Tuesday:) Last Day of November!

Happy, Happy Tuesday!

I woke up this morning and made cheese grits and sausage for breakfast for the children. Took Alexis to school. Puttered around the house a bit. Then Little Kevin and I took a trip to the Walmart, I just love Walmart:) I picked up a cleaning supply, some stickers for a school project and some teriaki sauce. I am going to make teriaki chicken for dinner, yummy! It is really cold in the mornings, it was 34 degrees this morning then by afternoon it warms up into the mid 60's.

I just love waking up to the house decorated all Christmasy..the tree is just lovely. I will take a picture of it tonight, when I can get a good shot of the lights on.

I have a load of towels in the dryer, and then I am going to wash a load of lights. I have a few dishes to wash too. Then I am going to get to work on other things I would like to get done.

Have a Happy Tuesday!

Happy Monday!!!

Hello! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and weekend. Ours was filled with love, family, friends and lots of food...LOL;)


On Saturday I posted a recipe for Turkey Tetrazzini,(post below this one) I had never made it before, and I have to say it was a wonderful dish. Here is a picture of it. It was a wonderful recipe for use of leftover Turkey. I put the recipe in my notebook and labeled it a keeper for when I need to use up leftover turkey or even chicken.

I didn't add carrots to it like the recipe called for though, and I used a different kind of pasta.

We had a wonderful weekend, in fact we had a great week. Kids were all home, and Kevin had a four day weekend. We also got our tree, it is all put up and decorated. It is so pretty. We were going to wait a little while before getting it, but my husband and kids really wanted it sooner then later. My house looks so Chritsmasey now:) Happy, Happy, Happy!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I wrote on my Facebook, let's not say Happy Holidays, let's tell everyone MERRY CHRISTMAS, especially the retail stores that aren't allowed to mention CHRISTMAS. I just can't believe it. Every other holiday that comes by this time year is celebrated and mentioned. I am so tired of the Politically Correctness. It is Christmas, it is about Jesus Christ, our Lord. It isn't about spending money~~It is a birthday, a very special birthday. Jesus needs to be celebrated, not ignored. In fact Jesus should be celebrated every day, and not just Christmas!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, I have my menu plan for this week all done, and laundry is not so bad since I have been keeping on top of it. My Tree did topple over last night, so I have some needles to vacuum up, but the tree is all fixed back up:)

It is really cold today, so the Ugg boots are on. It is a new week, and a new day and I am excited to start a new week and all that it has to offer being a wife and mother:)
Happy Monday. On the menu tonight, Not Turkey...LOL;)

Chilly Saturday:)

Hello!

Happy Saturday! This morning, I woke up, made breakfast, bacon, cheese omelettes, hashbrowns, sliced tomatoes. I had a cup of mocha peppermint coffee. I was decorating yesterday, but I knew I was missing things. I searched and searched the boxes in the garage and could not find them, then I looked up and saw a box on the rafters. Even on a chair, me being 5 feet tall I couldn't reach, so I got the help of my husband, and low and behold, the rest of my decorations were there~~YaY! So, I am still decorating. I did take a break and walked my mile this morning. I also have to help Alexis make an island out of clay for a school project.

I am going to make Turkey Tetrazzini for dinner tonight:) This is a new recipe, so I will have to let you know how it turns out:)

1 pound elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 ounces sliced white mushrooms
1//4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup whole milk
4 cups shredded roasted turkey
8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente, then drain.

Heat the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add onion, carrot, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper and saute, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, about 7 minutes. Add mushrooms and saute, stirring occasionally, until liquid from mushrooms has evaporated, about 6 minutes. Add flour, stirring to combine. Whisk in broth and milk, then bring to a boil. Boil until liquid in pan has thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in turkey, cheddar cheese, and reserved pasta.

Transfer pasta mixture to a 3-quart baking dish. Stir together breadcrumbs, parmesan, and oil, then sprinkle evenly over tetrazzini. Bake until breadcrumbs are browned and tetrazzini is heated through, about 25 minutes.


about this recipe
This rich, creamy casserole combines two classics in one: turkey tetrazzini and mac and cheese.



