Week 52 Wednesday (1/7/15)

Recipe Review       

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Chicken Skillet Lasagna        

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

I figured out that there are 370 calories per serving, if 8 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

Boy, this picture is a little dark - sorry about that

In the top picture, you can see all
the herbs. In this one, the cheese!
Good stuff, man!

         This is another amazing pasta dish from Ree.  There is something special to me about bowtie pasta. I just think it is fun, and it holds extra sauce in the folds.  There is just the perfect amount of chicken and sauce and I loved every single bite.  This would be great for company.

      

Gabbin’ About Gratitude

         Each Wednesday, I write about things that I am grateful for in life. Today, I need to remember the value of the little things.

         As I sit here writing, I am thankful for my electric mixer, which makes my life easier. I am grateful for a comfortable bed where I sleep. I am thankful for freezer that keeps Ree’s amazing food cold. OMG – this could go on forever!  I just realized how many things that I own that I am so thankful for in my life. Life is really good!

Memory Musings

         An embarrassing moment from high school came when I was in my English class. I left home with a sore throat, and my thoughtful Dad dropped off cough drops for me in the office. Unfortunately, the secretary decided to personally deliver them to the teacher. I only wish I could remember his name because he humiliated me in front of the entire class by claiming that his class was being interrupted because I needed my Children’s Cherry Flavor Cough Drops. I was mortified. He was so demeaning and arrogant. Basically, he was a real jerk.  Oh well, I lived through high school, so I probably need to get over it.

Week 52 Tuesday (1/6/15)

Recipe Review       

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Shells and Cheese (with bacon and peas)        

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

I figured out that there are 268 calories per serving, if 9 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

Just look at that bacon ! Yum.

         This is such a perfect macaroni and cheese for kids. It is a whole lot more flavorful and healthy than opening that box.  My personal favorite is Ree’s adult mac and cheese, but this one is really creamy and good. I even ate the peas, which is huge for me. I always love everything that involves bacon, which makes this one a true winner. If you have kids or grandkids, then try this one.

My Gorgeous Girls       

Here are some pictures I took over Christmas break!

Sage loved Christmas Break

She had a lot to say about it

Willow is always her sweet self

She really is a couch potato

Week 52 Monday (1/5/15)

Recipe Review                     

Today’s Recipe and Location:                    Pasta ai Quattro Formaggi        

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

I figured out that there are 355 calories per serving, if 9 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

You can see all the yummy cheese!

         I LOVE cheese!  This little recipe hosts four different cheeses. The dish only took me a few minutes to create and it would be the perfect side for any meat dish. I love having pasta as a side dish because it is really filling, and what could be better than something with a lot of cheeses.

        

Random Reflections - Bucket List #40

         I found this list and thought it looked interesting. I may be able to knock off two bucket list items at the same time. I will need to cross reference this list with the Academy Award nominees and see which movies are on both lists. That will insure I do this promptly. The website where I found this list is:

http://www.imdb.com/chart/top

Watch the IMBd list of the best 250 movies

Vacation in Colorado

create a list of home repairs

Prepare to teach a new course at Aurora University

Visit Brookfield Zoo and photograph the animals

Have absolutely no debt

Set up a schedule for next summer to visit area cities

Organize and purge the basement

I am going to learn as much as I can about large animals

Make repairs in each and every room of my home to prepare to sell

Research Hadrian’s Wall for visit to Scotland

Enter a quilt in a local fair

Write a book about school for parents

Host a game party

Purchase a truck

I would like to learn more about fostering animals

Visit the narrowed list of Kentucky towns each for a weekend

Have a B.M.I. of 24.9 or lower

Return to Florida/Alabama and see old friends

Play tennis again

Learn to play bridge

Have an in-ground pool

Finish writing a book on the Scent Family

Save up enough money for a down payment on my Kentucky house

Research every town in Kentucky in hopes of relocating

Work on learning calligraphy and bettering daily penmanship

Begin making my own clothing using a mannequin

Volunteer at an animal rescue

Visit all 50 states

Photography courses

Complete all of Mom’s and my scrapbooks

Go skiing again in Colorado

Meet the Duggar family

Watch every nominee and winner for the Academy Awards to date

Remodel my kitchen

Take piano lessons

Write 2 books for my great-nephews

Travel to Wales

Travel to Scotland

Alaskan cruise

Why Weight?

