Alright...
I give my friends what they ask for- and one friend in particular asked that I post this recipe after I bragged about it on Facebook.
I can't let a complement as awesome as "This is better than a restaurant's" go without telling everyone!
Unfortunately, because I didn't have my camera out, this recipe will be JUST the recipe...hopefully, someday I can update it with a picture tutorial.
For the Sweet and Sour Chicken:
Cut up 3 or 4 chicken breasts into bite sized pieces (this is easier if they are still partially frozen), put them in a bowl, and then pour milk over the top until its barely covered. Let the chicken soak for 5-15 minutes (while the chicken is soaking, add oil into a deep pan- about 1/4 inch, maybe even less, would suffice and heat it.)
Then, put 1 cup of flour and 1/2 tsp of salt in a ziplock bag or bowl with lid...drain the milk off the chicken, add it to the flour mixture and shake, shake, shake
Once your oil is hot enough to fry the chicken, add the pieces and cook until cooked through and starting to get golden brown. Set aside in a bowl or a clean ziplock baggie.
Sauce:
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c vinegar
4 TBS ketchup
1 TBS soy sauce
Let the sauce boil. It will reduce down in about 5-10 minutes (you don't want it very thick because the chicken will be crispy and this coats it like the orange sauce coats Orange Chicken at Panda Express, you'd want it to basically be able to lightly coat a spoon and run off) If you get impatient (which I did) you can always take a tsp of flour and add it to some cold water. Whisk it until there are no lumps and then slowly pour it into the sauce, constantly stirring rapidly as you pour. This will help thicken it up sooner.
Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir or shake to coat it all.
For the Fried Rice:
Prepare 4 servings of rice as directed on your package. Set aside.
In a fry pan or wok add sesame oil and heat it. Add desired amount of mixed vegetables (I had frozen corn, peas, carrots, and green beans, you could use whatever veggies your little heart desires... I used about 1 1/2 to 2 cups...I don't ever really measure it. Just enough so that I'm sure whomever eats the rice is getting a serving of veggies out of it)
Cover to steam, soften and heat the veggies, remove the cover and allow the vegetables to lightly brown and crisp, then add the rice. Stir together and allow the rice to crisp up a bit.
Next- make a well in the middle of your rice/veggie combo so you can see the bottom of your fry pan/wok, crack 2 eggs into it and let them fry a little (so the whites start to set up) then use your spatula to lightly scramble them.
Once the eggs are almost cooked (still a bit tacky and runny) stir them into the rice and veggies and allow to fry a little more until the egg appears to be all cooked through.
Finally, stir in a splash of soy sauce for color and flavor (it would be about a tablespoon or tablespoon and a half). Stir into rice until all of it is evenly coated. Then sprinkle the top with onion powder and stir again...voila (**Note** this rice is one of my kitchen secrets! Its one of my husband's favorite things that I make...)
And...there you go... restaurant quality food (or better, according to my family) without the restaurant price tag, or restaurant calories (well, maybe almost as many calories...LOL)
Bon Appetit!
Hugs and Loves until next time darlings!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
An afternoon stroll
The sky is overcast, but the sun peeks out of little breaks in the clouds. I trudge out barefoot into the beauty of the day. I find our double stroller and open it. Its covered in sawdust from all the renovations going on in the house. I brush it off and go back inside. I grab one baby, take her out and harness her in, and then back in for the other. Its warm enough that I don't need a jacket, but cool enough that I cover my girls with blankets and we're off.
We stroll up the very long lane that you need to drive to get to the house. Its at least a quarter of a mile back. I carefully walk, hoping to avoid as much mud and muck as possible.
Springtime has come to Idaho. It is one of my favorite times of year. The juxtaposition between the warm sun beating down and the cool snow that still covers the ground has always astounded me.
I look down to see little green blades of grass peeking up through the mud and snow. They are awake now, they stretch up to feel the sun's warmth that so easily touches my skin. Oh, how would it be to be a blade of grass and struggle like that? I count my blessings, blessing 1- I can feel the sun without struggle.
The sunlight reflects off the white snow. I wish I'd remembered my sunglasses. The girls happily babble and look around...I make a mental note to find them some sunglasses the next time I'm at the dollar store. I don't know if they would keep them on, but I can't help but wonder if the walk would be even MORE pleasant for them (which doesn't seem possible.)
I smile as I watch them poke their little hands in between the seats and then over the seats to hold hands. In spite of their young age, you can see their love for each other.
