Weekend Cooking: Pinterest. The start of a funny dialogue.

The other evening, we were just sitting around the living room watching tv and winding down from our day. Baby Girl was perusing Pinterest when all of a sudden she said, "Mama, look at this..." Well this continued for what felt like 5,000 times, but I'm pretty sure I maybe exaggerating just a tad. Finally I said, "make a new board, and I'll take a look, all at once."

I promise, Mom. I will be patient

When I saw that my Mom had re-posted the following on Facebook, I had to immediately call her and tell her, "I promise, Mom. I will be patient." Then, in true ass-of-a-daughter form, I brought up an incident (of which she knew well), and said "I've been practicing for years." She laughed... Gosh, I love her laugh.

Be Careful Where You Get Your Inspiration

Hi guys. It seems like forever since we got together. In blog years, it has been. Well it's great to see you and thank you for coming.

Don't you just love Pinterest? I was perusing earlier, as I'm wont to do when looking for inspiration. You know - supper ideas, how to incorporate peanut butter and chocolate into just about any sinfully decadent concoction you can imagine, how to bedazzle sweat pants. The list goes on. and. on.

A person can find so many terrific ideas over there. It's like the MacGyver how-to manual for us mere mortals. (If you're too young to know who MacGyver is, he was a good guy (played by Richard Dean Anderson) from 80s TV who could blow shit up with little more than chewing gum and a piece of shoelace.)

Check out what he does with a paperclip:



For example, ever have the little button come up through the hole on your flip-flop? I saw the craftiest fix for such a dilemma that uses a bread closer. Ingenious! Not exactly the same as saving the world from the bad guys. But dude, anyone who's had a flip-flop break while they're walking KNOWS what I'm talking about. It's a god-awful feeling as your foot drags THROUGH the shoe as the little toe-thong is no longer doing its ONE job and the feeling of doom that occurs simultaneously.

As winter is digging it's nasty cold claws into Wisconsin via autumn, it'll be a while before I'm reunited with my favorite footwear again. But I digress. There was a bookish idea in my head when I clicked on "new post". *retracing virtual steps...* It's gone for the moment, and I really have to go to the grocery store. Dang family wants to eat again today. I JUST FED THEM yesterday!

Oooh. Funny story. So I saw a clip of the Honey Boo Boo show online in which they were making sketti. Mama's family recipe was to mix ketchup and butter (margarine) for the sauce. Needless to say, I was intrigued. I had some leftover naked pasta in the fridge. And ketchup. And margarine! Bam. I'm going to whip up a Honey Boo Boo snack. How can it be bad? Southern food is generally pretty dang delicious. So I proceed with the "recipe" the best I can recall (LOL). It didn't SMELL bad...I sat on the couch to watch the last few minutes of Two Broke Girls with the family.

Baby girl: "what's that?"
Me: "some leftover noodles. Want a bite?"

She made a face as if I'd just fed her a cat turd! She said with noodles hanging from her tongue, "WHAT IS THAT?" I replied calmly, "Honey Boo Boo sketti. Why? Don't you like it?" She didn't care for it, to put it mildly. But then, here's the kicker, she said, "I thought it was caramel and buttered noodles!" What?! Caramel and buttered noodles? Seriously?! I've never prepared that for her. Ever.

Here's the clip of the episode as I saw it:



I really need to get to the store and buy some popcorn and normal snacks. Oh, and something for supper.

The real moral of this diatribe is this. Be careful where you get your inspiration.

Talk to you soon,
Angela

A Dish To Pass: Taco Salad

This week has totally gotten away from me. Where did it go, I wonder?

Last Saturday, we were invited to a party celebrating Hubby's cousin getting married in Vegas last November. It was so much fun. The happy couple supplied the burgers and brats, and the invited guests were asked to bring a dish to pass. Oh. My. Gosh. Such great food! Potluck parties are the best. There's always great variety, and nobody has to do a crazy amount of work.

Lora, the bride, bought these cool inflatable salad bars to keep the salads cold. Best invention ever! I, of course, didn't take a picture at the party, but here it is with the link to  the website where you can buy one.

Inflatable Salad Bar from Carol Wright

It was expected to be pretty warm so I decided to make a taco salad that my daughter absolutely loves. There's no mayo in it, so I thought it would be pretty safe for an outdoor get-together (and I didn't know about the handy salad bar keeping everything nice and chilled).

