on the table. At the end of the night, if it's still there, it gets tossed.
I had no point to that story. snicker.

Hey! I picked up some seed potatoes (3 kinds) and a rhubarb start. We're growing taters bitches! In tires! I'll post pics when I get them.

Here's our menu for the next 2 weeks!

Monday: Caesar salads with chicken and homemade crusty bread

Tuesday: French dips w/ salad

Wednesday: tacos

Thursday: chicken teriyaki, rice, and salad

Friday: homemade buttermilk pancakes -with homemade buttermilk ya' all!

Saturday and Sunday we are gone to Mariah's volleyball tournaments out of town.

Next week will be fun!

Monday the 15th: Ides of March Caesar's salad wraps

Tuesday the 16th: ZAKERY's 11th birthday -his choice!

Wednesday the 17th: St. Patrick's day -Crockpot corned beef and cabbage with Irish soda bread -I'd love to add some sort of chowder to this, we'll have to see.

Thursday the 18th: mashed potatoes with beef gravy and peas

Friday the 19th: PIZZA party! Zakery's sleepover

Saturday the 20th: dinner out w/ family for Z's bday

Sunday the 21st: we're out of town again for Mariah's volleyball tournament

getting stuff done

2010-03-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

We have been busy around here!

Last week we made granola,

sun tea, bread(every day!),

homemade pancakes, pruned our apple & hazelnut trees, put up a swing,

and took out a fence

this week's challenge

2010-03-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

Rid my cupboards of the plastic bags.

I wish I had taken a picture of my containers and cupboards before I dumped these bulk sacks but you get to see the aftermath.

Pictured are peanuts from TJ's, almonds from Costco, bulk polenta, bulk wheat germ, bulk cornmeal, and bulk sunflower seeds. All were in plastic bags in either my cupboard or countertop canisters. Good bye!

Now to find a good way to label the jars... I'm thinking either chalkboard paint or just fancy stickers. How do you label?

It's Wednesday in March

2010-03-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

my morning Yerba

the boy, self portrait

the teenager, undeniably a self portrait

the three year old who insists that a bathing suit that is too small, backwards, and a solo gardening glove is the proper attire for a cool march morning.

the toddler in the dirt, where she is most happy

This week's menu -a wee bit late

2010-02-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

so I'll throw in next week's menu as a bonus for forgiving me.

Monday: Salad bar -romaine/green leaf lettuces, tomatoes, cukes, olives, peppers, croutons, and whatever else you can find in the fridge.

Tuesday: Crockpot chili w/ corn muffins

Wednesday: beef soft tacos w/ refried beans -using veg leftovers from monday's dinner

Thursday: Beef rice-a-roni -yes. from a box until I master a homemade version

Friday: Homemade buttermilk pancakes -yum and maybe I'll get pictures

Saturday: usually leftovers, but we'll be out of town so either pizza or teriyaki

Sunday: Enchiladas -chicken

Okay, that brings you up to date and here's next weeks' menu too:

Monday: Veggie stir fry with rice

Tuesday: grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup

Wednesday: Rice bowls with broccoli and beef

Thursday: scrambled egg burritos

Friday: homemade pizza pockets

Saturday: leftovers/new dish or recipe

Sunday: Crockpot chicken & potatoes

I actually have two months of menus finished. My goal is to have three months completed at a time, but I lost steam and got bored.

delving into deep sh...

2010-02-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

One hell of a way to start a day. Well, I apparently got myself volunteered to help with N's preschool class on a field trip today. No biggie, I've done it before. Then, I realized it was to the Museum & Arts Center. Huh? Why in the... who would do this? The main reason for this particular visit is to see the bones of a local find, a Mastadon. The kids study this week has been on dinosaurs. If two things should never be mixed it would be eight, 3 year olds and a bunch of unguarded old bones. I was sweating serious buckets of sweat, because I was also dragging along the Lu monster.

It started out pretty uneventful, a relatively easy short bus ride into town. The kids held hands in nice chain formation across the street to the Sequim Museum & Arts Center. We walked in and they (the two volunteers) looked surprised that we (me and ms. teacher)were bringing in a gaggle of toddlers, who were still hyped up from that awesome bus ride where they didn't have to ride in carseats. We quickly shuttled them over to the mastadon exhibit. I have to say that I was a little less than impressed by the jaw bone, rib bone, front leg and rear leg bones of this hairy elephant, but it seemed to suffice the children for about three minutes before they were spinning around, screeching, and touching things. And if anyone knows a three year old -they all scatter.

Ms. teacher and I managed to keep our cool and curious fingers from touching shit (for the most part) for the forty minutes we were scheduled to be there. And guess what? Nothing got broke. Well, okay one little turd managed to peel a "No touch" sign off of a model of an old school house and my little monster Lu removed the arm off of the rocking chair -that I quickly stuck back together in such a smooth fashion that no one noticed (I think). There was minimal arguing -and only two mishaps where Lu didn't want to share her big sister's hand, that truly deserved the throw down temper tantrum that ensued. All-in-all not too bad. For the most part, we all survived.

I even received an invite for future field trips, which I quickly turned down and ran for the hills.

It's Wednesday

2010-02-24T14:10:00.001-08:00

What?

2010-02-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

I'm having a heck of a time getting motivated these last few days. Yesterday I started feeling a little out of whack and I'm not sure what's causing it. Perhaps I'm lacking in one of my vitamin supplements or one of my new medications is causing it. Whatever.

I discovered a new recipe for pancakes that we all just die over. We've eaten them for dinner twice in the last week and at least twice for breakfast. Not to mention that I had a few left over from one of those nights and we froze them for weekday breakfast. Typically, we are a Krusteaz family. I buy the big bags from Costco and every other week we have them for dinner and at least once during a weekend. My family loves pancakes. Well, last weekend the man of the house accidentally picked up a quart of buttermilk instead of 2% - I saw the mistake right off the bat, but he said the color was similar. Anyhow, well when life gives you buttermilk, you make buttermilk pancakes!
I had remembered a few days earlier a post that I had read on The Happy Housewife that I knew we had to try someday. Well that someday had come. Happy's whole wheat pancakes are a hit! We had to alter them up a bit, because half of the kids were gone and I definitely didn't need to make a full batch and I didn't have any whole wheat flour around. Regardless, they were delicious and so easy to make and my husband claims it is why he bought the buttermilk in the first place, no mistake, all intentional. Typical man.
You'll have to enjoy her pictures for now as I haven't had a chance to take any of our own. When I do, I'll add the recipe with it too.

In the past month I've made my cinnamon rolls several times and I think my husband and my ass are hating me for it. They are just good and a seriously awesome reward for being a stay-at-home mom. Don't they look good?

I'm now working on our menu plan for the next three months - the first two months were easy, but now I'm struggling with the last month. It may be a month of rice & noodles :)

Where did February go?

