Tag Archives: home

Look Look!

Posted by Jo on December 13, 2011 None comments

The ‘Hubs’ is obviously ‘The man’.  Look what he did last night.  And it only took him about 10 minutes.

I know the picture’s a little dark, but when I used the flash, you couldn’t see the lights, which is kinda the point…don’t they look cool! I love it.  I have always wanted this kind of ‘under cabinet’ lighting and now I have it! It isn’t just for the holidays, it’s staying under there! It’s so cool…

Just thought I would share that with y’all.  Don’t be jealous, you can do it, too!! It’s just the multi-color rope lighting!! ;)

 

Business Ideas

Posted by Jo on December 8, 2011 None comments

So the Hubs and I have been discussing all kinds of things lately trying to figure out where to go with this cupcake/candy business of mine.  It’s been interesting to say the least.  We have thought of everything.

I was thinking we could bake cupcakes and take them to the local restaurant and sell them through them.  Then I found out we couldn’t do that.  Not legally anyway.  And since I don’t think I would do well in jail, I don’t think I want to do anything that will land me there.  :)

Then someone got the idea that we could have a road stand like the Amish do.  I could go and order one of those fancy Display Banner Stands that you can see from the road.  Attract all kinds of attention.  We’d sell all kids of goodies that way!! Only I have a busy summer schedule with camps in and it gets a bit chilly in the fall and winter in good ol’ Michigan.  I don’t think a road stand would be very practical come to think of it.

What I really need is a shop.  A little downtown shop.  That’s what I need.  But then you’ve got all that overhead.  Insurance and electric and gas and ugh! I’m getting a headache just thinking about it! So for now, I’ll just stick with what I’m doing and I’ll make cupcakes and candy in my little home kitchen and I’ll enjoy it!! Cause I’m happy and Blessed!

Cream Cheese Chicken (for 2)

Posted by Jo on November 29, 2011 None comments

Yesterday was a rough day for me. I was in quite a bit of pain and was not in the mood to make lunch or do much of anything at all, really.  But it had to be done and I wanted to do something quick.

So I sat here thinking to myself, wondering what I was going to do.  I remembered Buster buying some chicken breast tenderloins the other day and I knew I had a couple other ingredients in the fridge that should go well together.  I was like the mad scientist mixing this concoction together in my head, and I thought to myself, “self, this could work!”

MMMUUUAAHAAHHAA Just kidding, sort of.

So this is what I came up with.

Cream Cheese Chicken (for 2)

find this:

  • 6 chicken breast tenderloins
  • 1/2 block (about 4 oz) cream cheese
  • about 1/2 -3/4 c.  (I just eye balled it) sour cream
  • garlic salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 2 T. butter, cut into pieces

do this:

  • season your chicken breast tenderloins and place tenderloins in baking dish (mine were frozen, would take a lot less time to cook if you thawed them first)
  • mix your cream cheese and sour cream together in a bowl
  • pour cream cheese mixture over chicken
  • cut your 2T. butter into pieces and just put pieces randomly into pan all over chicken and sauce
  • bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and cream cheese sauce is bubbly and hot
  • periodically stir your sauce as it cooks maybe twice or three times during cooking  so it will be smooth when done

This turned out really good for being thrown together very quickly.  You could serve it with rice or noodles.  I just served it plain with some corn.  I thought about making some egg noodles, but like I said, I wasn’t feeling well, so I didn’t.  Next time I will, It will be yummy!

You could make  it with more chicken to feed more people or less to feed less! :)

Hope you enjoy  it.  I am linking up with Lisa for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday! Let’s go see what other goodies we can find!! :)

See you soon!

 

 

Writer’s Workshop…

Posted by Jo on November 25, 2011 2 comments

Mama Kat, in all her amazing awesomeness (YES, that IS a word, it has to be, I’ve used it twice today!) hosts this blog meme or carnival or whathaveyou every week called “Writer’s Workshop” and I thought I would join in this week. It’s basically to give people ideas to get them blogging and sharing…

So, it’s been a while since I’ve done this. A long while.  I thought I’d do it again just for giggles.  We’ll see how it goes.  One of the prompts for this weeks workshop was…

1.)  Share a Thanksgiving recipe you will be cooking up this week.

Thanksgiving was yesterday, I know. So, sue me.