I actually had never eaten this taco salad before I met my husband. And it's still not one of my absolute favorites, but everyone else seems to LOVE it. And as an added bonus, it's pretty inexpensive.

Here's the recipe if you'd care to try it. 

Taco Salad

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1/2 head lettuce, chopped
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
2 tomatoes, chopped
8 oz. grated Cheddar
1 lg. bag of Nacho Cheese flavored tortilla chips, crushed into bite-sized pieces
8 oz. of french dressing*

Brown hamburger and add seasoning according to package directions. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Toss the vegetables and cheese. Just before serving, mix in the cooled meat and dressing. Add the chips last. Toss and serve.

My green peppers weren't quite ready so I used these beautiful banana and jalapenos that were ready.

Here's the finished product. I took the pics with my phone so they're not quite as good as I would like.

*Here's my recipe for French Dressing

1/4 c. vinegar
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. ketchup
squeeze of lemon juice
2 Tbls. water
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. celery seed
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
chopped onion, to taste

Mix in bottle and shake well. Store in the refrigerator. Makes about 1-1/3 cups.

Have a great weekend!
Talk to you soon.
Angela
 
 
 
 

Hey Padre, This is for You!

I love you so stinkin' much, Dad.

Life Lessons

You may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.

Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The woman I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.

I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.

By Joanna Fuchs

 Love,
Ang
 
 
 
 

A Quick Hello and Weekend Update

This past weekend was terrifically-crazy-busy. It was a weekend chock full of family, eating, fun, more eating, more fun....And card-playing.

My parents and Grandma came down from Up North. ("Up North" here in Wisconsin can pretty much mean anything from an hour to 8 hours North of where you are). Anyway my Man-child was here, my Brother and his family, Baby Girl of course...It was a full house, a VERY full house. I wish I had gotten some photos, but I don't think I could have raised my arms with a camera in my hands. It was that packed. (hee, hee) And completely fantastic!

The fun actually started Thursday when I took Baby Girl to take her driver's test. It seems like only yesterday I was strapping her into a car seat for crying out loud! Where has the time gone?
She passed! Good for her, a new level of anxiety for me...My heart races every time I hear a siren when she's out. UGH! Hubby says he just feels OLD. I told him that's because he is. Is that insensitive? Nah, I thought not.

Real nice. She gets that behavior from her Father.

On cloud nine after passing and waiting for her number to be called

My new chauffeur

The weather has changed to spring-y. And well, my tulips I planted in the fall here at the new place (The Move chronicled here and here) have begun to poke their little baby heads up. And my chives. And its 64 degrees here today, so I really want to get back outside. I mentioned last week in my Top Ten Tuesday post my love for gardening. I don't know how long it's going to take to get the crud from under my fingernails, but who cares?!

Baby Tulip. The photos were taken before they were watered.

Baby chives.

I have a ton more bookish things to write about. But it'll have to wait until a little later. I have a date with some dirt.

Love you guys. Thanks for stopping by,
Angela
 
 
 
 

A Bucket List and the 2012 Daytona 500

The ominous clouds that would postpone the race

As I mentioned before, Hubby is out of town working in Florida. My NASCAR-loving hubby. So while he was only 2 hours away from Daytona, he and Jason jumped at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work some extra hours to purchase tickets to the 2012 Daytona 500. THE NASCAR race that kicks off each season.

This year marked the 54th year of the event, and wouldn't you know it, it also marked the first time EVER of being postponed! The rain just wouldn't let up. It worked out ok for guys that were in awe and wonderment of finally being at THE RACE. They decided to stay in Daytona overnight and crash in the truck rather than spend the money on fuel and waste the time driving back and forth from Lakeland.

They weren't permitted to stay in the parking lot at the Speedway, but thank goodness they weren't too far from a Walmart parking lot. Other race-goers had the same idea. The party continued.

The Daytona 500 hotel

The next day they were plagued with rain again, postponing the race until 7 pm. The delay allowed the chance them to look around.

Here is a bronze of Dale Earnhardt's gloves and "lucky" penny. Hubby told me to look up the story of the penny. I'm glad I did.

