Friday, January 30, 2009

Happy Super Bowl Weekend

I have a huge crush on Big Ben so I hope he does really well....but I hope the Cardinals win.

So when you think of the Super Bowl, you think of super food! I've got some recipes for you.

How about Paula Deen's Savannah High Apple Pie? You have to look at the photo on the recipe page. In the bottom right corner there is a + sign. Click on it to see a larger photo.....it's.....insane.

High Apple Pie

I would not make that pie for a few reasons, but the biggest reason......peeling 24 apples?! No thanks.

So then, how about a stadium you can eat? You have to scroll down and look at the the assembly of it.

Stadium

Lastly, if the Super Bowl isn't your thing, I give you kittens riding vacuum.

Kittens Free Ride

Monday, January 26, 2009

I need to rant for a few minutes.

Begin rant.

People. They are soooo irritating! Sometimes I feel....well, I don't exactly know the word for how I feel. Let's see if I can explain. I'm not very approachable and it's on purpose. The more people I talk to or deal with the more crap gets into my life....so I avoid people. I have a few select people I call friends. And I'm fine with that. I don't need a whole tribe of people in my life to be happy. And I am pretty good at figuring people out. I listen. Not a lot of people do that every well. You can learn a heck of a lot about someone just by listening to them. And if you don't say anything, they will just keep going....blah, blah, blah. And interestingly enough, people will tell me things like I am their best friend. Anyway, there are times when I get the feeling that I am limiting myself because I am so reclusive and unapproachable. I don't feel that way very long tho. It only takes interaction with more than my select few friends to understand the way I have things set around me are for the best. The doubt creeps in because society tells us that those with many friends are the happiest. But as we all know, what society leads us to believe is often crap. I understand I may be in the minority when it comes to being like this. Most people enjoy getting out and going to a party and having lots of friends to call and go out with, but just because I am in the minority does not mean I'm wrong to be this way or that I should change and be someone I'm not. This is the way I am. Everyone else can deal with it!

End rant.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Thanks everyone...the suggestions for the alphabet photo project got me started. See my Flickr site if you want to see my A photo. The letters I & Z still have me wondering, but I've got specific ideas for the rest of the alphabet.

---

I was looking around for a pecan cake recipe....since I need to start baking more, and I found the one below. I looked at the ingredients and I said "this isn't a recipe...". All it calls for is a box of cake, the stuff the back of the box calls for, frosting and some nuts. The only thing that kept me looking was the 4.7 stars (out of 5) rating from 153 people. That is a very good rating! It was then that I noticed step 3.....it says to add the frosting into the mix! Huh? I've never heard of doing this....but I am very curious. I might have to make it....but then I'd have to send it to work with Greg so they all eat it and not us. Maybe you'd like to try it, too!

Southern Praline Pecan Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) package butter pecan cake mix
1 (16 ounce) container coconut pecan frosting
4 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Spray a 9 or 10 inch Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Combine the cake mix with the frosting, eggs, oil, water and 1/2 of the pecans. Mix until combined.
4. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 of pecans in the prepared Bundt pan then pour in the cake batter.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I have been thinking about a photo of the day project to get me back into taking photos. Shooting the alphabet. Everyday I would have to take a photo of something that starts with the corresponding letter of the day. Sounds like a good idea....except I am having a hard time actually saying I will do it. I am getting stuck on a few letters. Like, what in the heck am I going to take a photo of that starts with a K....or a Q? So far I have some ideas for A-G, but I got to H and was like...um....humm. So nothing like setting myself up to not finish the project because I can't find an H thing.

So, here is where you all come in :) Can you think of something for these letters that would be easy enough to come by in everyday life that would actually make an interesting photograph? See....I could easily take a picture of a Q-Tip for Q....but....you know....not very interesting.....a photo of a Q-Tip. So it's not just as easy as finding something that starts with Q...it has to be Q and interesting.

h
i
j
k
n
q
r
t
u
w
x
y
z


Let me know if you have any ideas.