We walk down the road. First, our neighbor's white dog greets us with a bark. Faith is unphased, Phillie just stares at him. The dog stays in the yard but barks the whole time we walk past. We come upon a horse, one of Faith's new loves. She babbles at it and motions for me to pick her up. I would love to, but I just can't. There is a 4 foot puddle and at least a 2 foot deep pile of snow between us and the fence. I walk on and Faith babbles and points at the cows as we pass them. I stop for a minute so she can look at the big bull. I'm surprised he is fenced in with all the cows, but I do realize its spring and some farmers prefer to try to let things happen the natural way before paying for science to help them out...or maybe this bull doesn't really bother the cows...in any case, we stop for a look, and then walk on.
About halfway up down 1800 E, I see a large black dog ahead. He is barking and begins to run towards the road where we are. I decide its probably best to turn around just in case he doesn't have the intention of being friendly.
When I turn around, I notice that under the stroller the whole time, etched deep in the mud, are tracks from horse shoes. Someone must have taken an early morning ride. How lovely. In this weather, I'm sure a horseback ride is a very pleasant activity. I follow the tracks, looking down at them and the grass beneath them and think about how lucky I am to be in this beautiful place. I look up at the mountains, still snow covered, with evergreen trees and think how wonderful it will be to be able to go camping this summer.
I pass the house on the corner. Its for sale and in our price range, but Jeff has said no. He isn't sure he wants to live in the same ward he grew up in. I walk around it to see what it looks like from every angle in the front, I'm not brave enough to walk around back.
Faith begins to whine. I realize she has seen the horse again and wants to go say hello. I walk around the front of the stroller and stroke her cheek and give her a kiss, promising that we will say hello when our way isn't blocked from the road. Phillie is out like a light, sleeping peacefully in the warm but cool, crisp weather. I smile at her. Faith looks over and begins to pat Phillie's little hand in an opening underneath the bar that separates their seats. She smiles up at me, I can see the tell-tale signs that she too is ready for another nap.
With that, I push the stroller back towards our current residence. I see my mother in law coming back from town. She turns down the lane and drives slowly over the mud. I stop to get the mail and notice all the birds dotting the sleeping trees. A robin sings a song and pheasants hide in the brush, thinking I can't see them. A big rooster stirs as I walk past him. He almost prepares himself to fly away, but calms and begins to be quiet again...if Jeff were here, he'd probably try to scare him out to get a better look at him.
I look at the huge trees that dot the lane and wonder when they will wake up from their winter slumber and begin to blossom. I walk a little slower, trying to soak this day, and this lovely weather in. I'm grateful for the return of spring, but mourn for the loss of the beautiful clean snow...
I only got a month and a half of winter. Most people would say I was lucky, and that Idaho winters are too long, but after being away from the changing seasons and missing them terribly, I don't mind it so much. I missed the snow. I missed waking up to a still, silent blanket of white covering the earth, making it clean and fresh.
I'm sure this isn't the last we've seen of winter white...generally in Idaho, we can expect snow clear through May...but its the last we will see it in vast quantities until December, after too long, any more snow that falls won't stick for longer than a day...
But then I remember, spring is coming. All the beautiful, tall trees on the lane with bud with blossoms and leaves, the ivy climbs up them will turn green again, and we can walk in the wooded area behind the house without having to navigate through snow that goes up to my hips. Everything will be new and fresh again...thanks to the winter chill.
Hugs and beautiful sights until next time darlings.
We stroll up the very long lane that you need to drive to get to the house. Its at least a quarter of a mile back. I carefully walk, hoping to avoid as much mud and muck as possible.
Springtime has come to Idaho. It is one of my favorite times of year. The juxtaposition between the warm sun beating down and the cool snow that still covers the ground has always astounded me.
I look down to see little green blades of grass peeking up through the mud and snow. They are awake now, they stretch up to feel the sun's warmth that so easily touches my skin. Oh, how would it be to be a blade of grass and struggle like that? I count my blessings, blessing 1- I can feel the sun without struggle.
The sunlight reflects off the white snow. I wish I'd remembered my sunglasses. The girls happily babble and look around...I make a mental note to find them some sunglasses the next time I'm at the dollar store. I don't know if they would keep them on, but I can't help but wonder if the walk would be even MORE pleasant for them (which doesn't seem possible.)
I smile as I watch them poke their little hands in between the seats and then over the seats to hold hands. In spite of their young age, you can see their love for each other.
We walk down the road. First, our neighbor's white dog greets us with a bark. Faith is unphased, Phillie just stares at him. The dog stays in the yard but barks the whole time we walk past. We come upon a horse, one of Faith's new loves. She babbles at it and motions for me to pick her up. I would love to, but I just can't. There is a 4 foot puddle and at least a 2 foot deep pile of snow between us and the fence. I walk on and Faith babbles and points at the cows as we pass them. I stop for a minute so she can look at the big bull. I'm surprised he is fenced in with all the cows, but I do realize its spring and some farmers prefer to try to let things happen the natural way before paying for science to help them out...or maybe this bull doesn't really bother the cows...in any case, we stop for a look, and then walk on.
About halfway up down 1800 E, I see a large black dog ahead. He is barking and begins to run towards the road where we are. I decide its probably best to turn around just in case he doesn't have the intention of being friendly.
When I turn around, I notice that under the stroller the whole time, etched deep in the mud, are tracks from horse shoes. Someone must have taken an early morning ride. How lovely. In this weather, I'm sure a horseback ride is a very pleasant activity. I follow the tracks, looking down at them and the grass beneath them and think about how lucky I am to be in this beautiful place. I look up at the mountains, still snow covered, with evergreen trees and think how wonderful it will be to be able to go camping this summer.
I pass the house on the corner. Its for sale and in our price range, but Jeff has said no. He isn't sure he wants to live in the same ward he grew up in. I walk around it to see what it looks like from every angle in the front, I'm not brave enough to walk around back.
Faith begins to whine. I realize she has seen the horse again and wants to go say hello. I walk around the front of the stroller and stroke her cheek and give her a kiss, promising that we will say hello when our way isn't blocked from the road. Phillie is out like a light, sleeping peacefully in the warm but cool, crisp weather. I smile at her. Faith looks over and begins to pat Phillie's little hand in an opening underneath the bar that separates their seats. She smiles up at me, I can see the tell-tale signs that she too is ready for another nap.
With that, I push the stroller back towards our current residence. I see my mother in law coming back from town. She turns down the lane and drives slowly over the mud. I stop to get the mail and notice all the birds dotting the sleeping trees. A robin sings a song and pheasants hide in the brush, thinking I can't see them. A big rooster stirs as I walk past him. He almost prepares himself to fly away, but calms and begins to be quiet again...if Jeff were here, he'd probably try to scare him out to get a better look at him.
I look at the huge trees that dot the lane and wonder when they will wake up from their winter slumber and begin to blossom. I walk a little slower, trying to soak this day, and this lovely weather in. I'm grateful for the return of spring, but mourn for the loss of the beautiful clean snow...
I only got a month and a half of winter. Most people would say I was lucky, and that Idaho winters are too long, but after being away from the changing seasons and missing them terribly, I don't mind it so much. I missed the snow. I missed waking up to a still, silent blanket of white covering the earth, making it clean and fresh.
I'm sure this isn't the last we've seen of winter white...generally in Idaho, we can expect snow clear through May...but its the last we will see it in vast quantities until December, after too long, any more snow that falls won't stick for longer than a day...
But then I remember, spring is coming. All the beautiful, tall trees on the lane with bud with blossoms and leaves, the ivy climbs up them will turn green again, and we can walk in the wooded area behind the house without having to navigate through snow that goes up to my hips. Everything will be new and fresh again...thanks to the winter chill.
Hugs and beautiful sights until next time darlings.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sugar and Spice
Its so odd to think of and watch the bittersweet changes that are happening in my house right now...most of them involve my Little Diva. She is starting to leave that "baby" phase behind completely. Lately, she seems happiest with a baby doll or stuffed animal to snuggle and a tutu on over her pants...and I've had to learn no to leave the comb out after I finish doing her hair because she decides to be SUPER helpful and comb her hair (in spite of the ponytail that I've just pulled it up into...) She is also completely in LOVE with necklaces. If mommy is wearing one, she INSISTS that I take it off and let her wear it. To combat this, I've purchased a bag of Mardi Gras bead necklaces at Desert Industries for $3. She kicked her legs and squealed with glee when I finally opened them after we bought them at D.I. and grabbed a silver and blue one and immediately tried to put it on (mommy ended up having to help her.)
She is turning into a little girl.
Part of me loves this. Its fun to watch her try to dance along with actors she sees on the screen in her favorite movies...if Hairspray is on, I've learned that I need to leave her a wide birth for dancing, or else we have bonked heads and tears.
Along with these changes comes a list of new frustrations, though. She still doesn't talk. Not even yes or no...once in a while, I think she knows that I am "mama" but then she will babble "mamamamama" over and over again, and I wonder if she just knows that I will respond when she makes that sound. Its frustrating for both of us. She is starting to get "big girl" desires, and she can't verbalize them to tell me what she wants. This leads to many frustrated tears for both of us. She has figured out simple things like: if she brings me the DVD she wants to watch I will put it on for her...but, that hasn't helped with our lunchtime meltdowns because she isn't ready to eat, or doesn't want what she sees...
I keep trying to have patience and have faith that her verbal skills will start to develop soon. She was a preemie, so I guess I just need to wait it out...but on the other hand, it doesn't stop me from being nervous that we need to talk about early diagnosis for things like Autism...I suppose at her 18 month appointment in April, her pediatrician will be able to tell us what we need to do. We try everything we can to get her to talk and help her learn words, but she just doesn't get it. We know she knows what words like "no" mean (her "big girl" temper tantrums when we say no would definitely be testament to that fact.) she just doesn't use them...
In other news...I had to pull out the 6-9 month clothes for Phillie this weekend...talk about a mamma ready to lose it and cry!
To add insult to injury, she was rolling around on the floor today and I looked away to read Faith a book and looked up to find her gumming Faith's cookies that she'd left on the floor...
Of course, I only looked up and over at her because she was crying...and why was she crying? The cookies she'd been gumming were almost completely disintegrated and gone...she was MAD! She wanted more chocolatey goodness...
Her chocolate covered mug and giant smile were probably a testament to the fact that she enjoyed herself thoroughly...
Well..I should go do some laundry...More recipes and reviews of recipe from my latest meal plan are coming...
Hugs and loves until next time, darlings.
She is turning into a little girl.
Part of me loves this. Its fun to watch her try to dance along with actors she sees on the screen in her favorite movies...if Hairspray is on, I've learned that I need to leave her a wide birth for dancing, or else we have bonked heads and tears.
Along with these changes comes a list of new frustrations, though. She still doesn't talk. Not even yes or no...once in a while, I think she knows that I am "mama" but then she will babble "mamamamama" over and over again, and I wonder if she just knows that I will respond when she makes that sound. Its frustrating for both of us. She is starting to get "big girl" desires, and she can't verbalize them to tell me what she wants. This leads to many frustrated tears for both of us. She has figured out simple things like: if she brings me the DVD she wants to watch I will put it on for her...but, that hasn't helped with our lunchtime meltdowns because she isn't ready to eat, or doesn't want what she sees...
I keep trying to have patience and have faith that her verbal skills will start to develop soon. She was a preemie, so I guess I just need to wait it out...but on the other hand, it doesn't stop me from being nervous that we need to talk about early diagnosis for things like Autism...I suppose at her 18 month appointment in April, her pediatrician will be able to tell us what we need to do. We try everything we can to get her to talk and help her learn words, but she just doesn't get it. We know she knows what words like "no" mean (her "big girl" temper tantrums when we say no would definitely be testament to that fact.) she just doesn't use them...
In other news...I had to pull out the 6-9 month clothes for Phillie this weekend...talk about a mamma ready to lose it and cry!
To add insult to injury, she was rolling around on the floor today and I looked away to read Faith a book and looked up to find her gumming Faith's cookies that she'd left on the floor...
Her chocolate covered mug and giant smile were probably a testament to the fact that she enjoyed herself thoroughly...
Well..I should go do some laundry...More recipes and reviews of recipe from my latest meal plan are coming...
Hugs and loves until next time, darlings.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Pizza Rolls
I am about to release to you all a HUGE family secret...our recipe passed down for a few generations for breadstick dough. I, however, use this dough not only for breadsticks, but for pizza dough and even used it in college to make loaves for Subway like sandwiches...it is very versatile.
It was discovered in one of my great grandmother's recipe books, handwritten. We don't know if she or my great-great grandmother wrote it down...
But everyone begs for it...and we usually say no.
However, I couldn't in good conscience share my pizza roll recipe without giving you the recipe...because its so darn easy and it would be a shame to tell you to go buy a bag of Rhodes rolls or a can of Pillsbury pizza dough when I know a cheaper, better, easier way....
So...with that preface...let's get started with the recipe for my homemade pizza rolls. My husband LOVES these. he was bummed last night that I only made a half a batch. I promised him that I would make a full batch and freeze them with the leftover mozzarella and pepperoni at the end of this two weeks so we can have them again and he can eat them until he is sick!
First and foremost...the dough recipe. If you make a full batch, you will end up with 14 rolls
1 1/2 c warm water
2 TBS yeast
2 TBS sugar
Let these ingredients sit together until the yeast bubbles. Then add"
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour (if you mix it with a wooden spoon, one cup at a time, you won't have to knead it. You will only need to bring the dough together so that it forms a uniform ball.)
Let this sit for 20 minutes to rise.
While its rising start THIS pizza sauce recipe (it is literally the BEST pizza sauce recipe I've ever found and the only one my husband likes.) The longer this sauce simmers, the better it tastes, so you want to start it now.
