Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs...

I have received a 3rd sign that my New Year's Resolution of serving others is the way to go!  I've applied for a global volunteer opportunity.   Fingers crossed, it would be my original resolution on steroids!  Will let you know more if it comes to be...

Here is the lady lawn ornament/sprinkler I also told you about earlier, forgot the picture last time!

I'm ahead of the fashion trends with my new 99 cent navy blazer from GW.  While reading my bible, February issue, I came across the trend of red, white and blue.  I paired my blazer with red boots!  I did this BEFORE I saw this article.

And, look who else was featured in the bible...cutie patooti Andy Samberg...I think he is crushingly cute!  I've always had a thing for dark, curly hair on guys (Adam, Adrien Grenier, Andrew Shue, you get the picture!)  Ironically, I never dated nor did I marry a man that fits that description!  Anyway, I thought I looked pretty good and was happy to see I was ahead of the trends!  I try!


I haven't cooked much lately and the snow has kept me from shopping, but I have done a little for Gia's birthday party tomorrow.  Six years old...amazing!  When I have everything together, I'll share some photos.

Well, I'm off to find a recipe for a shower I'm throwing with my sis-in-laws on Sunday.  I'm not going into The Stack because I'm sure I can make a cheese appetizer dish with something from the different types of cheeses we have in the house.  Might as well use them up,  so I have to find a recipe that calls for the things I have and has a minimal grocery list. 

Speaking of using up, we had a good dinner tonight.  It pays to be married to a chef!  We had pot roast earlier in the week so Joe turned it into beef gravy over biscuits for dinner.  I wish I had a picture of it, I took it off the camera but when I went to post it, I don't know where I put it!!  It may be the fault of the 2nd apple martini...

Cheddar Biscuits:

1/2 cup shortening
1-1/2 cup self rising flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 TBSP sugar
1 TSP salt
2/3 cup milk
1 cup cheese

Heat oven to 450.  Cut shortening into flour, sugar and salt until mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Stir in milk and cheese until dough leaves side of bowl.  Turn onto floured surface and knead 10 times.  Roll into rectangle, 1/2 inch think.  Cut into 10 biscuits (I don't use biscuit cutters, I just cut into squares with a knife). Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.  Immediately remove from cooking sheet.

Apple Martini:
2 oz vodka (Kettle One, a nice Christmas present from a friend!)
1oz sour apple schnapps
1/2 oz triple sec
splash of Sprite

I have learned from a friend that a splash of Sprite in many clear liquor drinks is just the thing!  Served in a chilled martini glass with a crisp green apple wedge...I wish I could find the picture!

Later...



All good things start with "G"...

Goodwill, Gnomes, Gardens and Grandma....

If I had more time to shop at different thrift stores I would.  But, woe is me, I have a full time job and 3 kids and a busy husband and a marathon to train for so I just don't have the time to shop at different stores.  Thankfully, my GW is only a 5 minute drive away and very rarely disappoints.  Check out this cute Isaac Mizzrahi jacket that fits me like a glove that I got for 99 cents!

I really need a photographer or learn how to take better pics!  My head's cut off!

Sometimes, posting pics in this blog baffles me at times.  If I don't select all the pictures I want to add, I can't figure a way to add other pics later.  I'm a little technologically challenged so it doesn't surprise me.  Anyway, I wish I could have shown you the great garden ornament I got at GW a couple of weeks ago.  Mom and I we're shopping for "gag gifts" that I needed to bring to a party.  She showed me this ceramic figure of a larger older women laying on her stomach in a bathing suit and sun hat and I thought, "not very interesting", then when she pointed out what it actually was, it was mine!  It's a sprinkler for the garden.  You attach a hose to it and the water comes out the top of her hat!  I'll have to post the pic next time.  Anyway, she'll look great next to my gnome, who at present is tending my rosemary for the winter.  He helped it through the winter last year and I hope he does it again this year.  I believe in the magic of gnomes...  When I was cutting down my rosemary for the winter, a piece came out of the ground so I planted for indoors.  I've never had much luck growing rosemary indoors but, *knock knock* it seems to be holding up fairly well.  I've found the key to growing rosemary is to position it on the south side of the house.


I wonder what he does when I'm not looking!  Does he play with the other gnome in my garden?



The perfect window for my rosemary, facing south.

No Thursday night dinner last week but I do have some recipes to share.  Mom and Dad did come over but we just had soup and sandwiches.  My dad LOVES soup and Joe made a big pot of chicken noodle soup earlier in the week so we just had that.  My mom's birthday was this week so I made a couple of things so we had something to put the candle in so we could celebrate, low-key.  I would bet that you have everything on both these ingredient lists in your home.