       I am trying hard to enjoy this vacation without focusing at all on my weight. I still am not wearing my FitBit, but I am going to Curves and counting my calories. I am just going with the flow and trying something new.

Wants and Wishes

         For years, we have enjoyed the poetry of T. S. Eliot. His writing has been read in high school and universities across the nation. My favorite quote from T. S. Eliot is:

“Sometimes things become possible if we want them bad enough.” 

         I truly believe in this quote. When I wanted a new home, I began working three jobs until I had the money to build one. I am extremely good at delayed gratification. I think that this is a failing of the Me Generation. When I want something, I am willing to work hard to earn the money that is needed to obtain it. There is true joy in working hard for what you want.

Week 51 Sunday (1/4/15)

Recipe Review              

Today’s Recipe and Location:         Sweet and Savory Bacon Crackers                   

Found in: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays

                  Pages:  364 - 365     Copyright:  2013  Harper Collins

I figured out that there are 131 calories per serving, if 36 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

This platter was gone quickly

         I must confess that I didn’t create this recipe. My fabulous niece, Alaina, created this one for Christmas. She called to ask what I was making, and I let her pick first. These crackers lasted about 10 minutes, and then they were all gone. I absolutely loved the flavor of these savory crackers. What isn’t wonderful when bacon is involved? Alaina is quite the cook, herself. I love that we share a love for making Ree’s recipes. 

                       

Trivial Triffles

         I watched a Christmas movie the other day named Call Me Mrs. Miracle. For some reason, this movie just made me happy. It was a fanciful tale of a magical woman who works at Finley’s Department Store and helps people find their Christmas Spirit. The store is in financial trouble, and Mrs. Miracle begins working in the toy department. Jewel Straite played Holly and Eric Johnson was Jake. If you get a chance to catch this one before all of the Christmas movies disappear – try it. This one just made me smile.

Memory Musings

         Have you ever had a parakeet?  My sister, Susan, had a white parakeet when we were kids. I can’t remember the bird’s name. It was extremely smart and learned to talk. The cage was tall and round and allowed the bird to fly up and down.

         Our dog, Libby, was oblivious to the bird in the beginning. Libby loved to play in the backyard. When it was time to come, we would open the sliding door and yell, “Libby, Libby.” Unfortunately, that blasted bird learned the dog’s name. Thereafter, the bird would fly to the bottom of the cage and call, “Libby, Libby.” Of course the dog would run to the cage. The bird, being no fool, called out and then flew to the top of the cage. Libby began running around the cage, around the table, over and over again. This bird was making our dog psychotic.

         Life is funny, but we often reap what we sow. Apparently, the bird went too far one Sunday morning. When we arrived home from church, Susan found the bird on the kitchen floor. There were no puncture wounds or obvious marks. I personally think Libby scared or gummed it to death.

         It is a shame because it was a pretty bird.

Week 51 Saturday (1/3/15)

Recipe Review       

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Petite Vanilla Scones                 

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

I figured out that there are 181 calories per serving, if 38 scones are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

The frosting just oozes down the sides.

Thank God for foil that keeps my 
counters clean while I frost the scones

The recipe made 38 gorgeous scones

         Ree is a God when it comes to making scones. I swear that each one is better than the previous scone. I love this one. I bought my first vanilla bean and scraped the caviar out of the middle, just like Ree did on the show.  I felt very professional as I scraped the bean. How weird!  Ree’s beans were definitely larger and more fresh than mine, so there was a bit of jealousy going on here.