2010-02-15T09:48:00.001-08:00

Seriously, I don't know what I've been doing, but I can't believe it's more than half over. We all know I haven't been here.

Last week I went with Zakery on a field trip to the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Here's what I learned from this. Fifth graders are not my favorite people, especially sixty of them. Two hours on a crowded bus, someone is bound to get sick, and that someone is me. We ended up with the bus nazi -it was frightening, and you don't mess with the bus nazi. Don't delete pictures while a high energy activity is going on -the end result is devasting (yes, I accidentally deleted all my pictures dating back almost a week, and included our super bowl weekend party with our families!).

Yesterday did it in for me. I think I'll be calling my doctor tomorrow to up my happy pills. I've had this annoying reminder that kept popping up on my laptop from Windows, telling me that it needed to update, and it automatically started while I was using it. Needless to say my OS never returned. It's in this awful rotation saying that it encountered an error and will restart in 24 seconds, and then it repeats. The last time I did a back up was well over a month ago and I'm sure my hard drive is shot. Can you say dark days? Yep, I can't access my recipes, my pictures, my bookmarks or favorites! Oh the humanity! My poor daughter is having to share her laptop with me right now, and I'm sure she's gritting her teeth.

I will try to update with our menu's tonight or tomorrow, but there won't be any pictures. Sorry.

Until then you can enjoy a wonderful blog with lots of recipes & pictures -my new favorite to check in on is The Happy Housewife - you won't be disappointed.

New organizational tool

2010-01-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

'Cause it's not a secret that I'm unorganized. I wish I could remember who or what sent me in the direction of this online all-in-one organizational site -and I'm sure that I'll remember at a later date, and I promise I will give props where they are due.

You must check out Spring Pad. All I can say is wow, and that I'm addicted. And yes, it's like the facebook addiction. I've only been playing around with it for a short time, but have already added a serious amount of apps and will be transferring over my dinner menus, recipes, calendars... oh, I could go on and on.

One of my favorite features so far is the chore reminder. I've only added one chore so far, because it's the least favorite for myself and the boy who is in charge of it -THE KITTY LITTER BOX. I just got an email reminder that the cat box needs to be changed! How awesome is that?

There are several apps for Health and Fitness such as a Calorie Tracker, Workout Tracker, and Daily Health reminders. The apps are just a portion of this website, so I encourage you to check it out.

I am just so excited to share this and can't wait to delve into it deeper.

woo hoo Safeway! Run!

2010-01-31T13:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm going to share my deal today and it might be a TODAY ONLY deal.

In this week's circular there was a coupon for .99 bags of Doritos. You are limited to 5 and you must spend $10. It is only good on Saturday and Sunday. Here's what we did. The plan was we were going to pick up a bag of navel orages at $4.99 and a value pack of ground beef at $1.99lb. That was until we saw that the 5 lb chubs were on clearance for $2.99 EACH! I grabbed three to get our minimum for the Doritos. I'm hoping that it will still be the deal tomorrow morning when I go back 'cause I'm loading up.

Typically I don't buy the chubs from the store as they are fat laden. 20% fat is not my cup of tea, especially when I can go to Costco to the butcher shop and ask them for a 10 lb chub of 99% lean ground beef at $2.00 lb. Usually, the chubs at the big box stores are on sale for around $1.99-$2.49lb. BUT I can live with the draining of fat for $.60 a pound!

I should note that all Safeway stores do not carry the same clearance deals, but they had the regular area where they have the ground beef and an end cap area for it so there is lots at the Safeway in Sequim.

Check it out, you just might be able to hit up this deal too.

Have an awesome Sunday :)

Menus schmenus... if only

2010-01-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

I forgot to post this week's dinner menu - so here is goes and I'll even include a recipe in there somewhere

Monday:
Chicken Caesar salad w/ dinner rolls

Tuesday:
BLT sandwiches and homemade french fries

Wednesday:
Beef/chicken rice-a-roni (either homemade or boxed) w/ peas or corn

Thursday:
Hubby's birthday his treat/choice

Friday:
Pancakes with pears -might even turn this into crepes, yum!

Saturday:
leftovers or new dish

Sunday:
Tuna noodle casserole w/ peas

Feb 1-7th dinner menu

Monday:
Salad bar w/ homemade rolls/bread

Tuesday:
meatball subs and salad (leftovers from monday)

Wednesday:
Beef stroganoff w/ corn

Thursday:
Mashed potatoes w/ beef gravy and veggies

Friday:
Homemade calzones and salad

Saturday: -family is coming for superbowl
Potluck -thinking fractured tacos

Sunday: -Superbowl Sunday
bbq/sweet n sour meatballs
chicken hotwings
veggies
beef pot roast and of course BREAD!

Fractured Tacos aka...the kids will eat this

1 lb ground meat, browned -beef/turkey or shredded chicken/pork
taco seasoning-to taste
head of iceberg or green leaf lettuce
1 beefsteak or 2-3 roma tomatoes
grated cheddar cheese or mexican mix if you buy in the bag
1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
avacado, peeled and sliced -optional

throw everything into a big bowl and toss. Serve on a bed of fritos/doritos/tortilla chips. Top with a dollop of sour cream and/or guacamole and wah lah! YUM!!!

We've also just put everything into individual bowls and let everyone make their own for the more picky ones.

2010-01-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

I am exhausted. I am so tired and worn out that when I do get a chance to relax or sleep it isn't enough.

It's not that my kids don't sleep, they do, but it's not enough. For some reason the younger two have decided that naps are just not for them. At two and three, I know better than they do, that they do indeed need a nap. Not just for my sanity, but it's also in their best interest. Who are we kidding, they don't care. They just want to eat, play, poop, play, eat, poop, and play again.

Naptime is a daily battle in our home. Natalie has no desire to partake in the festivities of naptime, she doesn't fight it and will lay in bed the entire time. Sometimes quietly, other times not so much. But, go for a ride in the car in the time frame of naptime and she crashes, not gently either -she crashes hard. Lucy on the other hand will fight me until I just can't deal with her anymore. We've tried everything -literally everything out there. Occasionally, she will fall asleep after much struggle, and lay down with me. But the moment I move, her eyes pop open and she pops out of bed. -As I type this, it is supposed to be nap time and I'm fighting with them yet again.

I've been told that maybe they are just done napping, but really they are an absolute mess in the evenings if the don't sleep for a bit. So, right now I am sitting at the table in their room, listening to the pleas, the cries, and the negotiating as to why they don't want to sleep and why they should be out playing instead.