Happy Birthday Marge!

Homemade Brownies

Margie's (my mom!) Lemon Bars

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup soft butter
1/4 cup confectioners sugar

Filling:
2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp lemon juice (if I'm using fresh lemons, I put the zest in too)

Mix crust, press into greased 9X9 pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350.  Mix filling ingredients, pour over crust and bake 25 minutes.  Sprinkle with confectioners sugar when cooled.  Cut into squares.

I'm outta here...

I'm baaaack...

Since I was off from work for 2 weeks during the holidays I took a break from Thursday night dinners and posting on my blog but I've been up to a lot lately.  I'll try to recap the last few weeks in a few, small, paragraphs!

Homemade Christmas Ornaments - we had a lot of fun making these, the recipe was very simple, I have tons of cookie cutters so we went to town.  Plus, who doesn't love a homemade ornament from a kid?

Running, Running, Running - I've signed up to run my second full marathon...and I said I'd never do it again.  Blame it on my sister.  She's doing her first and I'm doing it to support her...that's just the kind of person I am.

New Year's Resolutions - We spent New Year's Eve like with did last year with good friends and good food.  I love going over the Flanagan's because they serve you deer disguised as good things like Taco Soup and Cincinnati recipe chili!  Kevin made deer jerky...it was REALLY good...maybe I like deer after all?  My resolution came to me whilst watching "19 Kids and Counting"...I'm a huge Duggar family fan.  Now, I'm not going to be growing my hair long, wearing skirts or quit drinking beer any time soon...but I am going to try and live my life modeled after "God first, others second, yourself last".  This subject was also brought up in the homily at church this week; we are here to serve God and others Fr. Mario said.  Therefore, my resolution is to serve others.  Now, I think I already do that to some extent in the way Joe and I open up our home to family and friends, but I think there are small ways I can do this too.

My other New Year's Resolution is strength train along with my marathon training.  I have NO upper arm strength, Joe makes fun of me all the time.  I'm going to try and change that.

Finds at the GW - there hasn't been much because I've been doing so much Christmas shopping.  But I found 2 pairs of jeans (Levi and Gap) for Isaac for $5.  I usually don't do well with boys clothes at the GW but that day was an exception.  I also found a Vera Bradley belt, new with tags, and got it for $2.  I'm going to try to sell it for $15 the proceeds goes in my Tattoo Fund jar!

Recipes:

I have been cooking a few things and I'm happy to share two "keepers" from the stack:

Roast Pork with Duck Sauce on Garlic Bread - I originally printed this recipe out in 2001.  It was really easy and really good.  Something a little different.  But word to the wise, make sure you use SWEET HUNGARIAN paprika and not regular or it will be HOT.  You can omit this seasoning on the bread altogether if you want.



I have no idea where I got this next recipe but it was AWESOME.  I highly suggest making this.  I served it with garlic bread for a meal.

Mama's Italian Wedding Soup

1 pound extra-lean ground beef (90/10)
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup dried Italian bread crumbs
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp minced onion
1 tspn dried basil
1/4 tspn garlic powder
2 1/2 quarts chicken broth (I used a little more, 2-48 oz cans)
2 cups fresh spinach
1 c acini de pepe or other tiny pasta (I used tubettini)
3/4 cup diced carrots
1 tbsp Italian seasoning

In a medium bowl, combine beef, egg, bread crumbs, basil, garlic and onion.  Shape mixture in to 3/4 inch (tiny) balls and set aside (I always take a bit of the mixture, cook in the microwave, taste and adjust seasoning as needed).

In a large stockpot, heat chicken broth to boiling; stir in pasta, carrots, Italian seasoning and meatballs.  Return to boil, reduce heat to medium.  Cook, stirring frequently, at a slow boil for 10 minutes until pasta is done and meatballs are no longer pink.  Add spinach and allow it to wilt.  Serve hot with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Gia's Family Birthday Party - We celebrated Gia's birthday a bit early since Erica and Chloe were in town and Karen was too.  We had Moe Joe's for dinner (Joe's version of Moe's Southwestern Grill) and a cake made by Isabelle for dessert.  Lots of family joined and we reminded Gia of how lucky she is to have some many people love her!

Oh, I've been sdoing ome sophisticated baking with an Easy Bake Oven.  Gia wanted one for Christmas so instead of buying her a new one, I cleaned up the one we had in a box in the basement and gave it to her.  It was Isabelle's.

I think that's it for now.