This is what I brought. No, I don’t have any pictures.  Maybe next time…

Green Bean Casserole

find this:

  • 4 cans french style green beans (or whole green beans or cut green beans if you prefer, what-ev)
  • 1 family size can Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup (yes, it must be Campbell’s, come on people!)
  • 1 container Frenchs Fried Onions (yes, it has to be French’s, pay attention folks!)

do this:

  • open and drain beans
  • put beans in casserole dish
  • open and pour soup over beans; mix with spatula
  • top with fried onions
  • bake @350°F about 30-35 or until onions are golden brown and soup is bubbly and hot
  • remove from oven and allow to sit about 5 minutes before serving
  • enjoy with family

This is a family favorite not only for the holidays but at other times during the years whenever we decide we get a craving for it.  It’s a great dish.  And it’s easy to make! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

 

 

 

AAGGHHH!!

Posted by Jo on October 14, 2011 None comments

OHMYGOODNESS!!  I was dusting today, trying to get my house cleaned up for company coming tomorrow and I couldn’t  believe the tangled mess behind the computer desk.  It is a good thing I’m married to someone smarter that me cause I can’t tell ya the difference between computer video cables and usb cables and this and that or the next thing.  It’s all the same to me I tell ya!

And all the dust and cob webs.  It’s like it’s drawn to them! Although, I’m pretty sure it really is, something about static electricity and all that jazz look at me all my smarty pants).  Anyways, it was a disaster area back there, but I got it all cleaned up now and it’s looking much better now!  Just thought you’d all like to know that! It’s one thing I hate to do so I don’t do it very often. How often do you dust behind your computer equipment??

I anxiously await your response…  :)

Another New Recipe…

Posted by Jo on September 22, 2011 None comments

Source: Rachel Ray 30-MINUTE GET REAL MEALS

I personally have not tried this recipe, but it sounds divine.  It also fits into my healthy eating lifestyle, which is awesome! I like eating foods that taste good that are also good for me!!  I did change the recipe just a bit!!  :)

So here we go!!

Ginger- Garlic Tuna Burgers on Cucumber Salad


What you need:

  • 1 3/4 to 2 pounds ahi tuna, cut into cubes
  • 3-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and grated
  • 4 garlic cloves , finely chopped
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons tamari (dark aged soy sauce) (eye ball it)
  • 2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
  • 2 scallions, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • Vegetable oil, for drizzling, plus some for the salad
  • 1 romaine lettuce heart, chopped
  • 2 cups fresh bean sprouts or pea shoots
  • 1/2 English (seedless) cucumber (the one wrapped in plastic), cut into 1/4 inch dice
  • Juice and zest of 1 lime
What to do:

Heat a grill pan or large skillet over high eat.

Place the fish in a food processor and pulse until the fish is the consistency of  ground beef.  Transfer the ground ahi to a bowl and mix with the ginger, garlic, tamari, black pepper, scallions and cilantro.  Form 4 equal patties and drizzle them with vegetable oil.  Place the tuna burgers in a screaming hot pan and cook for 1 minute on each side for very rare, 2 minutes on each side for medium rare, 3 to 4 minutes on each side to cook through.  Hold the cooked patties on a plate under foil.

In a medium bowl combine lettuce , sprouts and cucumber.  Dress salad with lime est and juice, salt and vegetable oil to your taste.

Pile the salad up equally onto 4 plates.  Top salad with tuna patties.

ENJOY!!!

YUM!!

Posted by Jo on September 21, 2011 3 comments

I literally just got done making this recipe and had to get on here and share it with y’all.  I couldn’t wait.  Yep, it’s that good.

I am not a fan of the original Nutella, but I like this version.  It is made with almonds, instead of hazelnuts.   I eat a gluten/sugar free diet, so it surprised me when I read this and found out I can have it!!

Homemade “Nutella”

What you’ll need:

1 cup roasted almonds, salted or unsalted (your choice)

1/4 cup honey

2 T. cocoa powder (dark chocolate for a special treat)

3 T. hot water

What  to do:

Place almonds in food processor and process until roughly chopped, about 30 seconds.  Add cocoa powder, honey and water.  Process til creamy.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Source

Thanks Allison!!

Natural Disasters…

Posted by Jo on September 14, 2011 None comments

Lots of Natural Disasters plastered all over the news lately, it’s sad.  Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, they’re all over the news.  All over the world.  It’s scary.  I don’t know about you, but I feel helpless as to what to do for those in need.  I don’t have the money to help people who need it.