Lost in Translation

2010-01-19T13:58:00.000-08:00

I find myself repeating things over and over again lately. I don’t know if it’s me that is not speaking clearly or if my children are just not listening to me (I’m positive it’s the latter)

Example: Tonight, I watch Natalie (3) run up and push, an already running, Lucy (2) to the ground -cartwheels follow along with tears. Of course, I do my usual nagging -don’t push your sister, don’t push anyone. Not two minutes later she comes tearing through the kitchen and pushes Mariah (13) as she’s trying to put away dishes. AGAIN, I have to repeat myself and sent her to time out. At this time all hell unleashes and she’s a whirlwind of arms and legs and tears and high pitch wailing. Moments later I find myself going over a similar situation with the 10 & 2 year olds. I don’t get it.

I really hate it when my husband can respond with such force and fury that the children just melt into a puddle of tears and really all he’s done is just given them the “eye”. Not a word or movement. It takes every ounce of my being just for the kids to notice that I’m even in the room, and he bats a lash and they snap out of it.

Gaarrrr….. Yes, all pirate style. This is a daily battle and I’m trying to overcome it.

Now, I’ve worked on our menus for the next month and while from time to time they will change without notice, the following is for this week:

Monday: Egg burritos and pears -throw your kids off and in lots of veggies

Tuesday: Grilled Cheese sandwiches with tomato soup -someday I’ll make our own, for now we thank Campbells

Wednesday: Spaghetti, French bread, & salad - we do not serve jar sauce here, you can do it!

Thursday: Chicken skewers, rice, & broccoli -marinated chicken in yoshida’s or soy sauce

Friday: Homemade pizza - kids get cheese pizza, adults get chicken pesto w/ cream sauce YUM!

We are set to be gone this weekend so I didn’t schedule any dinners.

mmm.... bread

2010-01-11T14:37:00.001-08:00

The other morning I woke up and had this hankering for fresh baked bread. Knowing that I couldn't just go down to Safeway, because I loathe that bigbox, grocery hoarding store, I would have to find a recipe that I could work with. I have tried baking bread countless times. I've made all different kinds, some have turned out okay, and others have failed miserly. Not even the local seagulls were interested in picking up the scraps -it has been that bad.

-not saying this one was bad, just doesn't compare

So, my search began. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of The Pioneer Woman. I have been reading her blog/website for over a year and have loved every moment of it. So when The Tasty Kitchen went up I was ecstatic. A site that not only Ree would post her fave recipes on but so would countless other women/men who have this undying love for Ree's site, and the love of food. That's where we are now, I found a recipe for a simple white bread. Of course, as usual with everything, I messed with it-changing amounts, and well, I even added some basil to it by mistake. This has to be the best gosh darn bread that I have ever baked. It turned out just like the picture (hey, we live by pictures here), except better because it was in my frickin' house and I made it!

It was so hard not to carve into it the moment it came out of the oven. When it had cooled just enough we(the kids and I, although I was hoping nobody else wanted any) sliced up the smaller loaf for a snack - holy goodness! The butter melted into the bread and it needed nothing else. And it was gone. The second loaf was gone within two days - I even shared some with the gals down at The Cracked Bean Coffee Co., aren't I nice? This recipe was easy and turned out so good. Definitely a new addition to our recipe book for sure.

While this bread was baking, I asked my #3 in line(the one with the crazy eyes, she gets that from her dad's side) "Do you smell that baby?" She gave me a funny look and said "Did you fart mommy?" in response, without laughing, 'cause that's how I handle everything, I replied "no sweetie, I was talking about the bread." and then ran to my room and cried -okay, I laughed.

turn of events?

2010-01-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

I’ve been torn lately as to which direction this blog should take. Originally it was thought that I would share my adventures, ideas, and life by using coupons to live frugally. Here is where I am torn; coupons are typically for items that are processed and mass produced. I enjoyed picking up my cheap often free shit from the grocery stores. But my family has been moving closer to a lifestyle in which we make most food items we consume from scratch and locally grown. We are also planning on turning our little half acre lot into our own food producing mini farm. Mostly gardens to start, and hopefully introducing chickens/goats in the future. Our own little homestead on the Olympic Peninsula.

I still save and double up on coupon circulars, watch the store ads, and even print up coupons on occasion, I just don’t frequent the big box stores that often or crave the processed foods. Really, I only go to Costco -to stock up on things- and a little country store called Sunny Farms. Unfortunately, very few coupons are exchanged at either. So, as we focus our attention on here for a more local feel with recipes and pure & utter homesteady goodness, I will occasionally tell you about deals, steals, good feels I come across.

With much love,

Tory

random thoughts... monday night style

2010-01-04T20:49:00.001-08:00

Have you ever just been sitting around, drinking a cup of tea, enjoying the peacefulness because everyone has gone to bed... then this sudden panic and urgency rushes over you? Yep, that's because you forgot that your three year old has been sitting on the toilet for the last thirty minutes.

I walked in (bolted) and asked her if she was done. Her reply..."no." "How in the hell can you not be done? Child, I forgot you were even in here." She simply said, "Get out, I'm pooping." Enough said. And I walked out. Not two seconds later I hear "I'm done." Gaaaahhhh.....

Resolutions.... resolve

2010-01-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

I’d love to say that I am confident, that I believe enough in myself to have at least one resolution that I know I can keep, but the fact is, I am not.

I wish I could say, I’d love for this to be the year that I can finally feel well enough to stick to something, anything. Whether it be a new diet, exercise plan, or give more time, anytime, to myself.

I wish that I had enough faith in my doctors, the ones that I trust to care for me, to make the proper decisions in my healthcare.

I’d hope that by deciding that I’m going to put my family first, doesn’t make me selfish. Just because I don’t come visit or call everyday doesn’t mean I’m not thinking of you too.

I’d hope that when I say “I don’t feel good”, or “something hurts” that I be taken seriously and that I’m not trying to drum up attention. I rarely make anything about myself.

I take full responsibility for my mistakes when I was younger and those in the future. Although, I don’t see them as mistakes, just lessons learned.

Now with all of that aside, I can now say...

I will work on my self-confidence. I am worthy, I am imperfect, I am me.

I resolve to lose weight. I miss my tight yoga ass.

I resolve to eat somewhat healthier. Notice the “somewhat”, there are somethings that I will never give up -coffee and breads

I resolve to become more active with my children. I'm with my kids 24/7, but not always mentally.

I resolve to be a better partner to my husband. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to bend over backwards babe, but will definitely work on it.

I will take time for myself. Mama needs a pedicure.

What will you decide to do?

well, dammit.

2009-11-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

So much for keeping up with the Joneses.

Yes, I'm lame, but it's been pretty busy here. We've had Lu's 2nd birthday -um, tears- with par-tay; we've enjoyed Halloween, not to mention the hubby and I have been working hard on our new business-not too much longer peeps! Then my birthday came and went in the dark of night-thank goodness, almost completely un-noticed, whew, so glad to be 29 again. We've had sickness, and had to argue our way out of certain vaccinations. Now, we are getting ready for winter in a house we have no idea how it's going to handle it. We have discovered a leak on the roof at our chimney-fixed. Shitty gutter downspouts. Heinous heaters and about to receive our first two cords of firewood since we can't rely on heaters or electrical to the aforementioned heaters. Then last night we found our carpet downstairs was wet -only about a 4ft by 6ft section along a wall and we found the culprit right away. So we think we've fixed why the water was coming in, but need to fix where the water was seeping in and it's where the wall meets the floor. Fun.

