Thursday, November 28, 2013

In the kitchen on Thursday: Potluck


(Containers of food for the potluck Thanksgiving dinner at my mon's place--Cranberry , Potato Pancakes, Roast Pecans, Cornbread Stuffing and Gingerbread Cookies)

Roast Pecans
2 lbs. Pecans
4 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Brown sugar
2 Tbsp Worstershire sauce
Salt

Heat oven to 400. Melt butter with sugar and Worstershire and coat pecans. Roast for 1 hour. Toss with salt. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for my family, my home and my mon's pumpkin chiffon pie.




Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Wednesday's words: On perseverance

"I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance." —John D. Rockefeller
Biography of John D. Rockefeller

Monday, November 25, 2013

Typos and change


Over the weekend a friend pointed out the typos and editing issues I have with my blog and since this is something that has plagued me for all of my life, a lightbulb went off and I remembered the book I just finished, Changeology, and decided to do the 5-step process to get better at proofreading my blog.

(P.S. If you see any typos, editing issues or just have a comment be sure to use the comment section—I welcome all feedback.)

Friday, November 22, 2013

What's in a number?....Age

I had coffee with a friend this morning who told me it was her birthday and I couldn't believe how old she was and that is when I truly realized that age is number by which we need not define ourselves and while as adults we should not act like kids all the time, we should be young at heart (and in mind).

Happy Birthday Linda!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

In the kitchen on Thursday: Rice Pudding, so good, there is no photo

Easy Baked Rice Pudding

1 Lg. can evaporated milk
1 Lg. can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 C. white rice

Preheat oven to 300. Stir all ingredients together in an oven proof dish with lid.  I use a dutch oven to make mine. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to a week.

Note: Do not use Basmati rice (I tried and it doesn't cook all the way through)

(P.S. Every time I went to take a picture, I forgot since I dove right in and devoured each bowl I served myself.)

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

More words....

"It  is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no mane can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." —Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Wednesday's Words: We must do

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing  is not enough; we mist do." —Goethe
Goethe's Biography

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tuesday's Tip: Another use for a "nipple brush"

Now, I use mine to clean the straw in water bottles and the opening in the lid of my travel mug. This way my coffee never tastes like tea and vice versa.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Counting to sleep (and not sheep)....

Lat night my daughter had trouble falling sleep based on an ad she saw on an animal themed cable station, so my husband said to count backwards from 100 and it took counting backwards and forwards with my daughter being silent for her to calm down enough to go to sleep and I thought I should try this stress relieving technique more often (especially with Thanksgiving next week), so I owe a big thank you to my husband with reservations, since three don't fit in a queen sized bed.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

In the kitchen on Thursday: A good gift....Homemade Hot Sauce

Hot Sauce


6 oz. hot peppers (any kind or a mix)
2 oz. garlic cloves
1 Tbsp. Kosher salt
3/4 C. distilled white vinegar

Wash and cut the tops of the peppers. Peel the the garlic. Roast both on a cookie sheet on broil for 3-5 minutes until pepper skin begins to blister. Pulse in food processor with salt. Scrape into jar and add vinegar. Let sit for two weeks and then strain out the pepper seeds. Makes a great gift for a spice loving family member or friend.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Wednesday's words from a wise man

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." —Samuel Johnson

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Tip: Sugar busting

I discovered (much too late) the way to bust my sugar habit is to throw it out, something I practiced today with leftover candy corn—to repurpose a famous saying "One small step for my weight loss needs, one giant step for my sugar problem." (I mean no disrespect to the astronauts who landed on the moon in 1969.)

Story of first US landing on the moon—Apollo 11

Monday, November 11, 2013

WWII, Pilot checklist and the lesson of To-Do lists


Many months ago, while reading the Checklist Manifesto (by Atul Gawande) my Great-Uncle, then 92 years old, showed me his B-29 bomber manual from WWII and right there was the pilot checklist that Mr. Gawande references in his book and I saw first hand the importance of checklists, also known now as a to-do list and every time I do my list I think of "UB" and his manual.

(This is just one of the many insights I have gained from listening to my great-uncle tell stories about his youth, WWII and his working life).

I salute you, UB and all the other veterans of war for their service in protecting our freedom and those of our fellow men, women and children in this world.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Taming morning madness....

I have discovered that if I get up 30 minuted before my daughter, I can make her lunch, prepare breakfast for both of us (no more cereal every morning for her), plan my day over a cup of tea and we leave the house on time (which we did before) feeling relaxed, so take my advice and follow suit.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

In the kitchen on Thursday: Seasonal Muffins

After Halloween, I dismantled our display and dissected the pumpkin into seeds for roasting and the pulp for muffins. Making the muffins doubled as mother-daughter bonding.


(Muffins, hot out of the oven)
1 box gingerbread mix
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (optional)
1/4 C. water
3/4 C. pumpkin pulp pureed (or canned pumpkin)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together. Place liners in cupcake tins. Spoon in batter until each is 2/3 full. Bake for 30 minutes. Makes 10-12. Great with butter, cream cheese or plain.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

More Words....

"No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." —Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein Biography

Wednesday's words: Size matters

"It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog." —Anonymous

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Tuesday's Tip: Eco friendly Laundry

A few months back I read that adding a dry towel to a dryer cycle cut drying time equaling saved energy. The added bonus is the clothes come out softer and with less static (with no dryer sheet).

Monday, November 4, 2013

November and the New Year

While it is not the new year and only November, I have decided to set some goals from now to the end of the year, break them down into bite size pieces and accomplish them none-the-less like they were new years' resolutions and those goals are to get check off more household projects, craft a better business message that really builds my "brand, support my husband in his work transition and get better at setting boundaries for my 8 year-old "teenager."