68 one day, 40 with snow another

Snow, yes it is beautiful to look at with the gleaming Christmas lights, and it's fun to see kids have fun in it (I used to have fun in it, especially when my brother's sled would hit a tree - that was funny, he wouldn't steer out of the way!), but I really dislike it.  Driving in it stinks, other people not knowing how to drive in it stinks, and the next day when it's all gray and black and dirty looking, it stinks.  Also, I help people who have auto accidents as my profession, so while I enjoy helping each and every one of them that needs my help, this gets to be quite the busy/stressful time of year at work.  I just hope I can help everyone thru the process and remind them that a car is just a car and as long as they're okay, then everything will be a-ok.

So what does this have to do with food?  Nada!  I made a great dinner tonight if I do say so myself, but am on the couch now resting and relaxing for what I know will be a busy week, especially after being down last week with the stomach bug.  I will post the recipes and pictures of my meals tomorrow, along possibly with some icksnowick pics;) 

Also tomorrow, since I received all of my supplies, I must start my Christmas cards and also continue working on my Christmas scrapbook.  I'm taking pictures as I go, so I'm just kinda writing down, or journaling, as I go as well, and then when I have the pictures printed, I will put it all together.  I follow not only alot of cooking blogs, but also alot of scrapbooking blogs, and I've learned so many techniques, designs, and just to go for it - I've always been afraid to use too many colors or papers/textures overlapping eachother, but I know I need to get over that and just go!  I can't wait to see what happens!

Talk to you all tomorrow:)  If you have to drive in the snow, drive slowly and be mindful of the other drivers out there:)

Christmas time is here...and it's 68 degrees out

Nope, I do not live in CA...strange weather we're having, but it's supposed to get chillier and maybe even a little snow may fall Saturday evening...yuck. Double yuck to still having my stomach bug. Woke up this morning, no temp, pale, but that's alright. Showered, got ready, and decided I should eat something before I left the house - grapes. Not smart. I've had a few "emptying's" today if you will, so I'm hoping I'm getting it all out and I can make to at least one day of work this week!!!

Just for Sharyn, here's my Advent Calendar I made over this past week - what else can you do while sick - sleep, take meds, bathroom, sleep more, craft alittle:) I owe even knowing how to do and make this to Melissa as I pretty much just copied her format, using my own supplies;)  I used the cardboard back of a 12x12 book of paper that I had as the backing, and then glued red cardstock on it.  I then used a regular hole puncher, punched 2 holes, and put ribbon thru, tying knots in the back on each side, so I could hang it.

I then cut green squares, at whatever size I wanted, but that would fit, and then squares to go on top of those with whatever Christmas paper I had laying around.  I glued those smaller squares onto the green ones and then attached the #'s, and again whatever #'s I had laying around.  I then wrote either something for us to do, pray for, or discuss, on the back of each one, and tacked it to the cardboard.  Each day, whether it be at dinner or some other random time, we flip it over and complete what it says on the back.  It's a nice bonding experience:)

Back to the couch and jug of gingerale for me...have a great Thursday!  Oh, and if you're wondering why I sounds some cheerful even though I feel yucky, it's because I'm being positive not only for myself, but others:)

"Wicked Cheap Wednesday's" - Volume 1

- photo care of kraftfoods.com

Thank the husband for this title and idea;) This time of year, well really anytime of year, everyone really tries to cut corners, right? Maybe because of all the crazy gift shopping for people, or even the extra grocery store trips for parties, donating to food pantries, etc, is why we really try to cut down the weekly grocery bill this time of year. I introduce "Wicked (it's a Massachusett's thing) Cheap Wednesday's" where I will do my best to post affordable and non-nasty meals to make that will hopefully leave you with a full belly, and maybe even some leftovers for the next day's lunch or dinner!

My first pick - Kraft Magazine's (I'll get to this, too) Baked Pizza Mac. Sounds awesome, right? Well it is!

You will need:

• 8 oz of your fave spaghetti or pizza sauce
• 1 7.25 oz package of mac and cheese - prepared as directed on the package
• 1 lb ground beef, cooked
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
  
• 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Combine prepared mac and cheese dinner, 2/3 of the meat, and about 3/4 of the spaghetti sauce, egg, and seasonings. Spoon this mixture evenly into a 9 inch pie plate (or I've even used a 9x13 inch pan). Top with the remaining meat and 1/4 spaghetti sauce; sprinkle with cheese...and yes, of course, add crushed red pepper if your guy/girl is like my guy:)

Bake for 15 minutes, then let stand/cool for 5.

For the 2 of us, this usually lasts one full dinner and either lunch or one of our dinner's the next night. I usually serve it with a garden salad and garlic bread if there's a brand on sale that week:)

This recipe costs, without trying to break down and figure out how much 1/2 cup a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese costs, 8 oz of spaghetti sauce, etc about $9.50 if you already have the egg, dried basil leaves, and garlic powder. If not, it's worth it to buy those items because you can use those ingredients in so many other things! Here's the breakdown I came up with:

• spaghetti sauce - store brand - $1.50 - and you'll have plenty left over for other meals
  
• mac and cheese - $.50 - store brand
• hamburg - around $5.00
• mozz cheese - $2.50/bag store brand

Throw in the salad and maybe some garlic bread, and add on about another $5. Hopefully you already have the salad items as part of your grocery list weekly anyhow....you do, right??

**You don't know how many times I've been planning my weekly meal/grocery list and felt stumped. What do I do, go to my Kraft Magazine. I began subscribing before it cost anything, but when I got the mailing stating it was going to cost money, of course I was alittle annoyed. When I saw that I could get two years, so eight magazines at least (as it comes out quarterly and then sometimes special issues, plus a free cookbook) for $17.98, I definitely felt it was worth it. The magazine comes with great recipes of all types - crockpot, dinners, desserts, sides, appetizers, you name it, plus coupons and even helpful lists like what to always have in your pantry. I'm sold! I suggest that you all subscribe to this, or at least peruse their website to see if you like the recipes and feel it be worth it for you to subscribe.

Dinner time here - today I ate an egg, toast, and some grapes without having to see them again, if you get what I mean:) Tonight I'm going to try to eat some dry turkey and potatoes, so wish me luck!! And OH - if I can keep my dinner down, I can't wait to watch Top Chef tonight! Go Jennifer!

Oy vay!

Sick again! This time a stomach bug - toast isn't even my friend, so recipes may be on hold...have a nice rocking headache going on too:(

Started with a stomach ache Friday night (I thought b/c I ate Wendy's, which usually doesn't upset my stomach) but then the same Sat. and Sun nights - I blamed it on cherry coke. Monday morning = disaster that continued all day and night...today, the toast has stayed down so far, so I'm so happy:)

I'm so sorry for this gross nasty post about my illness - I swear, no more! Anyways, just wanted to give you all a heads up! The really gross stuff seems to be working its way out, so I'm hoping it's a quick bug and I'll be back to normal and posting recipes tomorrow:)

Oh, I guess I can post some get better remedies - toast of course, crackers, and gingerale/lots of fluids in general. I'm sure you all knew this though:) Leave me comments of any other stomach bug remedies you know of - oh and also I've had tums and peptol bismal.

Another crockpot success - pulled pork!

So, today went, well, interestingly - is that a word?? Anyhow, the homemade Christmas card design I had in my head was a bust, so I had extra time to spend making sure the pulled pork came out just right;) This is an adaptation of a recipe actually taught to me by my husband (thanks babe!) - so easy, smells good, and we'll have enough for leftover sandwiches for a few days :)

You will need:

1 pork roast shoulder or butt - we used the butt tonight, and ours was 3.75 lbs bone in
1 white onion, chopped
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tbsps yellow mustard
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
1-2 cups bbq sauce
hamburger or bulky rolls - any kind of roll really that you will enjoy this gloppy mess on
your preferred kind of sliced cheese - we used American cheese from the Stop and Shop deli

Let pork defrost, if frozen, overnight. It takes about 40 minutes to prep, and 8 hours on low to cook in the crockpot, so if you want to be having dinner by 6:30pm, start at about 9am (this is on a Sunday where I can sleep till 9am, not 5:45!!).

Ready to start, let's go! Cut pork off of the bone and into chunks, about 3 inches long, but really the chunk size doesn't matter as long as they are not too big. Place pork into your slow cooker. Add onion, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper.



Cook on low 8 hours OR after 3.5 hours on low, put on high for 2 more hours = 5.5 hours.

Use a fork and knife to shred the pork inside the crockpot. If it had too much liquid, strain in a strainer. Stir in bbq sauce and any other additives you may like - for us, we use, of course, crushed red pepper:)



Now scoop the mixture into your roll, cover with cheese and enjoy with your favorite side - honey glazed carrots, chips, salad, whatever you would like:)

Thank you to my husband for introducing this lovely meal to me many years ago:)

Now, back to fuming about the cards, some tollhouse pie (thanks mom!), and checking and checking the papersource site to see when my shipment is coming;)

One more post before I REALLY start to make cards;)

Omelets! Who wants to know how to make them? I learned from a girl I used to work with (thanks, Penny!) just by discussing them one day. Here is what I do:

Depending on the size of the omelet you want to make, and err, the size of the belly you're feeding, crack either 2 or 3 eggs into a small bowl and add about 2 tbsps milk (I eyeball it). Wisk together and let sit for a bit. Prepare anything you want to go inside the omelet - today for us was breakfast sausage, green pepper, white onion, and cheddar cheese, but alot of time I use deli ham and red pepper as well.



Heat a small frying pan (we use the fry pan given to us as a part of our camping weekend getaway gift from Melissa and Matt - it's the perfect size!) on medium heat. When heated, spray with Pam (I use the olive oil one). Add the egg/milk mixture and make sure the entire bottom of the pan is covered. Let cook about 5 minutes, then add the yummyness that will make up the inside, usually adding the meat first (I pre-cooked the sausage in the microwave), then veggies, then cheese. Let cook until the cheese has melted.





When you are able to lift the omelet from the pan and it doesn't look runny or like it's going to crumble, that is when it's time to fold it, so one side is on top of the other. When one side is turned on top of the other, the side should look browned so you know it is cooked thru.



So yummy, and so easy. I wouldn't go eating these everyday, but they are perfect for "Sunday big breakfast" as we like to call it:) Hey, I always make sure we have a fruit with it;)



Thank you Lauren for the apple corer, one of my fave bridal shower gifts:)

Black weekend

So how did everyone's Black Friday/Saturday go? I ventured out about 3pm on Friday for just a quick trip to Kohls and was pleasantly surprised at 1. the parking spaces available and 2. the sales still available - woohoo! I got a couple of gifts for people, but mostly some decor for us. Our Christmas season "theme" this year if you may is "Believe" so I was thrilled when I came across this Believe decor item to display in our living room - More decoration pictures to follow later today as I always seems to find time to blog numerous times on Sunday - oops! ;)

I then ventured out again later that night, about 7:30, to Michael's for a few more things, like the bulbs that go in the village houses. The village is my favorite holiday decoration, and boy was I mad when, after the husband took out all the decor - thanks babe! - I found one of the lightbulbs had shattered and when I touched it it shocked me good! And yes, the whole set of them was plugged in and on at the time - don't do what I did!! I also was out on a mission to find a dress for the annual holiday party that myself and , aka Melissa, throw every year. After about 30 dresses and 2 hours of shopping, I had it and went home and put up some more decorations, pics to come:)

I ventured out again Saturday about 10am to our local mall and the parking lot was jam packed! I actually ended up parking in the parking lot of the plaza next to the mall!! But here, I was able to get some great shopping done for my family, and I finally found a dress for the party! http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=423803&CategoryID=22120 - sorry, it wouldn't let me copy the picture but um, I got it on sale;)

Next I was off to Homegoods where there WERE parking spots in their actual lot, yippee! I got so much great stuff here!!! I hope the recipients love what I got them:) Then it was back to Michael's for some more garland with lights and homeward bound I went, with a salad and smoothie from Panera too;)

Did I stop there? Oh no, I then went on to get 1/2 of my gifts from amazon.com - I can't post what they are just yet b/c some of the recipients read here, but let's just say they are great for each individual person:) I wish I could give them to them now:)

So, overall my Black Weekend was a huge success - only the tree left to get/decorate, while watching Christmas Vacation of course, a few more gifts to buy, alot more to make, cards to make, food to make for the party, a night out to see Bob Saget...wait, I guess I have alot more to do than I thought...but I love this time of year:)

And yes, I do remember this is a cooking blog - recipes to come soon:)

Enjoy your Sunday everyone!!!