My three months of menus was thwarted when a couple of pages went missing and um...someone forgot to save them. So we had nine weeks of menus and they were partially successful. The next six weeks will be a bit more difficult and flexible, I will still prepare a menu, but with options.

Now, I've been using homemade laundry soap since last April and have loved it -there is no strong laundry smell, made from products that you can find in most grocery stores, and best of all YOU know what's in it. Crystal over at the family homesteadhas information on the products that you should use and the recipe that she's been using. I have researched and read tons of recipes and adjusted for our family's needs. Our family has sensitive skin and this has resolved those issues. It's is easy on your clothing and works really well with cloth diapers. Now for all you laundry loving fools, I have put together the recipe and pictures of the process below.

Homemade Laundry Soap
1 bar of laundry soap-Zote, Fels Naptha, Libria, Ivory
1 cup of Borax
2 cups of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1 cup of pure baking soda
6cups water
3 gallons hot water
3-6 drops of essential oil -lavender is our fav
5 gallon bucket
*grate up the bar of soap-most other sites only recommend 1/3 of a bar, I use an entire bar because I make nearly 5 gallons of laundry soap at a time, double the amount-remember four kids +one husband whose job requires the occasional jont in the woods + one mama who bakes without concern for mess = very dirty laundry all of the time. *Zote is what I used this time, probably never again -it's a little strong smelling-I've used Ivory and it's very gentle
*boil 6 cups of water in a pot, stir in the grated bar of soap and simmer until completely dissolved -be patient and STIR it.
*Stir in Borax, Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, and baking soda to the water/soap mixture -return to simmer, stir and wait for it to dissolve. If it seems too thick, add a cup or so of water to it, it'll help it dissolve quicker and don't forget to STIR.
*in your 5 gal bucket add 3 gallons of HOT water - I save my milk & vinegar containers just for my detergent.
*add your dissolved detergent mixture to the 5 gal bucket and stir until it is mixed well. Here is where I also add in my essential oil -stir that in and smell the deliciousness that will soon be your laundry!

I have so graciously offered to host Thankgiving-the day after, which we have dubbed, Our Food Celebration. And so it being an open invitation, I have no frickin' idea who is showing up -enter smiley face with beads of sweat or are those tears? no matter. More of that to come, I'll try to post some of my menu and recipes soon.

Oh, if anyone can remind me how to rotate these damn pictures, I'll send you happy thoughts

pork chops & applesauce...minus the lisp

2009-10-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

Here I sit in my kitchen, looking out my amazing picture windows at the Olympic mountains. I am amazed at how incredible the weather has been the last couple of weeks and it reminds me of the weather sixteen years ago! It was my senior year of highschool and we had an indian summer much like we are now. I remember spending endless nights down on the docks at friend's houses -and swimming until who knows when. Not to mention partying and missing school, but we can stop there because we don't want to encourage anyone...especially a certain 13 year old who lives in my house. MOM NEVER DID ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

My mom and dad came to visit this last weekend to help us with some winter preparedness stuff. Heaters. We ripped out the baseboards and well, we hadn't replaced them yet. And all be damn if it didn't get cold at night. So that was the man project. Mom and I, we made applesauce. And of course I have no pictures proving that I actually did the process. Shame.

I do however have the end product and it is delicious. It was so much easier than I thought. I was figuring it was going to be incredibly tough because I didn't have a food mill, but we cooked the apples down enough that it wasn't necessary -we even had the peels in there. Out of about 8lbs of apples from our mysterious tree and 8lbs of Fujis from Sunny Farms, we got six quarts and four pints of the sweetest applesauce. The pint sized ones we added cinnamon to it. I really think the mix of apples made it for this sauce. We needed absolutely no sweetner. Yum. Now I have another 20lbs or so of apples in the garage and who knows how much more up in the tree. I also have about 6lbs of pears that I plan on making some apple/pear butter with. Maybe later this week or next we'll tackle that one. Mom also made a couple of jars of this blackberry/raspberry syrup/topping stuff. YUM!

This past week the girls and I spent some time at one of the many beaches near our house. The first picture is of the girls at John Wayne Marina. They loved it there, we were the only ones running up and down filling up the marina with rocks. It was awesome. On Friday, we hijacked the kindergarten/late preschool class's field trip to the Olympic Game Farm. It was great! We actually got a walking tour of the caged animals -sad sounding, I know. It seemed so much more scary then when we just drive through that area- they were right there, the lions, tigers, wolves, sturgeon- right beyond a little chain link fence. Frightening, yet so frickin' cool! Lucy was a crazy animal too! She was climbing that chain link fence that separates you from the carnivorous mammal, and throwing rocks at them. Actually, I was mystified that my girls were more interested in the rocks on the roadway then the snarling, drooling, licking their chops(not really) animals just behind a wee fence.

really if you ever get out to Sequim, WA you must visit this place. It is amazing. We live, literally across the street and a field from the farm. They are remodeling this winter and making bigger enclosures for the animals. Most of the animals are rescues from people that had them as pets when they were babies or they are retired movie animals. They also feed them raw meat-nothing alive, usually just beef & pork, but AMAZInG I tell you!

this was only a couple of days last week, I still need to post about my baking adventures and menus! Next post for sure!

I've been lost, stumbling mindlessly

2009-09-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

seriously, the past three weeks couldn't have been any stranger. One week after Zak's chicken pox started, Lucy broke out, uh, that's putting it mildly, the pox unleashed on this child. She was blistered up one side and down the other and places where no one wishes to have them or anything...ever. Then just two days later Natalie broke out, and to not be outdone, Lucy broke with more. Natalie missed her first day of Preschool, actually her first week, but we played it off like it was preschool that was delayed another week. Sneeky, I know. Needless to say, we have ventured out and we definitely get the looks for Lucy -all scabby and cute. Alot of people asking if she's got chicken pox, we just look at the funny and nod. What would they do if we said no? Then this last week, Lucy started breathing funny-wheezing kind of, and her chest/stomach were doing this teeter totter thing. We took her to the pediatrician and they said that she was having an ASTHMA attack! I couldn't believe it. They gave her a treatment in the office and it seemed to help. They assured us that she'd be okay and that was it. No info. No reason. Just scooted us on our way with a prescription for Albuterol.