After you've started the sauce, you'll want to cut 14 squares of mozzarella cheese (or the cheese of your choice) they should be 1/2 inch cubes.
What I love about this recipe: Its a crowd pleaser, its simple, and it tastes like something you would get at a pizza joint, but its MUCH healthier because you can control the ingredients. I always use skim mozzarella and turkey pepperoni. For those of you wondering, you can TOTALLY use wheat flour for the bread dough (I did all through college). Its also not very messy. I can cut a roll up into pieces and my one year old can eat this without needing a bath afterwards because you can eat them without the sauce and they are still tasty (she devoured hers in minutes...I wish I'd thought and made the full recipe instead of half of it, because I'm sure she would have been happy to eat another one.)
Happy eatings!
Hugs and loves until next time, darlings!
It was discovered in one of my great grandmother's recipe books, handwritten. We don't know if she or my great-great grandmother wrote it down...
But everyone begs for it...and we usually say no.
However, I couldn't in good conscience share my pizza roll recipe without giving you the recipe...because its so darn easy and it would be a shame to tell you to go buy a bag of Rhodes rolls or a can of Pillsbury pizza dough when I know a cheaper, better, easier way....
So...with that preface...let's get started with the recipe for my homemade pizza rolls. My husband LOVES these. he was bummed last night that I only made a half a batch. I promised him that I would make a full batch and freeze them with the leftover mozzarella and pepperoni at the end of this two weeks so we can have them again and he can eat them until he is sick!
First and foremost...the dough recipe. If you make a full batch, you will end up with 14 rolls
1 1/2 c warm water
2 TBS yeast
2 TBS sugar
Let these ingredients sit together until the yeast bubbles. Then add"
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour (if you mix it with a wooden spoon, one cup at a time, you won't have to knead it. You will only need to bring the dough together so that it forms a uniform ball.)
Let this sit for 20 minutes to rise.
While its rising start THIS pizza sauce recipe (it is literally the BEST pizza sauce recipe I've ever found and the only one my husband likes.) The longer this sauce simmers, the better it tastes, so you want to start it now.
After you've started the sauce, you'll want to cut 14 squares of mozzarella cheese (or the cheese of your choice) they should be 1/2 inch cubes.
Next you want to take a small handful of dough (enough that you would make a 1 1/2-2 inch ball) flatten it in the middle, and then make a "sandwich" of 2 pepperoni pieces with the cheese in the middle. (If you want it to be vegetarian, you can, of course, skip the pepperoni)
Next, you want to pull the sides of the dough around the pepperoni and cheese, being careful not to make holes in the dough. Pinch all the sides together, and place them in a greased 9 inch pie pan with about a 1/4 inch space between each roll.
Next, take a knife and some soft butter and butter the tops of the raw dough rolls. (I know that looks like a lot of butter...I used it to top 4 of the rolls...)
Once all the rolls are in the pan and buttered, lightly sprinkle them with garlic powder, Italian seasoning (you could just use parsley if you don't like the taste of Italian seasoning), and parmesan cheese.
Bake them at 350 for 20-30 minutes (until they are golden on top) and Voila!
Serve them with the sauce! Just look at that cheesy deliciousness!
What I love about this recipe: Its a crowd pleaser, its simple, and it tastes like something you would get at a pizza joint, but its MUCH healthier because you can control the ingredients. I always use skim mozzarella and turkey pepperoni. For those of you wondering, you can TOTALLY use wheat flour for the bread dough (I did all through college). Its also not very messy. I can cut a roll up into pieces and my one year old can eat this without needing a bath afterwards because you can eat them without the sauce and they are still tasty (she devoured hers in minutes...I wish I'd thought and made the full recipe instead of half of it, because I'm sure she would have been happy to eat another one.)
Happy eatings!
Hugs and loves until next time, darlings!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2 weeks of dinners
My life has been a fury of insanity over these last few weeks. The Divine Cupcake has RSV, so I have had many sleep deprived days and sleepless nights...and the Little Diva is into EVERYTHING...she now knows the meaning of the word "no" (she still isn't talking) and throws a proper fit every time that she hears it and knows that we mean it...its so tough to be 1...
Because my days are so hectic, I am awfully glad that I take the time on 2 Saturdays a month to come up with 2 weeks of dinners so that I don't have to think about what to make...I happily can just look in the morning and voila! I am a dinner master!
I had some friends and family ask me if I would start posting my meal plans...I realize now that not everyone plans 2 weeks ahead and saving themselves from the dinner "blahs" can seem like an endless battle between "I'm too tired to cook" and "I have no time to come up with ANYTHING."
Don't worry darlings, I am here to help.
