And A Few More..

Here's a few recipes I have found in magazines I am wanting to try. If you beat me to it,let me know what you think!

Thai Chicken Tacos

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/chicken/thai-chicken-tacos/

Thai Chicken Tacos Prep: 25 minutes

Marinate: 1 hour

Cook: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 lime, halved

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts or tenders, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch pieces

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 large shallot, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. fish sauce

2 tsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce

1/2 to 1 tsp. crushed red pepper

1/2 to 1 tsp. hot chili sauce (such as Sriracha)

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

16 corn tortillas, heated

1 recipe Cabbage Slaw

Directions

1. Juice one lime half (about 1 Tbsp.); cut remaining half in wedges. In bowl stir together chicken, cilantro, shallot, garlic, the 1 Tbsp. lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, pepper, and chili sauce. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour. In large skillet cook chicken mixture in hot oil over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked, stirring occasionally.



2. To serve, layer two tortillas. Top with chicken and Cabbage Slaw. Serve with remaining slaw and lime wedges. Makes 4 (2-taco) servings.



Cabbage Slaw: In a bowl toss together 2 cups shredded napa cabbage, 1/2 cup shredded carrot, 1/2 cup sliced green onions, 1/3 cup sliced radishes, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, and 1/4 cup coarsely chopped peanuts (optional). Add 1/4 cup rice vinegar; toss.



Nutrition Facts

Calories454, Total Fat (g)11, Saturated Fat (g)1, Monounsaturated Fat (g)5, Polyunsaturated Fat (g)4, Cholesterol (mg)66, Sodium (mg)596, Carbohydrate (g)55, Total Sugar (g)4, Fiber (g)9, Protein (g)34, Vitamin C (DV%)54, Calcium (DV%)17, Iron (DV%)18, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet


Watermelon Salad-
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/salads/watermelon-salad/

Watermelon Salad Prep: 25 minutes


Chill: 3 hours
Ingredients

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

2 cups watermelon juice*

1-1/2 cups white grape juice

1 tsp. shredded lemon peel

1-1/2 cups assorted chopped fruit (such as peeled peaches, nectarines, pears, and/or green grapes)

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Mint leaves

Directions

1. in a medium saucepan sprinkle gelatin over watermelon juice. Allow to stand 5 minutes. Cook and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in grape juice and lemon peel.



2. With a ladle or cup transfer half of the watermelon juice mixture to a 2-quart square baking dish. Cover and refrigerate about 1-1/2 hours, or until thickened to the texture of egg whites (keep remaining watermelon juice mixture at room temperature). Add fruit. Carefully spoon remaining watermelon juice over set mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1-1/2 hours more or until all layers are set.



3. Top with feta and mint leaves before serving. Makes 9 servings.



*Puree seeded watermelon chunks in blender; strain to remove any excess pulp.



Nutrition Facts

Calories92, Total Fat (g)1, Saturated Fat (g)1, Cholesterol (mg)5, Sodium (mg)68, Carbohydrate (g)18, Total Sugar (g)16, Fiber (g)1, Protein (g)3, Vitamin C (DV%)38, Calcium (DV%)4, Iron (DV%)2, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet



Potato Cauliflower Salad

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/salads/potato-cauliflower-salad/

Potato-Cauliflower Salad Prep: 25 minutes


Chill: 1 to 24 hours

Microwave: 13 minutes

Ingredients

12 small fingerling or round new potatoes scrubbed

1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-size pieces

1 small onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, sliced

1/3 cup sour cream chive dip

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 Tbsp. salad oil

1/4 to 1/3 cup blue cheese

1/4 cup fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

2 slices bacon, crisp cooked and crumbled

4 crisp breadsticks, broken

Sea salt or salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Arrange potatoes in a single layer in microwave on clean white paper towels. Microcook on 100 percent power (high) for 5 minutes. Turn potatoes, microcook until tender, about 3 minutes more.



2. Place cauliflower and 2 tablespoon water in a 1-1/2 qt. microwave safe casserole. Microcook on 100 percent power (high) for 5 minutes or until crisp tender, stirring once. Drain. Cool slightly.