I don’t have the time to go and help either.  I do have the resources to help in this fashion though.  Here is a place where you can rent Commercial and Industrial water pumps that can handle a variety of problems including:

  • Flood Control
  • Industrial
  • Storm Water Drainage
  • Bypass Pumping
  • Agriculture
  • Construction Dewatering
  • Transfer Pumping
  • Emergency Standby
  • Quarries
  • Sewage
  • Mining
  • Irrigation

They carry pumps that are any where from 2″ to 60″ and they are always adding new equipment, so  look them up online at  wegotpumps.com or give them a call at

888-817-8677


Chicken and Berry Salad

Posted by Jo on September 1, 2011 None comments

This salad is so good, you’ll forget it’s good for you!

  • You start off  with a generous portion of  either Spring Mix greens or Iceberg Lettuce (actually, you can use whatever lettuce you prefer). I’d say about 2 cups or so.
  • Then you top your lettuce greens with fresh blueberries and fresh, sliced strawberries. Probably 1/2- 1 cup.
  • Then you add your chicken (I usually use the Tyson oven roasted chicken that’s already cooked and cubed, it’s in the freezer section of the store…I just reheat it in a pan, adding a little Nature’s Seasons and Garlic Salt. You could use whatever you want.) Another 1/2 – 1 cup.
  • Next you top with your Strawberry Salad Dressing (recipe as follows) and you’re ready to dig in!  A few tablespoons will do.

Strawberry Salad Dressing

1/4 c. cider vinegar
1 T. minced onion
3/4 t. paprika
3/4 t. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 c. splenda
1 c. fresh strawberries, cut up
1 – 1 1/4 c. canola oil (can also use light tasting olive oil)

In a blender combine all ingredients except oil. Once blended well, add oil slowly, a little at a time, blending well after each addition until all the oil is added. Blend well. Dressing will keep in the refrigerator for about a month, but this is so good, I doubt it will last that long…

Another New Recipe…

Posted by Jo on July 23, 2011 None comments

This one I haven’t tried yet, so I cannot attest to it’s yumminess or lack thereof.  I will be trying it soon, though.  I didn’t have the recipe with me or the ingredient list while at the store when I went, so i couldn’t shop for what I needed.

This one is a little more labor intensive than the last and has more ingredients, but is LDL friendly, therefore I can eat as much of it as I want and not worry about controlling portions.

Strawberry Salsa

  • 2 c.  fresh strawberries, chopped
  • 1/2 c. kiwi, chopped
  • 1/2 c. seeded cucumber, chopped
  • 1 T. honey
  • 2 t. lime juice
  • 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 t. ground ginger

Mix all ingredients in medium bowl until well blended.  Cover.  Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving to blend flavors.

This would be great on corn thins, by itself, with some lowfat cottage cheese, the possibilities are endless…enjoy!!! :)

Some Day…

Posted by Jo on July 6, 2011 None comments

Some day, after we sell our house, or when we become rich and famous, whichever comes first, the hubster and I would like to add on to the little house we live in.  It’s nice and cozy and isn’t really a bad little house at all, but there is no storage at all and really no room to entertain, which we would love to do if we had the space.

We have been talking about some of the things we’d like to do.  We have discussed putting in a dishwasher.  Maybe adding a few more cupboards to the kitchen.  I figured while we are working on the kitchen, and since we plan on staying here forever, why not make  my ideal kitchen….nice gas range with sealed burners and the center burner, dishwasher, one of those undermount sinks, a side by side fridge, you know, the works.  If were gonna do, we might as well do it big!!

Go big or go home, I always say!!!   :)

Then we’d like to add a nice size family room and make what is now living room into dining area and make the “dining” area more kitchen area.  Just to make it so everything isn’t on top of everything else.

Also, we are thinking a bigger master bathroom might be nice.  With a tub in it.  Right now our bathroom only has a shower.  Which most days is fine, but sometimes I like to soak in a nice warm bath and I have always wanted one of those jacuzzi bath tubs!!

Anyway, it’s a long ways off and nothing we can’t live without for now and we are content with what we have, but hey, a girl can dream , can’t she???   :)

A little R&R

Posted by Jo on June 20, 2011 None comments

I have not been sleeping well the last few nights.  In fact, Saturday night, I got less than an hour of sleep and ended up missing church on Sunday.  I hate missing church.  But, I couldn’t even see straight, let alone get up and get ready for church and GO to church…

Last night was a little better, I got about 5 hours of sleep.  I don’t know if I am manic right now or what, but I know I need some rest.  These are the times when I like to just run a nice warm bath and throw some bath salts in the tub, climb in and just soak all the worries away…even though it’s not sleep, it rests your body and soul and you feel rested and rejuvenated…

And, I love how bath salts make you feel all smooth and soft when you get out and they smell so good…gotta go… :mrgreen: