HEATHER'S HICCUPS

SUNDAY COOKING

2011-05-23T07:42:00.001-04:00

Another day of Food Nirvana!!

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ummmmmm.....lets just say not every recipe is a keeper. They didn't rise, and the chocolate was a wee overpowering for me. My personal taste is that chocolate should enhance, not slap you in the face. Two of the kiddos liked them but I most likely won't make them again, I have other winners in my recipe stable.

Strawberry Orange Smoothie made yesterday were a great breakfast, just thawed some and reblended.

Started Homemade Yogurt.....more coming on that later.

Homemade Taco & Ranch Dressing Seasoning

Watermelon Preserves. I'll keep you posted, they are currently soaking in brine.

Always thinking of a way to make something out of nothing!

Heather

SATURDAY COOKING

2011-05-22T23:31:00.001-04:00

I love cooking, in case you hadn't noticed. It's my hobby, my relaxation, my Ohmmmmmmmm........

Saturday was:
Strawberry Banana Freezer Pops

no added sugar and great for my diabetic dad!

Strawberry Orange Smoothie

These taste just like Orange Julius!! AWESOME!!! (just thaw a bit and reblend)

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Also a major nom success (topped with crushed graham cracker)

And another batch of Sloppy Joes!

This is enough for 2 meals! (I can't share the recipe just yet, I'm sworn to secrecy as a test cook for Once A Month Mom)

Recipe coming the first of June!

Sniff.......I'm outta strawberries:(

Cookin in Paradise!

Heather

MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY

2011-03-07T19:24:00.001-05:00

Livin In Paradise!

Heather

Spring In Florida

2011-03-05T19:16:00.001-05:00

This is 70% of our backyard alone, which is the size of a postage stamp. You can see this baby from space!!

I'd like to know how I wound up dirtier than the kids?

Livin In Paradise!

Heather

COMMAND CENTRAL

2011-01-31T07:50:00.001-05:00

I live and die by my iPhone. It is my Household Notebook, and a whole lot more. I truly am paperless and have my life at my fingertips. That being said, I'm screwed if the world wide web tanks. When I ask the kids to find my brain, they know EXACTLY what I mean and life comes to a standstill until it is found:-o

There IS an app for about everything and these make my homepage, and my life, a whole lot easier.

This is a snapshot of my Home Page, note the Valentine Day themed wallpaper. So girlie and not me!!!!

1. Phone & email. Duh.
Communication for my job is
done primarily thru email.

2. DAY is my calendar app. Kids,
job, personal are color coded.

3. ACCOUNTS is my checkbook
register.

4. GROCERIES is my shopping
list, divided by store and isle
with a built in calculator and
Price book.

5. I have a Purpose Driven Life
and a task driven life,
WUNDERLIST keeps all my
To-Do's and projects in
order.

I have other apps that log my husbands blood sugars, Bible prayer journal, weather, news, Facebook, cooking, Netflix , games and fart apps for the boys to name a few.

It's how I roll.

Heather
A TechnoGeek Wannabe

DUCKS IN A ROW

2011-01-30T09:14:00.001-05:00

What a difference a year has made.

At this time last year, my sweet Grandpa had just passed, my husband was about to be laid off (and was for 7 months) and I needed to re-enter the work force. Uncertainty was abundant, but so was the overwhelming Peace I had, that God had it all laid out before us.

And so He did.

Darrel got some much needed time off to get his Ducks In A Row. Spend time with the boys, set a course.
I joined a nursing agency and worked at a medical daycare(and liked it!) and did health fairs.

1 year later: Darrel is self employed in the construction industry, enjoying being his own boss again and the work keeps coming in!

I am self employed as well, I have the blessing of working from home coding/auditing emergency room charts, and it allows me to be available to my family.

This last year was a gift.

Heather

CHICKEN & SOUP

2011-01-30T08:45:00.001-05:00

But not Chicken Soup.

This weekend is about cooking it up!! Part of getting my Ducks In A Row this last month, is to start filling the freezer again. My grocery budget has taken a hit with increased food prices and decreased couponing, however I found BS Chicken Breasts at Walmart for $1.78lb and bought 20lbs over the last 2 weeks.

6 lbs went in unprocessed, 2lbs cooked/cubed and 2.5lbs cooked/shredded. Also baked up 7.5lbs of potatoes for Loaded Baked Potato Soup (with bacon) for Sunday, and a batch to take to a sweet gal in my Sunday School class who had a baby recently. The other 7.5 lbs of potatoes will become Twice Baked Potatoes and Hashbrowns for the freezer.

Chicken, Soup for the Soul I suppose. I enjoyed it:)

Heather

MY HUMOR

2011-01-28T16:52:00.001-05:00

My Grandpa would of appreciated this!

TUESDAYS SHOPPING TRIP

2011-01-20T07:45:00.000-05:00

We all know I love food, buying it, preparing it, and most of all.....that's kinda obvious.

It's been 3 or 4 months since I have couponed and shopped in earnest, an increased workload last fall, and just catching up since Christmas, have left the pantry pretty bare.

The savings are pretty small this week but there nonetheless as I restock my coupons.

$4.00 at Publix

Not pictured is the 3 boxes of Honeycomb & 2 boxes of Cocoa Pebbles Chocolate that I got at Dollar General for $7.00.

$1.81 at Walmart

Shoppin In Paradise!

Heather

FREEZER COOKING DAYS I

2010-01-28T19:54:00.059-05:00

I belong to a Freezer Cooking Group here in Jacksonville that I just love! We've been together a year now and below are pictures of what I brought home from our swap! There are normally 6 of us, we were 2 short this last month.

Chicken Stroganoff
Beef Stroganoff
Maple Glazed Stuffed Pork Loin
Beef Carnitas
Lasagna
Beef Stew
Bacon & Cheese Topped Chx Br
Cashew Chicken

Next month's selections are:

Sticky Chicky (the groups #1fav)
Chicken Pot Pie
Sweet & Sour Kielbasa(me)
Cheese Stuffed Shells
Turkey Burger Wraps
Chicken Stir Fry
Brown Sugar Glazd Pork Chops(me)
Tortellini Soup
Beef Barley Soup
Yankee Pot Roast

I am holding off on my 2 until I get a better deal on the meat, I refuse to pay more than 1.99 lb for most cuts of meat, and rarely do. In the meantime I have a few things I want to whip up this weekend!!

**10 LBS HAMBURGER**
From BJ's--90/10--2.99/lb. Broke my own rule, but hey, I need to dance on the edge once in a while!!

MMMMMMMEATBALLS
Much more flavorful than any other recipe I've found.

5 lbs hambuger
1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup A-1 or Wostershire Sauce
1 tsp Basil
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp onion powder

Mix all, form into one inch balls-put on foil lined cookie sheets and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Cool and freeze.

PIZZA MEATLOAF
For a sweet family in my church who seem to like it alot.

2 pounds ground beef

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup dry bread crumbs
.5 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon Italian-style seasoning
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic salt
Sauce
1 Can tomato soup
1/4 cup water
1 tsp oregano or italian seasoning
Topping
1 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Mix all loaf ingredients together, then in separate bowl mix the sauce. Add 2 tbsp of the sauce to the loaf ingred and put in 2 regular foil meatloaf pans or can shape and do one large one in a 9x13 or pan of your choice.I find the 2 foil mealtoaf pans cook out better. Wrap in saran wrap and foil. Put sauce and mozzerella in separate baggies and freeze all together. Cook in 350 oven for 40 minutes. Top with remaining sauce and mozzerella and cook for additional 10 minutes.
Last 2 lbs of hamburger get browned for Rotel Dip or Lasagna or Tacos or............

CARAMEL FREEZER FRENCH TOAST
From 30 Day Gourmet and renamed by me. The french bread was on the WalMart 40% off rack, .60 cents each.

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsp corn syrup
1 loaf french bread
5 eggs
1 and 1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanila

In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Heat and stir until melted together. Pour into the bottom of a 9”x13” pan. Slice the loaf of French bread into 1” thick slices. Lay the bread slices on the syrup mixture in the pan, using most (if not all) of the loaf. You may need to squeeze some pieces in, or cut a couple pieces to fill in the holes, but you should be able to use most of the loaf. In a blender, mix together the eggs, milk and vanilla. Slowly pour the milk mixture over top of the bread, being sure to cover all the bread. (The pan will not be ‘swimming’ in the milk mixture… the bread will soak all of it up.)

Freezing Directions:
Cover pan with foil or use Press-n-Seal brand wrapping. Or put pan in a freezer bag. Seal, label and freeze.

Serving Directions:
Thaw. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cut into serving-size pieces. Serve, syrup-side up, on a plate sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Tammy’s Comments: (author of this recipe)

This recipe was an immediate family favorite at my house! If you have a small family, divide the recipe into two 8”x8” pans instead of a 9”x13”. If you want to make this recipe fresh, without freezing it, make it the night before and let it sit in the ‘fridge overnight.

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

SHOWING OFF

2010-01-26T01:16:00.001-05:00

I'm not one to flaunt it, I usually dont have "it". In this case I'll give "it" up though. I love cakes!!
I love baking them, decorating them, reading abouth them, dreaming about them.... and the looks on the faces of those who recieve them.

Here ya go...... suffer through a few of my past creations. Hmmmmm, maybe this will light a fire underneath me to start back up again?????

Cakeless in Paradise :(

Heather

EAT FROM THE PANTRY CHALLENGE

2010-01-04T20:11:00.001-05:00

I've done this before when the occasion called for it (moving, excess month at the end of the money, etc) and it seemed like a good idea for this new year as I tend to stock up on the great sales, and then can't find room to put basic purchases. All meals made by me were already in my freezer/pantry, or planned from 3 weeks ago before our loss and it all went out the window (figuratively speaking)

This month has started a bit off with the funeral/family, but actually helped as well.

Jan 1st----Made White Chili that I had bought ingred for 3 weeks prior. Hardly anyone ate it as everyone wanted pizza after I started the chili. Chili went into freezer for future date!!

Sat Jan 2nd-- Sonny's BBQ catered in for lunch after the funeral courtesy of my late Grandpa Bob!! Leftover Appetizers and Meat/Cheese tray from my Mom & Roger

Sun Jan 3rd--Chicken Alfredo, Bread and Salad Courtesy of wonderful church friends

Mon Jan 4th--Leftovers Baby!!

Tues Jan 5th--Dinner from another wonderful church friend!!

Wed Jan 6th--Frito Pie- My oldest boy's favorite dinner

Thur Jan 7th--Dinner from church friend!!!! God Love Em!!

Fri Jan 8th--Cheeseburger Soup, Youngest Boy's favorite dinner-foccicia bread

Sat Jan 9th--Church Dinner!! Yeah Michelle!!

Sun Jan 10th--Spagetti & Meatballs, Middle child's favorite dinner.

The sweet gals at church are continuing even into the next week, but this is as far as my brain got.

There is always a supply of cereal, bagels, eggs, pancake makings for breakfast and I pack the boys' lunches every day. I think I am going to cut my grocery budget by HALF this month!!!

I have something of a pride problem and do not like to accept help from others, however I have been humbled by the incredible generosity of good friends and family who have taken care of us in this tough time.
Thank you all from the bottom of my Polish heart!!

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH

2009-12-30T07:35:00.001-05:00

We know I use coupons and try to snag some great deals weekly, or not, you know, life, priorities, in this case , funeral arrangements.
So I'm very happy for my one pitiful deal this week. Little thugs make me happy.

Publix. 32oz Snuggle sale. $3

-$2.00 coupoun. $1

Yea Me!!!

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

CHILDREN AND GRIEF

2009-12-30T06:13:00.002-05:00

I truly did not know how my boys would take the news of their Great-Grandpa's death. While they have experienced the death of both of their Great Grandma's, they were too young or to far removed from the situation to have much if any impact.
To say that my children were very close to Grandpa would be an overstatement, he spent alot of time hollering at them to pipe down, they rivaled his TV in volume! However Grandpa was a permanent fixture in their lives for 4.5 years, a constant, familiar. And a really good place to go and watch The Military Channel, Walker Texas Ranger, and beg chocolate.
Casey had a few silent tears, was very subdued the rest of the day, and sobbed for a half hour that night, I'm not sure if it was for his loss, or for Popcorn the dog, who parked herself on Casey's lap and looked very lonely.
Dane's tears were immediate , seeking and recieving consoling from me and I needing that to.
Cole.....if I had told him grass was green it would have been the same, that's just how he rolls.
It seems to me that children do not have the benefit of perspective that time brings, that grief is a very confusing and raw emotion for them, and like in all things, how they come out on the other side is strongly influenced by the adults around them.
Pearls Of Wisdom by Heather Allen. You're Welcome.

Fast forward a week. Casey has had a ton of very earnest questions about death, burial, salvation and grief. It has lead to tremendous dialogue, often hard to get out of a pre teen boy! Both of the Tweedles have been a huge comfort to me, showering me with frequent hugs and luvins out of the blue.
The displays of Christmas Bendaroos I have found around the house this week make me smile, and know that My Boys, are good with this.

Jeesie+Robert (my granparents)
The cross representing Jesus

A note of love and consolation from my youngest.

Grandpa in Heaven ( wearing a halo). On the fridge.

Content in His Love

Heather

IT PAYS TO DIE IN FLORIDA

2009-12-30T05:34:00.001-05:00

I don't remember my Nana's passing and funeral being this complicated. Everything seemed to flow and progress fairly effortlessly, at least that's my rose colored recollection of it.
This past week has been.....something. It seems that if you decide to die in the state of Florida, you need permission from several people first. Since Grandpa passed Christmas Eve Day, we had to wait until Monday for the attending doctor to sign the death certificate. EVERY death certificate in the state most go to the local Medical Examiners office for review before they will approve the Request for Cremation (which they are paid for of course). It pays to die in Florida, really, not you, but it does pay.
Of course the MEs office had to request records from the nursing home, who were not going to get them to the ME until after noon today because of the need for 6 layers of administrative permission and BS. At this point yesterday I had a mini meltdown on the phone, and the nursing home suddenly faxed the documents. I truly was grateful. I will call the MEs office again this morning and plead my case to get the Cremation Release, if it doesn't happen this morning, it won't because of the New Years holiday. It would be a bummer, however we will have a service regardless.

My wise spouse noted that "It would be easier to die in a third world country, at least you would know who to bribe."

Frustrated In Paradise!!

Heather

It Is With Profound Sadness....

2009-12-25T12:02:00.002-05:00

That I share the passing of my beloved Grandfather, Robert "Bob" Murasko.

Grandpa was recovering in rehab following a fall a few weeks ago when he passed quickly early yesterday morning.

My Christmas is blue with him gone, yet joyous as he is finally
with his true love, Jessie.

These last 4.5 years with him have been a blessing to me. While a stern no nonsense man when I was a child, time had mellowed him considerably. We were much alike, and got along famously.

I praise God for my vocation as a nurse, and that he gifted my heart for the aged. Their wisdom, graciousness and quiet need has always moved my spirit in the deepest way.

I will miss the hundreds of one liners I have heard repeatedly everday since I was a baby, discussions of news, politics and WWII, lunch at Denny's, stroking his duck fuzz hair, and kisses goodnight.

I think the saddest thing is, and what has brought me to tears the most, is this...

Popcorn is lost without him. I believe she knows, she seems sad as well, never leaving me out of her sight. Casey's tender heart for animals has reached out to her and I see an early frienship forming.

I eagerly await the arrival of my extended family the end of this week for his funeral. He will be laid to rest at the VA cemetary with military honors.

Everyone's Favorite Pollock will be deeply missed.

Grieving In Paradise

Heather

I LOVE COUPONS!!!

2009-12-23T21:27:00.001-05:00

It's no secret I am:

Tightfisted, frugal, a miser, Adept At Squeezing Blood Out Of A Turnip...so on and so forth.

I use coupons pretty regularly and am ALWAYS looking for ways to make the food stretch farther with this tribe. For not even being teenagers yet, they eat like lumberjacks!

Publix BOGO sales can't be beat. It was a small trip but every little bit counts.

These products at Publix-all BOGO

2 boxes Betty Crocker Au Grautin Potatoes

2 tubs Cool Whip

2 boxes Barber Frozen Stuffed Chx Breasts

Publix if bought full price=$17.97
Walmart price =$12.00
Publix. BOGO + coups. =$ 4.83

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

2009-12-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

A huge favorite in Allen Appetizer Land. Best served hot with tortilla chips, although I would give it about 10 minutes to cool a bit or you will have to wrap your tounge like the kid in A Christmas Story. You can top with extra cheese if you like!! Oh yeah, it has a funky orange color to it, if you can get past that, it's all good!!!

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

16 oz cream cheese
1 cup ranch dressing
1 cup shredded cheese
1 cup hot sauce (in reality 1/2 cup is more like it unless you want heartburn)
3 ish chicken breast cooked and shredded.

Boil or Broil chicken and shred hot. Combine all ingredients until well mixed and bake at 350 for
20 minutes. YUMMERS!!

CHRISTMAS FOOD!!

2009-12-23T18:43:00.001-05:00

What does your Christmas Feast look like?? The full blown Ham/Roast and 20 side dishes?? Or is Pizza more your style, ordered of course.

It is variable at the Allen House. 20 plus years in Missouri at my in-laws the fare was the standard Ham for quite a long time. And I love it!! Ham Sandwiches CANNOT be beat!

It is no different here in Paradise. This year we travel down the road to my sister's house for, of course, Ham Sandwhiches (ham cooked courtesy of my BIL John who comes from a family of caterers and is something of a food snob, and can outcook me any day of the week).

APPETIZERS!! I could live on appetizers, Hours de Vours, "Horsey Doors" as we called them as kids. I will be cooking:

1. Rotel Dip (no brainer) for my beloved nephew Josh, with hamburger of course.

2. Sausage & Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms (for my dear annoying BIL) I hate shrooms.

3. Buffaloe Chicken Dip. My most requested appetizer. Recipe to follow

4. Cheese Ball- Shaped like a football no less

4. Sausage Balls-from freezer cooking group

5. Cocktail Meatballs in that grape jelly/chili sauce stuff.

I think thats enough. Maybe.

CHOW DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!

HE WORKS HARD....

2009-12-22T06:55:00.003-05:00

The Puritan Work Ethic in engraved in my man's DNA. He doesn't know any other way.

That being said. He sleeps hard as well. I have seen him fall asleep standing up, and in the bathtub. It's a gift.

So is this gem. Thank you to my nephew Brandon, who knows a good photo-op when he sees one!!

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

SWEET GRANDPA

2009-12-21T20:40:00.001-05:00

Those of you who know and love my Grandpa as I do will be bummed that he fell last week and fractured his pelvis.

He is currently in rehab for a month or so until we can get him walking again.

Very little dampens his good nature and perennial one liners, and as the fog of medicines has lifted, so has his disposition.

I think the hussy on his lap has something to do with that.

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

NO REINDEER HERE!!!

2009-12-12T06:46:00.001-05:00

Only Pink Flamingos' pull Santa's sleigh in Florida!!!

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENT HERE

2009-12-11T20:22:00.000-05:00

Back in Mizzourah...lights are hung, and that's about it. Ho Ho....Hum. Yawn.

Here in Sunny Florida...they got it goin on!!! They put lights on their trees all right, their palm trees!! A neighborhood here in Jax, 100 houses or so, with thousands of light strung VERTICALLY from the branches to the ground. Wicked cool.

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

MIDDLE CHILD

2009-12-08T13:30:00.001-05:00

Terminally happy, outgoing, neat, orderly, helpful, obedient, polite. Self directed. Has book reports done the day they are assigned. Likes helping me in the kitchen. Practices piano without being told. Smart kid.

Also a nosy, "*%#-stiring, holier than thou 2nd grader.

I love his bounless enthusiasm for life, his adrenalin junkie tendencies (faster Daddy!), and how good he looks in uniform!!

Can't even begin to explain to explain this one

Village People come to mind.

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

POPPYSEED BREAD

2009-12-07T20:55:00.001-05:00

By popular demand, from a former coworker named Belinda in Jefferson City MO, who got it from who knows who.

I have made it my own and everyone loves me for it.
Yes, if you eat enough of it you WILL pop positive on a drug screen.

POPPYSEED BREAD

3 c. Flour.
3 eggs.
1.5 c. Milk.
2.25 c. Sugar
1 1/8 c. Oil
1.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp butter extract
1.5 tsp almond extract
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 TBLSP Poppyseeds

Beat all for 2 minutes. Grease 2 large or 5 small loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Make glaze and pour over loaves while still in pans and warm to let glaze soak in. Remove when cooled.

Glaze:
3/4 c. Sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 c. Orange juice

These fit perfect in those cellophane type bags you find at the dollar store and curly ribbon!

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

CHRISTMAS BAKING DAY

2009-12-07T19:02:00.001-05:00

Every year, we bake, then eat, then bake, then.....you get the point.

My mom came to Florida to spend time with us girls and above is some of the "fruits" ( I hate fruit) of our effort.

Every year growing up mom made about a dozen different cookies, the majority of which contained nuts so therefore I wouldn't touch them ( I hate nuts also). I refuse to put that much effort into it because....well, I'm selfish. If I'm going to make it, I better be able to eat it!

The hands down most requested family favorite is Poppyseed Loaves. They have a wonderful sugar glaze that is poured on while the loaves are still warm. I think my mom made 24 of these today, I can't be sure, we may have eaten one??

4 batches Peanut Butter Blossom dough to freezer to make into cookies later. 1 batch Peanut Butter Bon Bons. 1 batch of my great great grandmothers fudge, without nuts of course. 2 Batches Oreo Truffles, these are usually eaten with, or in place of, every meal, and one batch of Ginger Crinkle balls.

I have plans for 5 or 6 batches of chocolate chip cookie dough, puppy chow, rice crispy treats for Da Hubby, and a few more batches of Ginger Crinkle Cookies. Set your plans low I say, the neighbors will surely stuff me with their concoctions. At least I hope so.

I really need to brush my teeth.

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

My Life In Minutia

2009-12-02T17:48:00.002-05:00

Does this day look familiar to you??

Up a 5am just to enjoy God's word and find the only quiet time of the day.

Coffee. Man Maintenance. Boys up, how many days wearing that shirt? Breakfast. Set out dinner from freezer meals and ingred in breadmaker.

Pack Lunches. Drop off boys. Home to clean up. Get Grandpa up. Help sister with paperwork.
Home. Feed me and Grandpa. Discipleship with my mentor Patsy! Pick up kids. Dane piano lesson. Casey to swim practice.

Big storm blowing in. Home for dinner. Chicken noodle soup and bread!! Yum!! Out to church if not under tornado warning. Hubby Snuggle. Kids bed. Pass out.

Do I hear an "Amen!!"??

Livin In Paradise!!

Heather

WE MOVED!!!

2009-10-02T06:06:00.000-04:00

Ummmmm, yeah, I know it's been 2 years, no we have not been in suspended animation and Darrel is NOT still sleeping on the couch.
Life happened and I'm still chasing it!!
We have been in Jacksonville Florida one year now. Darrel is working for Servicemaster as a Contruction Manager doing restoration after disasters. I'm still hangin with Grandpa and the boys, who are now in the 7th, 2nd and First grade.

Above is a picture of our front porch this last May after putting in the front flower bed. You throw things at the ground down here and it grows.

I got myself an iPhone for Christmas last year and just found a handy little app that let's me do my blog from it. Sooooooo, gonna try this again. My intent is to post random thoughts, recipies, perspective and funnies as I see fit. Yeah, we all now how that worked!!

More to come (hopefully)

Livin In Paradise!

Heather

THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

2008-01-26T23:19:00.000-05:00

Weekends spent on the couch

Cats, especially this one, I don't know who he is or what he is doing, but he is my screensaver and I giggle every time I look at it.
May you have a restful, peaceful, napful, cat puke free weekend.

6:00 AM..................CAT PUKE :-<

2008-01-25T20:59:00.000-05:00

As usual, I stumble out of bed at 6am and put the coffee on, all of this is done in minimal lighting so as not to bring on the shock and seizures that one experiences before having had 2 hours to come to full alertness. Realizing that I need to reply to natures early morning call, I head back toward the bedroom, in the dark, only to find that our little girl cat, Oreo, has deposited last nights dinner on the tile in front of the bedroom door. I find this out by sliding on one foot through it (in my blue fuzzy slippers), windmilling my arms, and then tracking thru the bedroom carpet. (*&^$$#%^*()_)_(&^%$##$%#@^^&*()))(&^%$$##@@$^&*^%#@@#@#$%&**(!!
And that is just for starters. I don't like to clean puke out of the carpet at ANY time of day, but especially before the sun comes up!! The day had nowhere to go but up.

Speaking of the furbabies, I thought I would introduce them. They are everywhere you want to be.
This is Boo, Halloween night of 04 we came home from trick or treating in a cold miserable drizzle and there sat the most pathetic creature I had ever seen. Emaciated, weighing about 4 lbs (a cat this size should weigh about 10lbs)ribs sticking out, and a bloody stump of a left hind leg. He crawled into my lap and purred his way into my heart.
Now I know that my DH was not a cat fan, and I held no fantasies about bringing it indoors. So for the next 4 nights I left the garage door cracked open, dog food and a blanket by the lawnmower. Darrel felt so bad for this pitiful creature that he opened the door into the house one night, Boo walked in, and never looked back. Boo spent the next 3 weeks sleeping and eating, mostly sleeping, behind the couch, looking back, Boo was probly just a few days away from death, and needed those weeks to come back from it. Boo would come out at night and commandere my lap. I made a halfhearted attempt to find Boos owner, and was so relieved that it didn't come to fruition. Boo is very much a cat. Stuck up, standoffish to all but me, and lazy. The vet called him a British Blue, he acts British. I love him madly, he is a comforting companion.
This is Mary, we saw her skirting around the field behind our house most of the summer of 05. Toward the end of that summer, Casey struck up a friendship with this cat over the course of a week, til one day Darrel walkes thru the door with her. She was little lean from living outdoors but soooooooooooo friendly, and headbutts like nobodies business, she'll give you a concussion.
After a few weeks we go to the vet, Mary is actually a "HE", but Casey doesn't care, and neither does Mary, so "Mary My Boy" it is. She is large, lean, and lame in her right front paw, we don't know why, and are not interested in finding out why, she gets along great on it. Mary spends half HIS time outdoors and loves it, coming home to eat , sleep and headbutt. HE is sooooo laidback and friendly, everyone's favorite.

A year and a half ago, Darrel was weedeating a vacant house at work and dang well near decapitated 2, 4 week old kittens cowering in the brush. He picked them up, both fitting in the palm of one hand, brought them home and told me to "do something with them." What he meant was find them a new home. We syringe fed them for about 2-3 more weeks, washed their bottoms with washclothes to get them to pee and stroked them with moist towels to "groom" them. Not much different than kids, sans peeing. By the time we had them up old enought to go out, suddenly none of the homes I had found seemed good enough to Darrel. So now we have 4 cats, one big happy furry family, and oh yea, my youngest kiddo is allergic to cats, I think the last 2 pushed him over the edge. They are a great bunch, and we really do enjoy their company.

This is Sparky, or Sparkplug, or Sparkinator. Pure black, long, lean, a tail as long as he is, very active, energetic, and thinks he is a dog, follows Casey around everywhere and sleeps with him, oh, and if you leave the inside of your arm exposed, he licks it until its sore. He is also lactose intolerant, who ever heard of a cat that couldn't keep down milk?? I clean up alot of cat puke around here.

This is Sparky's sister Oreo, or Doublestuff, or Triplestuff, or Fat Girl with a Pretty Face. When she turned about a year old she got HUGE, this pic does not do her size justice, but it does show off her gorgeous green eyes and pretty face. She is sweet, loves to be petted and her fur is as soft as silk, you can't help but pet her. Except this morning, as I was skating.
These are the Allen Family Furries, and loved to pieces, even if all they do is eat, sleep and poop.

RANDOM BLAHGINGS

2008-01-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

Greetings bloggie doggies!! MLK Day, Spent a nice one at home with my Boogers and really had a nice day. On this day I would like to wax poetic and suffer all of you my thoughts about on politics, religion and world peace, really, I'm pretty opinionated that way. However I am much to braindead at this juncture to expend that kind of cerebral energy so you get some serious mumbo jumbo. Behold Breakfast, of my Champions!! You thought I had hung the moon.
I just had to show off this little gadget my mom got me for Christmas, it's a finger peeler. My Rheumatoid Arthritis has gotten worse in my hands and holding a potato peeler is difficult, especially the old fashioned POS I had. This little cutie is absolutely wonderful, not sure where mom got it but I have seen them at Linens & Things.

Lunch was Tomato Soup and Grilled cheese

Dinner was Casey's absolute favorite--Frito Pie

oh, and I had a piece of the of that Peanut Butter Pie for Breakfast. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Night All.

HOW DO YOU LIKE MY NEW LOOK??

2008-01-21T13:11:00.000-05:00

Don't ya just love it. The Toad is soooooooooooooo me. I AM The Toad. Or at least I feel like one. And I mean that in a good way. The template comes from FinalSence, link at the very bottom. I feel like I am finally getting a handle on this thing. Yeah, still cant set the VCR either, do people still own VCRs?????

COOKED MYSELF STUPID

2008-01-20T21:18:00.000-05:00

Where did these last few days go?? I vaugely remember being wacked out with to much to do, expectations to high, needing more sleep. This weekend was Middle Booger's Birthday. I had high hopes of themed decorating, lots of delicious and great looking appetizers and another gorgeous cake decorated by moi. Then I had reality and a mini nervous breakdown Friday afternoon. Screaming in the shower is therapy for the soul. God is working with me to lower my expectations, to relax, to know that a Wal Mart birthday cake really is OK. Gotta be careful though, I relax myself right into an I don't care coma. Will post more on Willy D's party later. Today, true to form we laid around a little bit, however I don't remember hearing the explosion to explain why my house looked the way it did this morning. So we cleaned til noon.

Rest of the day I spent cooking, I love to cook, I find it relaxing, until cleanup time, see pix further down. I bagged my first freezer meal, then started on my second
CROCKPOT BEEF AND BLACK EYED PEA SOUP
http://busycooks.about.com/od/hotsouprecipes/r/beefblackeyepea.htm
Here I have chopped my carrots, added garlic and pepper for each of the 6 meals, and chopped the meat for my first meal.

Here you see it all mixed, bagged, labeled and ready to go in the freezer.

Next I made a FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER PIE from a set of cookbooks my mom got me for Christmas, "Eagle Brand Classic Recipes"
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Frozen-Peanut-Butter-Cheesecake/Detail.aspx?width=300
I bought Cocoa Pebbles for the crust because I didn't read the recipe well at first, I don't think it matters.

I did not have chocolate ice cream topping so I made my own, and left the kitchen for a few minutes, mybad. I will try this one again though, it has perfect thick syrupy consistency. The pot however, is still soaking.
CHOCOLATE HOT FUDGE SAUCE
http://southernfood.about.com/od/dessertsaucerecipes/r/bl30621a.htm

The kitchen was clean at 10am, this is what it looked like at 4pm. sigh.
Fortunately, outside of some Rotel Dip for the playoff game (GO PACKERS), I did not cook lunch or supper. In this house, the birthday dude gets to choose each meal for that day.
Breakfast-Bagels with Bluberry Spread
Lunch - McDonald's
Dinner -Pizza Delivered (we don't eat out much, I love to cook, tough noogies)

Tomorrow is a holiday, I have great low expectation plans for tomorrow, no where to go but up!!

Tootles!!

GROCERY SHOPPING

2008-01-16T21:50:00.001-05:00

Breakfast Cookies!! What could be more perfect than that!! Maybe Breakfast Pizza, or Breakfast Chocolate Cream Pie, or even Breakfast Baked Alaska!! These are fast, easy, and the kids love them.http://www.recipelink.com/mf/31/8763

Today was spent doing my bi weekly ritual. I grocery shop on or around the 1st and 15th of each month. I budget about $600 month for groceries for the 6 of us. Most of which seems to be eaten up with milk, ugh. We go thru about 4-5 gallons a week.
1. First I list the dates/day of the week, noting any evening activities so I can plug easy meals into those nights
2. I then plug in the freezer meals from my cooking co-op, 12 a month, or 6 for this periodhttp://mogourmetgirls.blogspot.com/
3. Then I plug in what I have layin around extra in the pantry/freezer- I bought 5lbs hamburger today and browned it for spagetti/frito pie & lasagna & froze

16th W SPAGETTI (grandpas favorite)
17th Th GRILLED CHX/CHEEZ/BACON SANDWICHES (borrowed idea from Kraft
magazine-FREE-sign up! (chx & bacon stocked in freezer)http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf
18th F CARNITAS
19th S LONDON BROIL
20th S GRILL every Sun regardless always have burgers/dogs/steaks stocked
21st M FRITO PIE (Casey's Favorite)
22nd T SPICY LIME CHICKEN
23rd W BEANS & CORNBREAD- bag of 15 beans in back of pantry
24th Th HAM & EGG PIZZA new recipe http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Ham-N-Egg-Pizza/Detail.aspx-cubed ham in freezer
25th F SANTA FE SOUP
26th S BBQ PORK STEAKS-given to us by neighbors-done in oven
27th S GRILL
28th M TANGY RIBS
29th T BAKED PESTO RAVIOLI WITH CHICKEN
30th W THE BEST EVER LASAGNA-from the Pioneer Woman My new favorite
http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/2007/06/the_best_lasagn.html
31st Th It just ocurred to me that I missed a day but thats OK, there is ALWAYS a leftover night that shifts things around.

I then make sure I have the ingred for about a dozen breakfasts & lunches & sides that I rotate thru. Same with desserts, and then for about a 1/2 dozen new recipes I want to try. It may seem like alot, and it takes me around 2 hours to plan out, but the grief and time it saves me is immeasurable.

Stick Me With A Fork!

A LONG DAY AT THE VA

2008-01-15T22:15:00.000-05:00

Good Evening Bloggie Doggies!!

The day started out inocuously enough. Darrel trying to fit 3 boys, 3 backpacks, 3 lunches, 2 blankets, 2 pillows, 1 saxaphone and a pan of brownies in the cab of his truck to take to school, he was grouchy. So were the boogers for that matter.

For those of you who don't know, this is my grandpa Bob. Wearing his notorious s**t eating grin. Grandpa has lived with us in our basement apt since May when his health started failing. I love having him here, we take care of each other!!

Grandpa has been having increased problems the last 3 months or so and today he had a lumbar puncture done at the VA, which he said wasn't that bad. 3 hour wait for a 10 minute procedure!! He had to lay on his back for 4 hours afterward but didn't seem to mind. We now know for sure that he has "Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus", or the old fashioned term "water on the brain". Here is a link that tells more about it. It is good to know for sure what is wrong, now we wait to see the neurosurgeon.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/normal-pressure-hydrocephalus

Fortunately I had put out one of my freezer meals before I left this morning since it was after 7pm getting grandpa home. This is Stromboli, one of our freezer group favorites. Looks kinda funny in the picture but tastes great.http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/main/sandwiches/stromboli.html

One last thought. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN??? 18 different mismatched socks?? No mate! That is no way to go thru life!! Especially mine, drives me nuts. (Nothing compared to my sister Bobber's mismatched sock bag, every mateless sock in America goes to her house to overwinter).

Ga Nite all, been a long day, off to watch the end of a mindless movie!!