And now, a recipe.

Elizabeth Yarnell's Sweet Tart Chicken

"Pomegranate molasses gives a taste that is sweet but with a tartness reminiscent of cranberries that is satisfying for the kid in all of us. Great with boneless, skinless thighs, this chicken dish is almost glazed with flavor. Don't forget to spoon the sauce at the bottom of the pot over each serving as you won’t want to miss a drop!

For this recipe, I cut my Brussels sprouts in half from pole to pole, with the stem end being the south pole. Brussels sprouts that touch the side or lid of the pot may get some roasted leaves. If you would prefer to avoid this, simply keep them away from the edges of the pot, or cover with sauce."


1/4 medium onion, halved and sliced
3 to 4 chicken thighs (1/2 to 3/4 pound)
sea salt
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
2 to 3 unpeeledoiling potatoes, scrubbed and cut in 1-inch cubes
1/3 acorn squash, peeled or not, seeded, and cut in large chunks
10 Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise
4 to 6 crimini mushrooms, thickly sliced

Preheat the oven to 450° F.

Spray the inside of a Dutch oven and lid with canola oil.
Scatter the onion evenly in the pot.
Arrange the chicken pieces in a layer and lightly season with salt.
In a small bowl, whisk together the pomegranate molasses and mustard until the mustard is almost emulsified. Pour half the mixture over the chicken.

Arrange the potatoes on top, followed by the chunks of squash, and lightly season with salt and pepper. Scatter the halved Brussels sprouts in next, topping them with the mushroom slices. Pour the rest of the mustard mixture over all.
Cover and bake for about 45 minutes, or until 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully cooked meal escapes the oven. Serve immediately.

Monday, January 19, 2009

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunday, January 18, 2009



Originally uploaded by photo kitten.

“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves"
~ James Matthew Barrie

Friday, January 16, 2009

This is just me being curious.

Hypothetical Situation:

You are out having lunch and you enter your business card into a free lunch drawing for you and your co-workers. Two weeks later the place calls and says you are that weeks winner for their "Big Beefy Sandwiches with special sauce". Yah! So they get all your info, location, how many people blah, blah, blah. They tell you they will deliver lunch on Friday (they call Tuesday). So you email everyone you work with and tell them the good news! Shortly after you send the email, you start getting replies.

"Um, I'm a vegetarian...will they swap their Big Beefy Sandwich for a Super Tofu Deluxe?"

"Oh man, I am not a fan of the special sauce....can you ask them to make one with the big bang sauce instead?"

"That's great! I love their Marvelous Chinese Chicken Salad...can I give you money and have them bring one of those for me?


Ok, so the question is, do you call "Yummy Tummy Lunch Shop" and ask them to make all these substitutions knowing that the at the time you dropped your business card into the fish bowl it said it was for a "Big Beefy Sandwich lunch".

Or, do you tell everyone that it's a Big Beefy Sandwich promo that the Yummy Tummy Lunch Shop is doing.....because really, that's what it is, and you don't think it's right to ask for a bunch of substitutions/changes when the meal is free.

Or would you do something other than one of those 2 options?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Top 100

Food Network listed their top 100 recipes for 2008 in just about every category you can think of. I really like this because when I am looking for something to make, I rely on their reviews as to weather something is worth trying. So everything listed is rated well and you have tons of options.

Below is the link to the main page so you can browse if you want to. I also listed 5 of the recipes I'd found off the list that I'd like to try.

Top 100 recipes on Food Network in 2008

Asian Orzo Salad

Tenderloin And Crab Salad

Noodle Casserole

Chicken Tacos

Coq Au Vin

Chicken And Polenta Tartlets

Monday, January 12, 2009

Well, it wasn't a weekend to remember....or at least not a Sunday to remember.

The Chargers lost in a horrible way. I hate the close nail-biter games, but the ones I really hate the ones where they just get beat.
That's all I'm going to say on that subject.