I am also doing Weight Watchers with a friend, so many of this set are Weight Watchers recipes, and if not, I have ways that I am planning to lighten them up. Here is the list of meals that my family will be using between yesterday and 2 weeks from yesterday with links to the recipes. If the recipe doesn't have a link, its my recipe and I will be loading the recipe (hopefully, with pictures) after I cook it...think of me as Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond, but not (I will never be as wicked awesome in the kitchen as she is...but I can pretend!)
Because my days are so hectic, I am awfully glad that I take the time on 2 Saturdays a month to come up with 2 weeks of dinners so that I don't have to think about what to make...I happily can just look in the morning and voila! I am a dinner master!
I had some friends and family ask me if I would start posting my meal plans...I realize now that not everyone plans 2 weeks ahead and saving themselves from the dinner "blahs" can seem like an endless battle between "I'm too tired to cook" and "I have no time to come up with ANYTHING."
Don't worry darlings, I am here to help.
I am also doing Weight Watchers with a friend, so many of this set are Weight Watchers recipes, and if not, I have ways that I am planning to lighten them up. Here is the list of meals that my family will be using between yesterday and 2 weeks from yesterday with links to the recipes. If the recipe doesn't have a link, its my recipe and I will be loading the recipe (hopefully, with pictures) after I cook it...think of me as Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond, but not (I will never be as wicked awesome in the kitchen as she is...but I can pretend!)
Meal Plan
Dinners:
2. Prosciutto
and Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
3. Vegetarian
Pitas
4. Slow
Cooker Tikka Masala: LINK * I have some changes in mind to this recipe. I will write about them after I've done it. :)
5. Chili
Lime Chicken LINK
6. Korean
BBQ LINK
7. Pizza
Rolls
8. Pasta
with Tomato Cream Sauce LINK
9. Honey
Lime Chicken Enchiladas LINK
10. Alice
Springs Chicken LINK
11.Cracker
Barrel Grilled Chicken
12. Da Vinci
Pasta LINK
13. Cowboy
Beans
14. Scooter’s Spaghetti LINK
I will post reviews of recipes, changes, and my recipes for this group as the 2 weeks go on.
Last night we had Scooter's Spaghetti. Its a favorite of my family. Not necessarily the most healthy of meals, but you could easily make it with ground turkey or chicken and cut the fat and I used the 1/3 less fat cream cheese instead of regular (its creamier and easier to mix anyway). Its fairly quick and easy, and most people will have all the ingredients on hand. If you have any type of pasta (I used egg noodles because we were out of spaghetti last night), cream cheese, and pasta sauce, you can make this dish...and EVERYONE will lick their plates clean. SO SO yummy...and super nice when you're in a pinch and need something fairly fast. We'd had a long day in Logan yesterday taking Cupcake to the doc and running errands, and we were BEAT when we got home. This recipe on my meal plan list was a total and complete GODSEND.
Bon Appetit, my darlings!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Writer's Block
I haven't written yet this week because, to be honest, life is pretty boring around here. I've been struggling trying to get my voice studio and photography studio up and running here...I did that one shoot and had a TON of likes to my Facebook page, but, alas, some chick here saw my prices and after I post a discount or ad in a public forum (like the yard sale and classified ads on Facebook) she immediately undercuts my price by $5-10, posting her ad minutes after seeing mine....still trying to figure out what to do...I've decided that I will wait until its warmer and do a call for portfolio models and do free shoots with 5-7 images on a disc in mini sessions and have them be all on one or two Saturdays at a pretty location here in Cache Valley. Hopefully, that can drum up some business...in the meantime, I will have 2 weddings to photograph (which I'm super excited about) and I have 1 count her ONE voice student...hopefully, my numbers will improve. I've thought about lowering my prices, but I will wait until summer. I think I may offer a summer voice lessons package or something...*sigh* the life of a stay at home mom who must do artsy things to feed her soul...LOL
Since I can't really think about much else to write about than the things that are irritating/inspiring me right now...I will give you a picture that will describe my life right now (since its worth a thousand words...)
Faith has decided that she likes being a girlie girl, she is happiest in a tutu and a necklace and Phillie has decided that teething sucks...and that's how I've been spending most of my days over the last week or two...
Oh...and the Little Diva even sits still for me to do her hair now...aren't I a lucky mommy?
Hugs and loves until next time, darlings!
Since I can't really think about much else to write about than the things that are irritating/inspiring me right now...I will give you a picture that will describe my life right now (since its worth a thousand words...)
Hugs and loves until next time, darlings!
Friday, February 8, 2013
Making Adjustments
Often times, it feels like life moves like you're on a high wire- 2 steps forward, one step back...carefully keeping balance as you go.