HOT WINGS & FOOTBALL

2008-01-14T22:18:00.001-05:00

Sunday was essentially a repeat of Saturday, naps, neighbors, football and hotwings. We have GREAT neighbors on either side of us and get together almost every Friday and Sunday evening, and unless there is 8 inches of ice on the deck, we BBQ. Here is my Hot Wing recipe. I buy the bag of wings/drumettes from Aldis and double this recipe, makes about 40 plus.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Restaurant-Style-Buffalo-Chicken-Wings/Detail.aspx

The secret to these is that they MUST "rest" in the fridge for 90 minutes.

I like to listen to streaming radio while I surf. I highly recommend http://www.pandora.com/, it is free and you can create the type of music you want to listen to, mine is George Winston and 80's Hair Bands! I threw a box of Aldi's brownies (because no matter how many times I try homemade, they still don't taste as good as these) into the oven for snacks for Cole's class (I'm snack mom this week and woefully unprepared) and another box for us!! Yummers!! Pulled up a teat and had a chocolate fest!!
This is all you're getting outa me tonight!

Heather

I Love Saturdays!!!!

2008-01-12T21:39:00.000-05:00

Evenin Ya'll!

I LOVE Saturdays , especially ones where I don't have to be anywhere or do anything except what I want. YEAH!

Lollygagged around til about 11ish today, did manage to feed the WolleyBoggers, Casey's fav breakfast is Chewy Granola Bars, soooooo easy, AND chewy, imagine that. Let them set up for about 20 minutes if you can or they fall apart, they usually don't make it that long, then we have to eat it with a spoon.

These are my children singing my praises for cooking such a wonderful breakfast. I am in the running for Mom Of The Year now, yeah, for about the next 10 minutes. I don't come by "The Warden" on accident. Here is the recipe.
http://www.recipelink.com/mf/0/26584is
This is an awesome site by the way, it gives dayly menu suggestions, I use it frequently.

Most of the rest of the day was spent prepping one of my meals for my freezer cooking group
The Gourmet Girls http://mogourmetgirls.blogspot.com/. Here is my Chicken Lo Mein in the freezer, you know, freezing. I think one of my sauce bags had a leak. Bummer. My veggies are in a different freezer, where I hide the bodies ;-)

My SIL took the WooleyBoogers to a movie, and Darrel and I took a nice nap on the couch while watching the Packers game, kinda. Dinner was a lasagna type meal made with spiral noodles from a sister freezer group. Pretty good, kids loved it.
http://freezerchicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Casseroles

Little Boogers are in bed, Casey and a friend are staying up late playing XBOX, Darrel is out somewhere carousing, and I, I am snuggled in the reclinger watching my absolute favorite movie of all time THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, although I am out of Pepsi. Can't have it all.

I'm done! Nite All

Food-WooleyBoogers-Ad Nauseum

2008-01-11T21:26:00.000-05:00

Kids are more in less in bed, grandpa has been in bed for an hour. I've got my pepsi by my side and I'm kickin back. Pepsi......Did you know that 60oz of Pepsi a day for 25 years will strip all of the enamel right off your teeth, rendering them rotten and costing $14K in crowns/cavities/root canals & extractions? So far. Trust me. I KNOW. I'm still hooked, dentures here I come!!

Today I thought I would share a photo of Casey and all of his brothers. From left to right--
Dane, Cole, Andrew, Casey & Adam.

Casey, Dane & Cole are my WooleyBoogers, Adam & Andrew are Casey's biological bro's and are my best friend Sue's WooleyBoogers. For those of you who may not know (this is the super short version), my womb was barren, but God heard my cry, and blessed me with 3 rambunctious boys through the miracle of adoption!! He also blessed Sue with Adam & Andrew, then to top it all off, He brought it full circle and blessed Sue and I with each other. We are family!!!

Pretty productive day overall. Floors vaccumed & mopped, Dusting. Lots of Laundry, always.

Breakfast-Cereal (generic captn crunch)
Lunch -Macaroni/Tuna/Peas casserole
Dinner - Chicken Sate & Fried Rice
The Chicken Sate (it was OK) I was out of orange juice so used orange extract. Uh uh.
From Family Fun, they have a whole month of recipes
link here http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/meal-planner/index.html?campaign=NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Section2TextLink

The Fried Rice was great, will go into my regular rotation. I substituted chx broth for the water and made enought to feed the Asian seaboard.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fried-Rice-Restaurant-Style/Detail.aspx

Topped off by a nice Aldi's Cheesecake outofabox with chocolate chips thrown on top. Yummm.

I'll have the rest for breakfast. Ga' Nite !!

CLUELESS

2008-01-10T19:06:00.000-05:00

Alicia Silverstone I am not, I'm worse. My freezer cookin buds have repeatedly told me I need to get with the program, get a blog, get a life, get some......thing. This is my pathetic stab at it, has taken me (*&^%&*())_ hours to set this thing up. It will be, like my children, a work in progress. Join me in this painful journey as I share my passions: cooking, freezer cooking, organizing and cleaning (that was a joke). I will not share my husband ;-) .

As I chew on how this blog shapes up, plese leave me your input about what you would like to see. I intend to add links that have saved my life, recipes, organization projects and tips; generalized rants, ravings and my "inspired" thoughts on whatever has caused me to lose sleep the night before.

Check out my passion today, doing nothing but getting hooked on this woman's blog and her tru life romance novel....... Dang you Heidi, I had things to do today.
http://thepioneerwomancooks.com/