         I made so many of these little gems that I took some to my Aunt Ada and another package to my Mom. We also shared some for lunch. Mom really liked them, too.

         If you have never made scones, then you need to be bold and daring and try something new!!!

                  

Random Reflections

         One of the things that makes me a frustrated woman, is getting a ring off of my finger when it is totally stuck. At certain times, I retain water and have a great deal of difficulty getting my rings off of my fingers. Usually, I can trace the problem to eating a lot of salt, but it also could be that time of the month, too. 

         The best advice I received from State Street Jewelers is to use dishwashing soap, like Dawn, to get your ring off of the finger. It not only helps the ring slide off, but it also gives it a pretty shine, too.

Helpful Home Hints

         If you have a stainless steel sink like I have, there is a great way to bring out the shine. After washing the sink with Soft Scrub, I used car polish on the sink and the faucet fixtures to bring out the beautiful shine in the sink.  I tried this and it really worked great!

Week 51 Friday (1/2/15)

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Recipe Review              

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Thai Beef with Peppers

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

I figured out that there are 340 calories per serving, if 10 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

This is so yummy!

It was worth it to have 10 servings of this dish

         This is one of my favorite Ree recipes.  I love this recipe, because the flavors are fabulous. The Thai marinade adds so much to the meat as well as the final dish. The peppers add a great flavor and also the red color makes the dish appealing to the eye.  Try this one for sure!!!!!

      

Fabulous “Family and Friends” Food

Company Casserole

(serves 6 to 8)

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz.) pkg. noodles

1 lb. ground beef

3 Tblsp. butter

2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce

1 c. cottage cheese

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

¼ c. sour cream

½ c. green onions, chopped

1 Tblsp. green pepper, chopped

2 Tblsp. butter, melted

Directions:

         Cook noodles and set aside. Brown the meat in 3 Tblsp. butter. When finished, drain the meat, then add in the tomato sauce. Remove from heat.

         Combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, onions, and green pepper. Spread half the noodles in a greased casserole dish. Cover with the cheese mixture, then the remaining noodles. Pour 2 Tblsp. butter over it. Lastly, put the meat sauce on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 – 45 minutes.

         This dish can be made a day before serving.

Special Event

       Monday night was the Christmas Bunko Party at Marge Rea’s home. I love games and can add Bunko to the list. We each brought a while elephant gift to enjoy. Here, are some photos from the party.  

This is Marge Rea, a dear friend of mine.
She is tallying up the games totals.

This is Birdie, Marge's Aunt

Waiting to play

Having a good time

Everyone brings a dish to pass, and
this was quite a spread.

The white elephant gifts are
ready to be opened.

Week 51 Thursday (1/1/15)

   Happy New Year! 

                  May our new year be full of blessings!

 Recipe Review

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Pasta Puttanesca

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/02/pasta-puttanesca/

         This recipe was quite unique. It had a lot of tomatoes and olives and even anchovies. It is an interesting mix of ingredients, but when you see the pasta it just calls to be tasted. According to Websters, the owrd puttanesca means: “served with or being a pungent tomato sauce typically containing olives, garlic, capers, hot pepper, and sometimes anchovies.” 

Random Reflections

         Over break, I was reading the Chronicle from Friday, December 19^th. I was surprised to see an article about Amy Roloff. She is the wife on the reality show called “Little People, Big World.” I loved the fact that she was volunteering at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva. The reporter claimed that she was just another volunteer and didn’t expect “star treatment.” I wish I had met her.

Irksome Ideas and Images

         One of my pet peeves is letting a door slam in the face of another person. At school, my classroom door is almost always shut. As the kids enter, I frequently have to remind them to be polite, and not let the door slam into the next kid.

         I cannot blame kids alone for this infraction. I have encountered many an adult who does the same thing.  All I can do is remind the kids to be thoughtful, and think of it as an act of kindness.