3. In a large serving bowl combine potatoes, cauliflower, onion and celery. In a small bowl stir together sour cream dip, lemon juice, and salad oil; gently toss with potato mixture and fold in blue cheese. Chill up to 24 hours. Just before serving, top with parsley, bacon, breadsticks, sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Makes 8 to 10 servings.



Nutrition Facts

Calories152, Total Fat (g)7, Saturated Fat (g)2, Monounsaturated Fat (g)3, Polyunsaturated Fat (g)1, Cholesterol (mg)12, Sodium (mg)299, Carbohydrate (g)18, Total Sugar (g)3, Fiber (g)3, Protein (g)5, Vitamin C (DV%)74, Calcium (DV%)7, Iron (DV%)6, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Yummy New Recipes

Tis the season most women are on strict diet preparing for swim suit season...not me. There are just too many good recipes to try and SOMEBODY has to do it...right? he he So here by request is a few fun new recipes we have loved this month..enjoy!

EZ Peanut Butter Balls

2-3 cups of cereal,Wheaties,Chex or Rice Crispies are best
1 Tablespoon of butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 cup of creamy peanut butter
1 bag of chocolate chips

Pour the cereal into a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin ( I used a big plastic cup) ending up with bits that look like sand or rice.
Measure out 1 1/4 cups of crushed cereal and pour into a large mixing bowl.
Melt butter and add to crushed cereal and mix.
Stir in 1 cup of powdered sugar and mix well.
Mix in 1 cup of peanut butter (use your hands if needed,it will be thick and needs to be well blended)
Roll final mixture into balls approx 1 inch in diameter (I use a small melon baller,works great!) and place on a cookie sheet.
Place cookie sheet in freezer for 2 hours.
Melt chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler.
Dip peanut butter balls into chocolate and place on greased cookie sheet to cool.
Ta da! So yummy and so easy!

Mounds Candy

5 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups of powdered sugar
14 ounces flaked sweetened coconut
24 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Mix together condensed milk and vanilla
Add the powdered sugar a little bit at a time,stirring in between each addition until smooth.
Stir in the coconut,the mixture will be thick.
Roll mixture into balls ( I use my Pampered Chef small melon baller and I love it!) and place on greased cookie sheet OR pat into a greased 9X13 pan and refrigerate overnight or for at least 3 hours.
Melt chocolate in double boiler and stir until smooth.
For 9X13 pan method,cut cooled bars into 1X2 inch pieces.
Add an almond to bars or balls for Almond Joy if desired.
Dip the balls into melted chocolate and return to greased cookie sheet to cool. Bars can be drizzled, dipped or brushed with chocolate depending on what you prefer.
Allow to sit and air dry until the chocolate is set.
Store in an airtight container.
Warning:Addicting!

6 1/2 Months

A wild and crazy toddler,

Eats anything she can get in her mouth.

She is all girl,

She tolerates her daily hair dos,

Loves her dresses

And looks gorgeous in pink.

We love her so much :)

Fuzzy Feelings

My happiness lately, comes in many forms.

If my calculations are correct...

on my first week of couponing I saved a combined overall total of 58%!

Today I also got 4 FREE items thanks to coupons!

I spent approximately 15 hours last week on couponing.

Mostly because this was my first week and I had a LOT of reading and researching to do.

I assume in the future this time will be cut considerably

BUT..

 I saved a total of $181.01 during 15 hours of work this week..

that equals to $12.06 savings per hour.

That's awesome pay for easy work AND our cupboards are filling up fast! 

Couponing is the best part time job ever!

The bulbs I planted are starting to bloom!

Hooray for bulbs!

The planting,the waiting,the praying was all worth it when I saw those little green sprouts peeking through the beauty bark this evening!

Now the fun,is the surprise display of colors Mother Nature has in store for me.

Please Sun,keep shining!

I am fine tuning a super yummy recipe for Mounds candy bars at home.

As soon as I figure it out I will be posting the recipe.

Right now I am not sure if we like them in bars or rolled in balls (then dipped in chocolate) better.