Also Sunday, Greg went out to fill our pond with water and when he bent over to turn off the water - ZAP - he was down on his knees in pain. He said he had a horrible pain in his tailbone and it shot down his legs. He could hardly stand. I asked him a dozen times if he wanted me to take him to the ER and he refused. The rest of the night he could hardly walk and it was hard to find a comfortable position to be in. This morning when I woke up around 6am, I asked how he was. Not better. That was it. I told him I was taking him to the ER so he would not have to deal with getting in to see a regular doctor which is harder and harder to do these days. He had X-rays and they told him he has degenerative bone disease. I also think he has an early case of spinal osteoarthritis. Nearly every morning he says he back aches. He has been trying to tell me our new Tempur-Pedic mattress is defective. I ask....if it is defective, why don't I have a problem, too? His answer....it's only defective on his side.

*chuckles*

He's doing better tonight but it's still painful. They gave him Flexeril along with a host of information and a few other drugs. He said he take the Flexeril after dinner. I expect about an hour after he takes it I will find him passed out in bed. Those pills will lay you out! I can only take half of one or I sleep for 2 days....no joke.

So...not the best Sunday. I did get more sunset photos on Saturday....check out my Flickr site if you're interested.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Yes, Christmas is over but I could not pass up sharing this.

Greg asked me if I was making any resolutions for 2009.....I said I didn't know. I really have not thought very much about it. Yesterday I started wondering how I did on my 2008 resolutions.....I could not remember even one of them. So I looked up my post about it:

2008 Resolutions

So lets see....

Cards....I did make more cards...a lot more. And pretty nice ones!

Health....I took care of the blood pressure issue, so I feel good about that one.

Photos....humm. Sadly, I took even less photos in 2008 than I did in 2007.

Baking....well.....I did bake, but not really that much.

Decorate. Ack. In the 2008 post I said I had my master bathroom 90% done and that there was a bag of things on the floor to use. It's still at 90% and the bag is no longer on the floor....it's on a shelf now. So....not doing so good.

Write. I hardly blogged last year let alone write anything interesting!

But I made cards and got healthier.....so that's something. I think rather than making up a new list of things to do, I will just work on the ones I didn't accomplish and make sure I stick with the ones I did accomplish.

2009 Resolutions

Take more photos
Bake
Decorate
Write

Monday, January 05, 2009

For Today...
5 - January - '09
59 degrees out


Outside my window...
It's sunny but the trees are swaying so I know it's breezy and chilly

I am thinking...
That it is January and I feel like time is speeding by and I am just
standing still

I am thankful for...
The fact I have a job and a car that runs and that my team has come
from behind to surprise everyone

From the kitchen...
I made stuffed peppers last night and will have the leftovers for lunch

I am wearing...
Levis
white thermal shirt with a rabbit print on it
pink hoodie
Sketchers sneakers

I am creating...
Valentine's Day cards and ideas for Valentine cookies

I am going...
to get one of those sound machines to fall asleep to

I am hearing...
the guy in the cube behind me typing

I am hoping...
The rest of this month a work will go smoothly

Around the house...
All the Christmas decorations are down and sitting on
the kitchen table ready to be packed away

One of my favorite things...
Watching it rain....it's like soul therapy

A few plans for the rest of the week...
just to get through the week and looking forward to a
win against the Steelers

... last, but not least...

a picture to share

Taken on New Years Eve

New Year's Eve Sunset

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Saturday Night Football

These games that come down to the last few minutes are starting to take their toll on Charger fans.....iCaramba. But the 70 thousand people who bought tickets for the game got their moneys worth...it was a hell of a game. And the fans were in it for sure. That stadium was super charged! And LT on the sideline? No worries - we have the lighting fast Darren Sproles! I mean, is that little guy fast or what? There was a shot of Rivers who stands at 6'5" picking up and carrying Sproles who is only 5'6". Classic. I love that stuff.

So we're off to do it again next weekend....and if we're lucky....one more after that!

 Hello, I'm still here!