But no more than two hours later we were sitting down to dinner and she started again. It was frustrating because we couldn't give her more medicine for another two hours. We called the after hours clinic and they told us to take her in to the Emergency room. Well, at about the same time some jackass from California decided to go tearing through Port Angeles in his pick up truck, side swipe a jeep and then cross the center line to drive head on into a commuter bus. What does this have to do with Lu going to the ER, you ask. Well, the commuter bus had PEOPLE in it and they made it to the ER and were apparently in worse off condition than a baby who is struggling to breathe. FOUR hours later babe is seen and multitudes of tests are run and the results are that she doesn't have pneumonia, flu, swine flu, and no bacterial infections. Thanks.

Next batch of craziness is just so crazy that I can't really discuss it yet. I mean, it's just so mind numbing that you would probably just pass out from the thought of it, either that or we'd have to send the aliens over to your place. Or kill you, but I don't want to go there. I will go into further detail after paperwork has been filed and possibly have a website set up so I can send you there.

Lastly, what the hell is it doing? I mean we are already more than halfway through September already! We have volleyball under way, preschool going, and birthdays coming soon! The next three months will be even crazier with all the birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Which comes to a complaint I have, WHY oh WHY must people be born around the holidays? I really wanted to make some homemade gifts this year and already with the house, school, and now our new big investment I'm finding a bit difficult finding the time for this. Maybe I'll do something little to go along with the other stuff. I have been dying to bake stuff so this past week I've done snack cakes, cookie bars, rolls, bread sticks, a loaf of bread, and more cookie bars. I've also done really well with the dinner menus and will post this past week's and next week's menus tomorrow.

So, I just finished up yet another batch of cookie bars, this time they were oatmeal scotchies and I have sweet'n sour meatballs in the crockpot. Husband and I are going to primer a wall so we can paint it this obscenely dark color, probably to just to mock it and reprimer and paint again. So, I will leave you with just some pictures and probably leftover chicken pox scabs. yum.

School? Whaat?? Where did summer go?

2009-08-31T17:52:00.000-07:00

I am so sad to be the one to inform all of you that our summer has gone and school is quickly approaching. What? Wait, you already knew and you all are celebrating and you didn't call me!!! Okay, so seriously I already knew too. I've had the countdown ticker on my igoogle page going since school got out.

I'm having a hard time dealing with all of the school supply lists. I've been collecting some items as they have come on sale or had coupons for, but seriously, it's as if we have to supply the entire class! Four packages of four glue sticks!? How many collages can one fifth grader make? They even request a particular brand of pencil in which we must supply four packages of ten pencils -I do have to say that they are a superior brand, but with that comes a hefty price tag for a frickin' pencil. Here's a kicker, we must get a particular pen...not stick pens, not ball point, not marker -sharpies are already requested and this particular pen is not even carried at any office supply, walmart, art store in my town nor the neighboring city!!! We didn't even get the list until last week, because that's when you can officially access the information. WHAT THE EFFFFFFFin' me-oh-my?! Okay, enough of a rant, moving on.

This last week was a success with the meal planning and semi-quasi budgeting, with the exception of going through twice as much milk as I thought we would. Here is this week's menu:

Sunday: Roasted Chicken, potatoes, & peas.. eh hem, rice, leftover steak, & carrots.
Monday: Chicken kabobs on green salad w/ corn on the cob
Tuesday: sloppy joes & green salad
Wednesday: Spaghetti, french bread, salad
Thursday: Chicken enchiladas
Friday: Pancakes & pears
Saturday: leftovers/new recipe... BLT PIE!!!!

Sunday was a flop because I decided that I needed to drive to pick up the kids, to get out of the house. Good thing was that we had everything here in the house and it was ready when I returned. We made snack cake last night for dessert over the next couple of days.

stroganoff ala chicken pox...ew.

2009-08-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

Z was diagnosed with chicken pox on monday, which means saturday, when he was feeling rather ho-hum, that was the start of things. We had family out, cousins, and after spending a few days of seclusion at the family cabin, we took them to the Olympic Game Farm, which is near our house. Lots of fun and we parted ways. Imagine my freaking out on Monday morning when Z came to me with numerous itchy pimply spots, then followed the confirmation by our pediatrician. Good times! So, he has spent a few days in isolation. With the knowledge of our ped the girls will now have their day with chicken pox -JOY! While it can in no way compare to my TWO bouts of the pox and the last when I was 13, can we say pox on the eyelids, down my throat, and on the bottoms of my feet... it ought to be interesting.

I have had many requests for a "pox party", but then have also received the emails of how disturbing the thought of a pox party is. I had to ponder this, and when I responded I sort of let loose because they were targeting me... I didn't advertise that I was having a party, I just happened to have the infected child. As if I purposed exposed my child to the disease, when in fact he was vaccinated. Now, I am purposely infecting my younger two to the pox, but they were probably already infected long before I knew it was even in our house. In our home we selectively vaccinate. There are some that we do and some that we don't.

Z would not have received the varicella vaccine had I known that it was being given at that time. It was new, and apparently, they (the nurses) thought that everyone would want it. It wasn't brought to my attention until AFTER they had given it to him, he was only 15 months. At 2, Z developed serious food and outside allergies. Thankfully, he has outgrown most, but still the damage was already done and we have to live with the effects of that.

So, before you decide to attack or alienate people because of how they decide to raise their children, think about what their reasons may be. It may be their religious beliefs or maybe we feel the need to just get down and dirty let our immune systems and bodies develop a bit before we start injecting active diseases into it. It's nothing personal against you, but it's none of your damn business. I realize that you may think that we are out there, unvaccinated and possibly spreading our "diseases" to you, but we aren't the ones living with the viruses already in our systems. We are just building up our natural defenses.
My husband and I decided long ago, that a little dirt wouldn't hurt. We weren't going to be those parents who expected everyone to slather up on the anti-bacterial gel before they could touch our babies. We weren't going to run and hide every time someone coughed or sneezed. When we were little we were given the chance to develop a natural defense system, we turned out just fine, in fact rather healthy. So, why couldn't our children? We are rather lucky to have pediatricians, nurses, family, and friends who support our decisions. We just ask that we not be attacked or condemned when we share this info with you. If you don't want to come to our "pox party" then don't come. We didn't want you there anyway.

Now for food, we had this last night and it turned out soooo good! Sorry no pictures, we ate it all so fast that by the time I thought about a picture there was nothing left. It was that yummy.

Ground beef stroganoff

1 bag of egg noodles cooked per package instructions-rice and potatoes are also good
1 lb ground turkey/beef/whatever you like! -we combined turkey & beef
1 pkt of onion soup mix (beef onion would be really good!)
salt/pepper to taste
a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce or more
1 cup milk
1 cup sour cream

brown ground meat, drain off fat.
add onion soup mix, salt & pepper to taste and stir it all up
add milk and sour cream and heat thoroughly
lastly add the Worcestershire sauce to taste, start with a teaspoon or so and shake a more if needed, stir up and WA LA!