So far Vern loves them...that delights me!

Thanks to the Safeway Buy 2 get 3 free sale I have enough cake mix,brownie mix and frosting for about 4 months.

This means keeping (semi) home made treats in the house.

Vern loves that...I love to make him happy!

It also means that when Maddison (my 4 year old BFF) comes over, we have many baking memories in our future :)

On a side note-I have ordered Maddison and I (some verrrry girly) matching gardening aprons from a client of mine.

We should have them in a month or two,I can't wait!

Vern removed the drum out of the old dryer for me (by my request).

It is a big huge galvanized....

planter for the yard!

I had one a long time ago and I have always missed it.

I am going to paint this one and we already have the perfect spot for it :)

I will be sure to post pictures of this project!

My Stepson Trevor wished me a Happy Mother's Day.

It was so sweet,so I returned the text with a "thank you" and a very first "I love you".

He text "I love ya,have a good day" back.

Oh happy fuzzy feeling! I wonder if he has any idea how much that means to me?!

Later I learned that Vern had not reminded or asked Trevor to do that.

Trevor had done it all on his own

Wow,it's finally happening,a huge prayer answered!

Vern,Trevor and I have a great relationship and I actually enjoy being a Stepmom!

That's a huge relief for me and I know it means so much everything to Vern :)



Warning: Selfish Venting Session

 Oh Mother's Day...First off let me say (Disclaimer) that being a Mother is one of the HARDEST jobs out there and I have MAJOR respect to all parents doing their best to raise their kids up right. Mothers DESERVE a day of recognition and I am so glad they set aside a day for it. The Lord blessed me with the most amazing Mother and without her I am scared to think of where I'd be. I love you Mom <3

 So that being said,I have to make a cold hearted honest confession. I loathe Mother's Day. So here's the reason for my pity party....
 When I made the decision to bring home my nephew and raise him 7 years ago, I was told it was a temporary situation. It didn't take long before he and I built a close relationship and he started calling me Mom. It felt sooo good. The kisses,the I love yous,the home made gifts on Mother's day and walking into a room and hearing that sweet little voice yell "Hey Mom!". I especially loved Mother's Day as the years went by.
 Then one day,just before his birthday,his parents showed up and wanted him back. Gone. It hurt more than anything I have ever felt to this day.
 Weeks went by,I was busy getting divorced and trying to ignore my pain. It slowly got easier to live day to day and I tried to stay focused on my work and my new apartment. Then Mother's Day came. My first Mother's Day without being a Mom. It was horrible. I called my Mom and faked a smile and then I went to bed and cried all day. Then next year was a little easier but not much and so on and so on...and the years went by.
  It's been 4 years I think. I wish I could tell you it was easier..but it's not. Mother's Day always starts out good and then by the end of the day I just want to scream. I try to forget my selfish woes and  celebrate the wonderful Moms in my life. I tell myself it's not about me and to use that negative energy to do something positive on Mother's Day for someone else. I remind myself that I have 2 beautiful fur babies and a Stepson I love very much. I can still see and call David as much as I want. But...as the day goes by and I am still left feeling empty and resentful.
 Facebook is full of adorable tales of cute cards and breakfasts in bed etc. and by the time I was done scrolling my top lip was curled in a semi nauseous way and I am ashamed of myself for feeling that way...but I do. Yesterday Vern spoiled me with a few gifts I have been wanting for awhile and took me out for coffee and yard saling. Yet I am still bitter?! What is wrong with me?!
 Yet here I sit,at the last hour of Mother's Day,feeling this familiar bitterness that I have felt for too many years and for some reason I just cannot shake. I feel a little secretly offended when people wish me a Happy Mother's Day because I think most people say it to be polite or as a formality and should not be so presumptuous. On the other hand,it hurts when people don't say it ...because then that little bitter thought appears in my head "That's right,I'm not a Mom anymore...technically." Ugh *sigh*.
 There are only a few very dear friends that send me genuine Mother's Day wishes because they honestly understand .......... that even though I lost my son,I will never stop feeling like a Mother. Perhaps this year I made progress by venting my emotions? I want to like Mother's Day! I guess I will try again next year :)

Have You Heard?!