My life as of late has been this same way.
Moving back to Idaho was a rapid change, like riding a unicycle across a high wire (a unicycle that had been rigged for complete safe passage, but it still looks dangerous to the spectators.)
We're here, we're adjusting to life in my in-laws' house, and living out of boxes for an undefined amount of time.
Our original plan was that we would stay until April when a family member was going to have a house open up and we could rent it from them until we either decided to buy it from them or find something else, but that changed when my mother in law told us that she wanted us to stay longer. In fact, she said she wants us to stay as long as we want to.
While this offer is so humbling because there is so much love behind it, I know me. I know I will get tired of having to dig through boxes to find something I'm missing, and I know that I need my own space. Its hard to live in someone else's house and not know if something you're doing is going to upset them because its not the way that they would do it.
So, we went house hunting...however, we made the mistake of going house hunting before we'd been pre-approved for financing, so we really didn't know what we'd qualify for. We are fortunate because Idaho does have a home loan program that allows the buyer to pay 0 down and, if they make arrangements with the seller, include closing costs in the cost of the loan.
We thought we'd found "the house". It wasn't EVERYTHING we were looking for, but it was perfect for what we absolutely needed and for the price it was better than anything we'd been looking at so far. We were so sure that we would be approved for enough to buy this house because we'd talked to people that have this same loan and because we'd talked to a real estate agent who frequently deals with them...well, we didn't account for the fact that our student loan debts would put us $100 a month in bills OVER the amount that we would be allowed to have in bills to qualify for enough to purchase the house.
Dejected, we left the loan office finding that we would be qualified for $20,000 LESS than we would need to get the house. We didn't even take the application because we needed to regroup and figure out what we were doing.
Bless my husband's heart. He called the family member with the house immediately because he felt it was our next best option.
I had been hesitant to purchase this family member's house. Not because I think it is a lemon or that it is unkempt The outside is actually beautiful...the big problem is that its only 2 bedroom, and as we would need to be in the house for a while, I worry about having room to expand our family.
There were tears. Tears because I was sad to miss out on the house that we'd found, and tears because I thought it was all my fault. Most of the debt we are in is because of my student loans.
Of course, even though I was trying to hide my tears, Jeff is astute. When I mentioned this thought to him he, in essence, told me to shut my mouth. My education is a huge blessing, even if I'm not using it to contribute much to our family income right now (still trying to get my studio up and running again, its slow, but I have made some progress and have a few confirmed students. I'm also having some luck with my photography business. See my latest shoot HERE. I think it turned out SUPER CUTE!) He reminded me of the fact that if anything bad ever happened to him, we would need it and he's glad I have it. Also, because of the education I have, I am blessed with the opportunity to stay home with my babies and make money doing things like my voice studio and photography.
I've spent the week focusing on blessings that we have in our lives right now. We are so blessed to be back in Idaho, close to family and in the area that we love. We are blessed to have a roof over our heads and wonderful family members who have been willing to help us out in so many ways, and most of all, we are blessed to have one another.
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.
Maybe "the house" wasn't "the house"....perhaps we are being spared from some major financial hardships? Maybe, if it had worked, a week or so after the sale was final the plumbing could have gone out, or there could have been a flood, or something horrible would have happened that wouldn't have been covered by our insurance and we wouldn't have been able to afford the repairs without going deeper into debt...maybe one of our kids could have gotten hurt in the neighborhood...you never know why things happen, but if my life has taught me anything its this:
We can have all the plans in the world for ourselves, but they will NEVER be as good as Heavenly Father's plans for us.
So...we adapt...its a heck of a lot easier than letting Him drag us kicking and screaming from one blessing to the next. I'd rather walk along side Him and trust His judgement.
So...we are adapting. Making plans and waiting to see how they pan out. We are going house hunting again this weekend and looking in the price point that we were given at the loan office and we are working on filling out the application since it could take a while to get full approval for the loan...and we're making decisions. If we don't find anything we like, then we are planning on moving forward with the purchase of our family member's house. We have been told that renovations may be possible using the loan money if we can make it fall under the category of "repairs". The loan officer seems very willing to help make that happen...so, we add on a room or two onto the back of the house (since the family member is willing to cut us a deal on it and we would have enough money leftover to do something like that.), and have room to expand and grow into the house and add equity to the house in the process. That way, when we are ready to find our "dream house" we can have some actual money for that dream house...
Everything is still up in the air...and that is okay. Since God is the one in charge, that is probably for the best. Sometimes having no plans is the best plan that you can make. It leaves you open to possibilities, and the opportunity to see what He has in store for you if you're willing to work with Him.
Hugs and loves until next time darlings!