Oh, then serve over noodles, rice, potatoes, whatever your pretty little heart desires!

Notice this recipe does not have the usual staple of stroganoff recipes... MUSHROOMS. I hate, no, loathe mushrooms. I vomit in my sleep over mushrooms. My whole body heaves and convulses at the sight of those nasty little buggers. However, if you absolutely must tarnish this recipe with satan's fungus-go right ahead. Some people like those kind of things.

cupcakes & menus

2009-08-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

Well, a big giant THANK YOU to Sara over at Our Best Bites for this wonderful cupcake recipe. Of course as usual I had to juggle stuff for what we had on hand, but this is a huge hit...well, at least the making and oogling over them part. We are saving them until we meet up with my husband's family tomorrow.

I will post the recipe with our changes added, at the bottom of this post.

We are heading down to the cabin at Lake Quinault tomorrow morning. We'll be meeting up with J's family-mom, dad, The weirds: sister, brother-in-law, and their three children-they live in Maryland and are visiting for the week. We are so excited! We haven't seen them in what seems like forever-the spring. I had no idea what to bring so, we will be bearing gifts of CUPCAKES!

Quickly, I will post my menu for next week(23rd-29th), since I am unsure when I'll be able to get back on to do it. If they work out and are a hit, I will post recipes.

Sunday: Baked mac & cheese, w/ green beans
Monday: Caesar salads w/ french bread or baguettes-Whatever I try to make that day!
Tuesday: Chili & cornbread -we'll be making a double batch!
Wednesday: Ground beef stroganoff w/ corn
Thursday: Taco skillet w/ lettuce salad
Friday: Extreme Nachos -big kids are gone, so it may end up being just chips/chz
Saturday: Leftovers or new recipe!

That's it!
Our Best Bites cupcakes
Okay, while I do have to say that ours did not turn out as beautiful as Sara's - they are in our eyes. Our colors may not be as bright, they may appear lumpy, and we are missing orange, we couldn't have had more fun making cupcakes. Ultimately we decided to make ours huge - we doubled the amount in each muffin cup, by mistake and I believe it worked out to our advantage. We only had half of the colors in the gels, so we just used extra drops of the regular food coloring. We also didn't have the paper muffin cups, but hey, we are trying to cut down on the waste. The below recipe and directions are from here I will note where I have changed it.

COLORBURST CUPCAKES or as N calls them "Rainbow muffin cupcakes"

1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1 C sour cream
1/2 C milk
1/3 C vegetable oil (*we used olive oil)

Combine all ingredients until incorporated (about 30 seconds). Scrape sides of bowl and then beat on med-high speed for 3 minutes.

Divide batter according to how many colors you are using. I used 5 colors and it worked out to a little over 1 cup for each color. *we used 4 colors and used 1 cup of batter for each color*

Use food coloring to color batter to desired intensity. I used a 1/4 t and they were very bright! *we started with 1/4t each, then added a couple of extra squeezes of the regular food coloring to get a brighter color.* You could easily make pastel rainbows using a little less. *Layer each color of batter, it said to use about 2 teaspoons of each color in each muffin... my child interpreted that as 2 TABLESPOONS... I thought it looked a bit much so I did about 1 tablespoon, and soon figured out that we were not going to get more than a dozen cupcakes out of this. In turn they ended up huge. We played it off as it was all planned. It was also suggested on the site to use a bit of water on your fingers to spread each layer of color. It definitely helped.

Bake them according to the package directions(*20 minutes was perfect for our cupcakes), until a toothpick comes out dry. Wahlah!********
BTW, I have no idea what I did to these pictures, I think I may have kicked your dog.

back to menu planning

2009-08-17T20:25:00.001-07:00

this is not the jam I made today, but strawberry jam I made last winter!

We are back to planning our dinner menus. Not because we are incredibly busy or because of budgeting, per se, but because it helps me keep my sanity! There is no second guessing what's for dinner or running to the store at the last minute. I know exactly what we're having and I have plenty of time to get to the store if we discover we're low or out of an ingredient.

Today, I stumbled upon a blog that I automatically fell in love with. She offers everything that I look for in a good read. I found myself going over many of her posts thoroughly and wanting to highlight, write down, save, print, and reread again! Lindsay's Passionate Homemaking helped me make the decision to make freezer jam with my raspberries today. She gave me the extra bump that I needed to get back into menu planning. There is so much more on her site, and I can't wait to sit down and dig in further. I'm looking forward to trying out some of her many recipes that she has too! Thank you Lindsay!

I have decided to keep my menus on Google Calendar. If you haven't tried this feature it is worth checking out. While I used to use Microsoft Outlook for most of email, scheduling, and sharing information with my husband. We no longer use MS Windows applications and have really enjoyed the change over to the Google products. I figured since we share our calendars already, why not add our dinner menus to it as well. I'm sure I can play with it more, my menu looks pretty crude compared to others that I've seen online, but it's MINE! We will see how it works starting next week- that's when we start our new planned menus. I'm expecting a lot less of the "what's for dinner babe?".

I will post next week's menu, tomorrow night. The kids loved the idea of theme nights for dinners, (thanks again Lindsay!)so I need to adapt our menus to coordinate with the themes.

If you're interested in the recipe for freezer jam. I altered it a bit for what I had on hand. Instead of juice from lemons, I used limes and I used honey for the sweetner. I can't wait to have some tomorrow on my toast!

wow. ramblin'... yah, I'm that bored

2009-08-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

I really don't have much to report this time. J's mom came out on Wednesday and she started work on the big kids' room. I had primed it earlier in the week for her and she painted 2.5 walls pale turquoise and the closet a shimmery violet. We'll finish the other wall before they get home on Sunday. She also picked up some fun bedding for their beds. Bright colors to contrast the walls -yeah, it means we're starting to settle in!

We are battling bees, wasps, the devils bug, whatever you want to call them -we've already had our bug guys out and sprayed the ones on and directly around the house, in fact they come once a month to bomb them buggers. But we discovered a lovely hole in the yard a couple of weeks back and the effers won't die! We've tried everything from wasp spray to stuffing a rag down the hole, drowning it in bleach, then adding ammonia to it to try and suffocate them with noxious fumes -per my farming uncle, he claims that would knock 'em dead. Then J wild hair up his ass and decided on a blustery evening to get out the Wd-40 and blast them w/ some flames! The result wasn't so much as dead bees, but the yard on FiRE!!! We ran around and got it out with a broom and hose, but they were still alive so since we already had the hose out, we shoved it down the hole(s), yes multiple holes. By this time they had decided their main route wasn't working anymore so they made more... The flooding seemed to work - we also did the humane thing and added soap, because it seems so much more nicer with bubbles. We've done that a couple of nights in a row and I think their gone! Either that or their moving in with the neighbors. Sorry Frances. You can have 'em Olga, you 'ol bag.