Have you heard of the the new trend? Couponing. Yes you read this right. Couponing. All of a sudden TLC makes a series about extreme couponers and the idea catches on like wild fire...myself included!? Wow,how friggin stupid are we?! Paying 40-60% more for our groceries than we need to while we throw free money into the recycling?! Sooo that's where I have been instead of blogging-coupon hunting,printing,cutting and organizing. THEN... reading store coupon policies and figuring out how to combine sales and coupons for the lowest possible price on the amount of that item I need. It requires 2 of my biggest weaknesses-math and organization. BUT....it also works with a few of my strengths-people skills and grocery shopping. I also have time and a fair budget (thanks to Vern and my tips) to my advantage. Tonight I went on my first coupon adventure. Everything I purchased I had budgeted and had a coupon for. I did 2 separate transactions at Walgreen's and 2 separate transactions at Safeway. I got $190 worth of grocery and house hold items for $100! I will spare you the long list but I stocked up on items I usually find expensive and/or have a long shelf life like batteries ( 4 8-packs BYGOfree=3.50 each)),peanut butter (12 at .99),seasonings (6 at .79 each),paper towels (3.99 for 8 pack),Dawn dish soap (6 at .99 each + .25 off manufacturers coupon),scotch tape (6 at .39 each) to name a few. I have displayed it all on the kitchen table for Vern to see when he wakes up because I know he is also anxious to see how I did. I saved almost 50% on items we use almost everyday and I have enough of some things (bleach,salt,tape,Ajax) that I will not have to buy them again for a year or more!

So this leads me to the other hot new concept I am learning...stockpiling a pantry with enough essential items to last your family 3-6 months. Crazy huh? ha ha Women have been doing this for decades yet my generation has to see it on a TV show before it'll click? Sadly I think it's true. Major kudos to those of you out there that have been couponing  and stockpiling all along! As for me I thought I was thrifty by stocking up during sales or at and discount stores...and I was...but using coupons at discount stores to build your stockpile is even better!

MY GOAL: To someday save 80% on a trip to the grocery store on a cart full of items. In the meantime, save 40-60% on groceries consistently and treat my couponing like a part time job (because so far it's paying like one ha ha). To have a stockpile of enough food and household items to last us 3-6 months so I can wait and restock them at the lowest prices,spend less on my monthly grocery bill and be prepared in case we were to fall upon hard times or are called to help others.
 (Of course I will be including some of what I learn on here too!)

I think I am finally tired after a late night shift at work and the rush of couponing that followed. I took the night off from couponing as a reward for my hard work as I am also planning a larger trip in a few weeks. I would be so grateful if I were really able to get this...so far it's a little hard on my usually somewhat lazy brain :) I will keep trying...

A Creamy Recipe Twist

The other day I put a creamy new twist on crock pot beef roast. I never know if the recipes I discover are already well know or if I found something new. So I share in hopes it inspires a yummy new meal in your house too!

I started in a large sauce pan and sauteed onions(dried) and garlic in a cube of butter. Then I added mixed veggies (dried mix that I LOVE and use all the time) and 1 cup of red wine (cheap,used only for cooking). I added a pinch of salt and pepper and added the roast.

I also sprinkled the roast with brown sugar as I was browning it on all sides to help it caramelize.

Once roast is brown and the liquids in the pan are starting to thicken..

remove the roast and put it in the crock pot on high.

Continue to cook liquids in pan until they start to turn thick and stick to the bottom of the pan. Slowly add 1/2 cup of water (or more) and stir,scraping up the yummy bits off the bottom of the pan to save every bit of the super condensed flavors. Pour over meat in crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours depending on size of your roast. Add potatoes and carrots etc for the last 2 hours.

FINALLY..

In the last hour add a can of cream of mushroom soup,1/2 can of milk and a half of a cube of cream cheese and let it melt while stirring occasionally.

When it is done you have roast,veggies and gravy! Vern said it tasted similar to Salisbury steak,we loved it! Actually we ate it two nights in a row!

;p