It was 1998, and Dale's 20th attempt to win at Daytona when Wessa Miller, a six-year old girl with spina bifida, gave a penny to Earnhardt before the race. He won the race that day and he secretly glued the penny to his dashboard. And little Wessa Miller became known as the "Lucky Penny Girl."

Events of the 2001 Daytona 500  would forever change the history of NASCAR. And has been appropriately been named Black Sunday. On the final lap of the race, Earnhardt was in third place, effectively blocking for his drivers ahead. Going into turn 4, he lost control of his car and collected Ken Schrader in a head-on collision with the wall. He was killed instantly from a basilar skull fracture. It is known as the darkest day in NASCAR history. His untimely death ushered in a new era of safety precautions. Hubby says that Earnhardt's spirit is still palpable at the track.

Another first for the Daytona race in that it marked the first televised prime-time running of the race. 

Their seats were in the Turn 2 section. The second picture shows the Thunderbirds lining up as seen from their bird's-eye view.

  

There were a lot of "exciting" crashes. Exciting only because nobody was injured. And definitely a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that he will not soon (if ever) forget.

The race won by Matt Kenseth (his second Daytona win). Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished 2nd, and Greg Biffle finished 3rd.

Thank you for letting me share this with you.
Talk to you soon,
Angela
 
 
 
 

Sundays are for Family

Baby Girl and I went to my brother's house for dinner today. His lovely wife made the most delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings. The turkey was so stinkin' juicy! She's from the South and KNOWS how to cook. Man, are we lucky! Getting together as a family at least one day a week is not a new idea. But I think we often forget it. Pick a day. That day is for family. Period. Next week is my turn to cook. I can't wait for another fantastic day!

Have a great week.

Angela

I Write Lists

I write lists. It helps me to organize my day. And lets me show the rest of the family what the heck I've done. I know you SOOO do that too. OK maybe you don't. But when you do things not on your list, do you add them so you can cross them off? I do.

I seriously think that they (the family) think I eat bon-bons all day long! It doesn't help that I say that the bon bons don't eat themselves! It happens...

Anywho...I was expecting it to rain/snow today. It was stinkin' gorgeous! So I quick washed laundry, hung it out, and wouldn't you know it? It started to RAIN! February. Wisconsin. NOT SUPPOSED TO RAIN!!! I OUUUUGTA (the middle finger is sooo UP at Mother Nature!).

I had to rush out to take the clothes off the line and put them in the dad-gum dryer anyway!!!

Hello...I had book stuff to write about! UGH. Laundry was NOT even on my list. I added it. And. And. I crossed it OFF!

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my rant. I love you for that.

Happy reading,
Angela
 
 :
 

Hugs and Kisses and Chocolate. Oh, My!

Got any big plans with your sweetie for Valentine's Day? Did you plan the perfect romantic evening? Or are you the guy/girl that picks up the Convenience Store flowers on the way home? Hubby's still in Florida, so it's just me and Baby Girl tonight. Maybe we'll rent a chick flick and order a pizza. Actually, that sounds pretty darn great. Seen any good chick flicks lately? I'm open to suggestions.


Why do we save our expressions of love for one day a year? I was perusing a copy of 1001 Ways to Be Romantic by Gregory J.P. Godek one day at the library, and one of his suggestions was to celebrate your whatever-day anniversary. Well he had done the math for 10 and 25 years, but I had to do it myself for 18 plus the odd days. So I sent a Happy 6,589-days anniversary text. I was thinking romantic. He thought I was bored! LOL. Still makes me giggle.







Have you seen Google's doodle today? It's stinkin' adorable! It conveys a powerful anti-consumerism message and a celebration of love in all its forms. Michael Lipman, the doodle's co-animator, completed the project in just three weeks. An animation of this length would normally take nine or ten weeks. Tony Bennett singing Cold, Cold Heart in the background adds just the right touch.





Have a fantastic day.

Lots of love,
Angela
 
 
 
 

Apologies to You My Faithful Reader

One of the great bloggers have said to NEVER apologize for an absence. I can't do it. I have to do it. I have to apologize. I'M SORRY (not yelling, just really sorry).

I've been dressed like a lumberjack for the last couple of weeks while I shovel out from Mother Nature's latest dump. I'd love to tell her to lay off the fiber, but well, she's not listening. And all of a sudden she'd like to melt the piles of shit and make a muddy, sloppy CRAP HOLE! And she did. My dog, a water-cold-hot hating, cheese-loving, Boston Terrier is happy to sit in the mud instead of the snow...ugh. Bath tonight. Did I mention his disdain for water?