Tonight I hit up twitter. I went through and adopted some new friends. I am positive that they will adopt me back -Brad and Angie can always use another rugrat, either that or they won't even notice that I'm around. Regardless of who is following me I am a frequent tweeter - not so much when I'm out, but when I am home and on the putah. So please follow me!

I have nothing else to share tonight except this one tidbit I found online tonight. I stumbled upon King Arthur Flour while looking for a baguette recipe... I CAN'T Wait to try this one out! It looks so delicious! If I have time tomorrow we'll see. Oh shit. I'm out of flour. I wish somewhere around here sold King Arthur's in bulk, so I'll just go down to Sunny Farms and get some organic bread flour from the bins. I don't know if I can sleep now I am so giddy with excitement!

Peace my friends - sleep well and have a most enjoyable weekend
CHEERS!

okay... I'm a jerk or just preoccupied

2009-08-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've been away too long and so much has gone on in the last umpteen months! I feel that I have left you totally neglected and that someone might report me to bloggy protective services or at least just pass me up. SO I'm BACK!!!! Please don't kick my dog... er, if I had one.

My parents came over for the weekend to help us on a couple of wiring projects in the new house and with them they brought us a new dinner recipe. I so wish I would have taken pictures of this beautiful dish. My dad found it online here and mom and I adjusted it to our liking. My husband and dad commented that it tasted like it was of good restaurant quality. Hey, hey! Two thumbs up for us! We are awesome, but we already knew that. I'll put the recipe at the end of this post.

Now, because we are a larger than life family we doubled the recipe. Here are a few of the ways we tossed this puppy up. We had fresh salsa, chopped tomatoes, a mexican variety of cheese (? four cheese and mom bought it-figures, cheater). The meat only marinated for 4hrs - I can't imagine how much more delish the meat would have been if it had been marinating overnight! I also took about a quarter of the meat and cooked it until it was brown throughout, I won't touch it if it's pink and have passed that nasty habit on to the youngest of my offspring. We DID NOT put our tostadas in the oven to melt the cheese -growling, angry mobs will make that decision for you. Our flank steak was cooked on the grill-so we had it on for a couple minutes longer on each side. That was it!

I am so making this again!

I have had many chaotic moments since my last post. I will follow up with that on later postings, no need for drama or to drag everyone down in one fatal swoop. So for now, please enjoy this easy, beautiful, delicious dinner!

Dr. Pepper Marinated Steak Tostados
Ingredients
Meat and marinade:
1 pound skirt or flank steak (we used flank)
1 (16-ounce) bottle Dr. Pepper
Slaw:
1/2 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
1/4 cup thinly shredded
green cabbage
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into
thin strips
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
4 teaspoons malt vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Tostadas:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
11/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
4 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
11/2 cups shredded caciotta or Monterey Jack cheese (mexican blend)
1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles

Instructions
1. Pour Dr. Pepper over steak. Refrigerate 4 to 12 hours.
2. To prepare slaw, toss cabbage, bell pepper and cilantro together. Whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar and granulated sugar. Pour over cabbage mixture; toss. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortillas 8 to 10 seconds on each side. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt; drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
4. Prepare grill. Remove steak from marinade. Combine 1 teaspoon salt, brown sugar and pepper; rub on meat. Grill meat 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
5. To assemble tostadas, preheat oven to 350F. Place tortillas on baking sheets. Sprinkle with cheeses. Slice steak into thin strips. Distribute among tortillas. Bake 5 to 6 minutes, until cheese melts. Remove from oven and top each tostada with 2 tablespoons slaw. Serves 4.

Recipe adapted with permission from Grady Spears and June Naylor's, The Texas Cowboy Kitchen (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2007).

"Home at the Range," July 2009.

poor neglected blog

2009-04-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, never did I think that a job would keep me from spilling my guts. It has!!!!! I have not had time to even read up on my favs. Oh the humanity!
Seriously, this full time work/full time mom shit is hard! The house is in dire need of cleaning, ha! what's new? and I don't I have really cooked anything from scratch since the middle of last month. Wait, did I take a shower? Umm... yep. Oh wait, no, that was one of the kids. ARGH! Sorry, this again will have to wait - the kids are in bed and American Idol is almost over so I just might have time to get in there. Cheers until next time - much hugs, kisses, love, and don't forget to shave!

Meatloaf. 'nuff said

2009-03-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

I love meatloaf. LOVE IT. Okay, not THAT Meatloaf. I love meatloaf freshly out of the oven, next day with mayo on a slice of bread, even the day after that -if there's any left!

Whenever I make meatloaf I always bake an extra loaf for sandwiches. The sandwiches are more anticipated than the dinner itself. If I ever think that there won't be enough for sandwiches the next day. No one eats. It goes straight the fridge and everyone gets cereal. That's the way I roll.

Who doesn't love leftover meatloaf? Okay, my kids don't, but they don't count. Here's a fun factoid about me, I haven't always been a lover of the loaf. I don't know if it was how my mom made it, what was in it(or what I thought was in it), or the fact that it had the word "loaf" in it, which in itself just sounds icky. Then when I was a sophmore in highschool I had a friend that brought a meatloaf sandwich to school. She asked if I wanted a bite. I cringed, but was captivated that her "loaf" didn't have stuff in it. It looked kind of good, like a smashed meatball- and hoova knows I love meatballs! So, I accepted and my tastebuds squealed in delight! I loved it!!!! From there on out Betty always packed an extra sandwich just for me!

I made meatloaf this last week. One in the crockpot, the other in the oven. I wanted to see which I loved more. While my crockpot loaf took the better of the afternoon, I was able to wait until evening before putting the other in the oven. I decided that I would share my meatloaf with the fam for dinner, the crockpot was finished first. When I started to slice up the loaf I was horrified at the "burnt" crust on the bottom. I had burned my loaf!!! And in the crock of all places to boot. Aw, the humanity! It was still good, but there was a lingering flavor that just wasn't right. What was left from dinner (no one except me had seconds) and the oven loaf went in the fridge for sandwiches. First to be finished was the crock loaf and it was much better on day two. The next two days was the oven loaf and it was heavenly!!!!!! I'm sorry all you crockpot fans (that includes me too) but meatloaf must be made in the oven. I don't exactly know what it is that makes it taste different but it just did and therefore the oven will have it - well, at least for my next day sammies!
sorry no pics of said meatloaf just cute kids

Here is my meatloaf recipe
I must warn you I make this to taste and I never measure!

2-3 lbs of ground beef (sometimes I'll substitute a pound ground turkey)
an egg or two
1 cup of breadcrumbs(homemade or canned), oatmeal, or cornflakes
pepper
salt
a bit of dried onion
a pkg of onion soup or beef onion soup mix
a bit of milk
a couple of shakes of Worcestershire sauce (more than less)
a couple of squirts of ketchup and mustard

mix together and form into one or two loaves

mix a couple of squirts of ketchup, mustard and some Worcestershire sauce and spread on top of the loaves

bake at 350 f for a good 30-45 minutes, just keep checking it.