My life as of late has been this same way.
Moving back to Idaho was a rapid change, like riding a unicycle across a high wire (a unicycle that had been rigged for complete safe passage, but it still looks dangerous to the spectators.)
We're here, we're adjusting to life in my in-laws' house, and living out of boxes for an undefined amount of time.
Our original plan was that we would stay until April when a family member was going to have a house open up and we could rent it from them until we either decided to buy it from them or find something else, but that changed when my mother in law told us that she wanted us to stay longer. In fact, she said she wants us to stay as long as we want to.
While this offer is so humbling because there is so much love behind it, I know me. I know I will get tired of having to dig through boxes to find something I'm missing, and I know that I need my own space. Its hard to live in someone else's house and not know if something you're doing is going to upset them because its not the way that they would do it.
So, we went house hunting...however, we made the mistake of going house hunting before we'd been pre-approved for financing, so we really didn't know what we'd qualify for. We are fortunate because Idaho does have a home loan program that allows the buyer to pay 0 down and, if they make arrangements with the seller, include closing costs in the cost of the loan.
We thought we'd found "the house". It wasn't EVERYTHING we were looking for, but it was perfect for what we absolutely needed and for the price it was better than anything we'd been looking at so far. We were so sure that we would be approved for enough to buy this house because we'd talked to people that have this same loan and because we'd talked to a real estate agent who frequently deals with them...well, we didn't account for the fact that our student loan debts would put us $100 a month in bills OVER the amount that we would be allowed to have in bills to qualify for enough to purchase the house.
Dejected, we left the loan office finding that we would be qualified for $20,000 LESS than we would need to get the house. We didn't even take the application because we needed to regroup and figure out what we were doing.
Bless my husband's heart. He called the family member with the house immediately because he felt it was our next best option.
I had been hesitant to purchase this family member's house. Not because I think it is a lemon or that it is unkempt The outside is actually beautiful...the big problem is that its only 2 bedroom, and as we would need to be in the house for a while, I worry about having room to expand our family.
There were tears. Tears because I was sad to miss out on the house that we'd found, and tears because I thought it was all my fault. Most of the debt we are in is because of my student loans.
Of course, even though I was trying to hide my tears, Jeff is astute. When I mentioned this thought to him he, in essence, told me to shut my mouth. My education is a huge blessing, even if I'm not using it to contribute much to our family income right now (still trying to get my studio up and running again, its slow, but I have made some progress and have a few confirmed students. I'm also having some luck with my photography business. See my latest shoot HERE. I think it turned out SUPER CUTE!) He reminded me of the fact that if anything bad ever happened to him, we would need it and he's glad I have it. Also, because of the education I have, I am blessed with the opportunity to stay home with my babies and make money doing things like my voice studio and photography.
I've spent the week focusing on blessings that we have in our lives right now. We are so blessed to be back in Idaho, close to family and in the area that we love. We are blessed to have a roof over our heads and wonderful family members who have been willing to help us out in so many ways, and most of all, we are blessed to have one another.
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.
Maybe "the house" wasn't "the house"....perhaps we are being spared from some major financial hardships? Maybe, if it had worked, a week or so after the sale was final the plumbing could have gone out, or there could have been a flood, or something horrible would have happened that wouldn't have been covered by our insurance and we wouldn't have been able to afford the repairs without going deeper into debt...maybe one of our kids could have gotten hurt in the neighborhood...you never know why things happen, but if my life has taught me anything its this:
We can have all the plans in the world for ourselves, but they will NEVER be as good as Heavenly Father's plans for us.
So...we adapt...its a heck of a lot easier than letting Him drag us kicking and screaming from one blessing to the next. I'd rather walk along side Him and trust His judgement.
So...we are adapting. Making plans and waiting to see how they pan out. We are going house hunting again this weekend and looking in the price point that we were given at the loan office and we are working on filling out the application since it could take a while to get full approval for the loan...and we're making decisions. If we don't find anything we like, then we are planning on moving forward with the purchase of our family member's house. We have been told that renovations may be possible using the loan money if we can make it fall under the category of "repairs". The loan officer seems very willing to help make that happen...so, we add on a room or two onto the back of the house (since the family member is willing to cut us a deal on it and we would have enough money leftover to do something like that.), and have room to expand and grow into the house and add equity to the house in the process. That way, when we are ready to find our "dream house" we can have some actual money for that dream house...
Everything is still up in the air...and that is okay. Since God is the one in charge, that is probably for the best. Sometimes having no plans is the best plan that you can make. It leaves you open to possibilities, and the opportunity to see what He has in store for you if you're willing to work with Him.
Hugs and loves until next time darlings!
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