Hubby is out of town in sunny Florida helping to build a zoo that is scheduled to open in March. He left (me to do everything here) a couple of days after Christmas. I am in charge of snow removal, only if Baby Girl and I want to open the door or back out the driveway...we kinda do. His elderly parents live a couple of miles away as well. Yep. I GOT THIS (in my best George Lopez impression...not so good if you're wondering).

Apparently the fire ants are on a mission in Lakeland. A mission to bite the shit out of the guys from Wisconsin! I wish I could show you pics of the death trap he went down there in. It's about as old as I am. It's a vintage motorhome born in 1978. It was a crap shoot if it would make it the 1,200 miles where it needed to get, but it did. Hubby and Jason call it home. I'll have to get some visuals for you, shag carpeting and all...

Completely off the subject, I unpacked a box of photos recently and found my absolute fav pic of hubby and I. Here it is:

I love you, faithful reader, and thank you for stopping by my little neck of the internet...

Happy reading,
Angela

A Bookish Quote

"My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter." ~ Thomas Helm

This quote sooo reminds me of my Baby Girl. When she was little, watching her Disney movies, I noticed she would keep rewinding them (yes, they were VHS). I HAD to figure out why the heck she was doing that.

It all became very clear after she received Mary Poppins from Grandma and Grandpa that year for her birthday. She watched the whole darn thing all the way through. ONCE. After that, she would rewind it a ways back when she knew the end was coming. I asked her why she was doing that. She replied very matter-of-factly that she wasn't through watching it so she couldn't watch the end yet. It wouldn't have been so bad except for the fact she watched that SAME movie over and over for a lonnnng time. *shudder* I would occasionally have to hide a movie for a bit to retain the smidge of sanity that I started with.

Great. Juuuust a spoon-ful of sugar helps the med-i-cine go down, the med-i-cine go down, the med-i-cine go dowwwn....stuck in my head.

                                       uploaded to YouTube by vikomak

Happy reading,
Angela

To My Favorite Baby Girl

Baby Girl's 1st Birthday

3rd Birthday

Today is a very special day. Sixteen years ago I was introduced to the most lovely girl I will ever meet. It has been an incredible journey watching her grow so far. I am so very blessed.

Look at those cheeks!

She's smart and kind.                             

She's funny and beautiful... Both inside and out.

 

Stay sweet, Baby Girl.

Have the Happiest Birthday E-V-ER!

I love you with all my heart.  

Momma :)

Welcome to My Crazy Life

This week has been absolutely CRAZY!

It all began Monday. It was hubby's birthday AND Baby Girl's first day of Driver's ed. Excuse me while I sob yet again. Anyway, I made grilled chicken fajitas with rice and beans for dinner then had to rush off to take the baby to class. Only to pick her up two hours later. 

In rushes Tuesday. Two loads of laundry washed, dried on the line, folded, and put away. Organizing books (lots of books) where I warehouse them. Filling and shipping orders. Rushing home to pick up the baby for day two of class...only to pick her up two hours later. Ugh. 


Wednesday, more of the same.

Thursday. Baby girl went back to school. I did more filling orders/shipping. Took the neighbor to do some grocery shopping. Got home in time to sign necessary forms for school. Had to leave early for class to pick up some binders needed. Only to pick up two hours later!! 

Will this week end? I don't feel it.


In comes Friday. TGIF? I think not. After running all over town doing absolutely necessary errands, came home to pick up the Baby for a violin lesson. From there to help man the concession stand for the Friday night football game.


Saturday. Ahhh. A day to relax? Nope. Remember the birthday dinner on Monday? The dirty dishes are still waiting. I think I could maybe just toss em in the garbage. I suppose not. Washed the dishes. More volunteering at the concession stand for Saturday's game. Expecting company so I quick vacuumed and tidied the living room. Only to find out company will be here TOMORROW! I have to think of something to fix for dinner for our guests who may or may not be eating here. They are attending a graduation party before coming, but unsure if dinner will be served. UGH. Guess we'll play it by ear...


Hopefully next week will be calmer. If not, hope it's nuts enough to be interesting. 
Talk to you soon. Maybe or maybe not tomorrow.

Angela