Sometimes for shits and giggles we'll throw some grated cheddar in the mix and also sprinkle it on top. THIS IS WAY YUMMY. What would make it inexcusable and sinful would be if we were too add bacon and butter and deep fry the bad boy. But that would clog up our arterties and send us to an early death - we'll hold off just a bit longer on that one.

snot for glue and a menu

2009-03-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

Can kid snot be used as a substitute for gorilla glue? Seriously, I think the only thing that will get it off of my kids' face is by sticking their heads under a hot fire hose, heck, even then the pressure may not be enough. I wonder if I leave it there, if it will fossilize and tomorrow we'll find a little bird or lego guy's remains in there. Maybe a hammer and chisel will get it off. I'll be right back.

As I sit here watching Ghostbusters with my little girls (yes, they love, and we don't mean this lightly, L-O-V-E this movie)I'm listening to the kitty purr in my ears and catching the snow fall outside the window. I'm so glad that I had the day off.
Yes, this is the road I live on- but I was too lazy to go out and take a new picture this was taken one of the many times it has dumped on us the last couple of weeks.

Moving on.

Here is this week's menu for anyone interested in what we are eating.

Monday: Crock pot meatloaf potatoes and green beans
Tuesday: Homemade pizza
Wednesday: Taco Skillet (loved it so much we're doing it again!)
Thursday: Swedish meatballs w/ noodles/potatoes/rice
Friday: Teriyaki chicken w/ rice and salad
Saturday: Pork chops w/ yakisoba noodles
Sunday: baked macaroni

I am making my cinnamon rolls right now and will attempt to make these rolls from The Frugal Girl later this afternoon. I'm pretty confident that I will succeed but I do have two tired girls who don't want to give up tugging at my pant legs. sigh.

Oh, just in time. One of the legs on the ikea chair keeps coming loose, I think I'll just grab a kid and wipe their nose on it.

food. work. airpockets.

2009-03-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've been slack again but I totally have a good excuse. I have a job. I mean, I've always had the job of being a stay-at-home mom. Now, I have a worldly recognized paying job. I haven't worked for almost two years and then it was a three month stint, before that it had been two years, so really I haven't actually worked since 2005. The way it came about was funny, it pretty much just fell in my lap. I overheard my dermatologist and nurse talking during an appointment. I then overheard it mentioned how they were shorthanded due to some recent changes in the office. Later that afternoon I brought in my resume, thinking I might be able to lend a hand. Sure enough, it worked. One week later, I am now an employee. weird.

I have a feeling I'm going to be tired tomorrow, so I'm going to post my weekly menu and a recipe tonight.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened this weekend. Z has strep - always fun, therefore we took the other sick kid, L, in to be checked, thank goodness she has no sickness or infections. They concluded it was viral or a cold. Woo hoo. She still sounds like an old man who has smoked since he was 3. Also, along with her "cold" she has been clumsy as all get up! The kid has had some serious head trauma this weekend. We've had bruises, bumps, and cuts before, but usually one this week and a new one would appear just as the other had turned yellow. Nope, not L. Yesterday, while standing on her green Ikea chair she leaned, and as expected it tipped. She whacked her right eye/eyebrow on the jogging stroller(yes, it was in the playroom, having it's seat switched out) resulting in a beautimus scratch/bruise that runs over her eyelid into her eyebrow, also a little scratch on her nose. She had to finish the evening off by rolling off of daddy's back(they were laying on the floor) onto the hardwood floor and knocking the back of her head.

Then, this morning she managed to hit an airpocket which hurdled her into the round coffee table. Again, resulting in injury. This time a nice bruise/welt that runs from her right cheekbone up to her eye. So, she now has a complete package that we are sure will finish off with at least a black eye if not more. At least there was no major swelling (just the welt).

Ah... you've got to love a good farewell to no longer being a stay-at-home mom. I don't think I'll miss it one bit. *sniff*sniff*

On to this week's menu: ENJOY!
thank you evilmadscientist.com for that gem

Monday- Homemade pizza, pepperoni, salami, chicken, beef, cheese, veggies, whatev!

Tuesday- Rice-a-roni chick/beef (we were scheduled for this last week, but had a moment of weakness at costco and had pizza- ah costco, gotta love it!

Wednesday- Spaghetti/salad/french bread (freeze leftovers for another time)

Thursday- Breakfast night! -we'll try the egg bake, we didn't get to last time

Friday- Meatloaf/potatoes (we're actually going to be outta town, so this will be moved to Sunday

Saturday- Leftovers- this will be easy, we're outta town no need to do!

Sunday- Dinner ala mom! Meatloaf/potatoes/greenbeans! YUM!

This week's recipe is something that we were supposed to have on Friday night, Z spent the evening at the dr's so we improvised with leftovers/soup.

Taco Skillet -

Beef Taco Skillet
Campbell’s make in minutes
Prep: 5 min. Cook: 20 min.

1 lb. ground beef
1 can (10 ¾ oz.) Campbell’s Tomato Soup (Regular or 25% Less Sodium)
½ cup salsa
½ cup water
6 flour tortillas (6 inches), cut into 1-inch pieces
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Cook beef in 10-inch skillet until well browned, stirring to break up meat. Pour off fat.
2. Stir in soup, salsa, water and tortillas. Heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 5 min. Stir. Top with cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Of course we are going to double this recipe to feed the masses. Um.. to feed our family.

snow.

2009-02-26T11:37:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to share other than this

enjoy, 'cause I'm ready for it to go away. It's pretty to look at, but it doesn't belong here.

I have nothin'

2009-02-25T21:11:00.000-08:00

Today was a real disappointment of a day. I accomplished nothing. I got out and got my coffee, started to pick up some birthday gifts that I need to get out and decided that I just couldn't do it anymore. I convinced the girls that lunch was calling our names. N asked if it was McDonalds, and the answer was a big fat NO. Got home, did a load of laundry and a load of dishes and that was it. I had no energy, no motivation, nothing.

If you're trying to be frugal, trying not to let anything go to waste, don't do what I did today. Tonight, according to the menu, was to be chicken rice-a-roni. So, I pulled the chicken breasts out of the freezer to defrost. Then at six, grumbled that I really couldn't pull it together to cook dinner. So, we went to Costco.

Yes, I didn't have to cook - the kids had pizza. I ended up getting some groceries that I needed. However, I forgot about the chicken sitting on the counter and we've been back for at least two hours now and I'm pretty sure the chicken went bad. damn.

So, my advice for tonight

stick with the plans you've set, otherwise it all just goes down the crapper