Read more: http://www.kitchendaily.com/recipe/turkey-cheddar-tetrazzini-149805/#ixzz16W15XuTG

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is quite cold today, and the weather says there is rain on the way, I just love rainy days!

Have a glorious and Blessed Saturday...and STAY WARM!!!

Friday!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here is a picture of my Turkey...It came out really good. I have lots of leftovers too, which I am excited about.

I woke up this morning, made breakfast and then put away all my fall decorations, and yes, Fred went as well, we all said goodbye to him. He faithfully stood by my front door for three whole months, so he is in need of a much needed break...LOL. For those of you who don't know, Fred is my Scarecrow:)

As for Black Friday, NO WAY!!! I stay home, I do not like crowds and fighting my way through stores. I got my Christmas decorations out as I put away the Fall decorations, and I started putting things up too, this morning. We are getting a live tree, so that will be put up a little later.

I also found my Christmas plates, so those need to be washed also. I just love this time of year. It is almost 9:00 a.m. here, and I am going to get another cup of coffee, and then do some more decorating:)

Have a glorious Friday. If you are out shopping today, bless your hearts, you are a lot braver then me...LOL
XO

Oh, dinner tonight will be something with Turkey:)))

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy and blessed Thanksgiving!!!!

T is for the trust the pilgrims had so many years ago
H is for the harvest the settlers learnt to grow
A is for America, the land in which we live
N is for nature and beauty which she gives
K is for kindness, gentle words, thoughtful deeds
S is for smiles, the sunshine everyone needs
G is for gratitude... our blessings big and small
I is for ideas, letting wisdom grow tall
V is for voices, singing, laughing, always caring
I is for Indians, who taught them about sharing
N is for neighbors, across the street, over the sea
G is for giving of myself to make a better me
by Judith.A. Lindberg

Wednesday~~~The Day before~~YaY!

What are your plans for today? Are you going to be preparing Thanksgiving at your home tomorrow? If so are you going to be in the kitchen today? I know I am. I am going to make everything I can today:) So, I just need to pop everything in the oven tomorrow. Things like my dinner rolls, macaroni and cheese. I will boil my eggs, but make them deviled tomorrow, my stuffed mushrooms, etc. I think you get the picture;) I just love these busy and fun days, especially when it is cold outside and we are all cozy in the house, with the wonderful smells all around:) It is 7:00 a.m. now, let's see how much I can accomplish. I am also going to make a breakfast casserole for tomorrow morning so I can have an easy breakfast to serve my hungry family in the morning. Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

Tuesday!

Fudge Recipe:

2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 can (14 oz.)Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
LINE 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with foil.
COMBINE morsels and sweetened condensed milk in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Warm over lowest possible heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.
SPREAD evenly into prepared baking pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into pieces.

Sweet Treats
(Picture from last year)
I got this recipe a few years ago from Mari's blog, and it has a been a favorite ever since..I think I post this recipe a few times a year..Thank you Mari!

Sweet Treats
Round pretzels (may also use square basket weave type)
Hershey Hugs (may also use chocolate Kisses)
Christmas M & M's

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil. Lay pretzels out onto lined cookie sheet. Unwrap Hugs and place in center of pretzel ring or in using square pretzel, on top of it. Place in oven for about 5 minutes.When Hugs are still maintaining their shape, but are soft press one M & M into Hug. Cool in refrigerator , then eat!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, I am going to go to the market and get my produce for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow, I should have everything I need. After the store, I will bake a little and finish the rest of the cleaning. Tomorrow is going to be a big cooking day. As you can see, I posted two recipes that I will be doing. I have a pumpkin and apple pie already, they are in the freezer, I bought those.

It is supposed to rain again today, I am just loving this cool wet weather, it puts me in the mood for the Holidays. I remember one Christmas it was in the 90's, that is just not right...LOL.

Have a wonderful and blessed and busy Tuesday!
XO

Monday~~Homemaking:)

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We had a nice cozy weekend, it rained all weekend. I have my kitchen organized, I just have a junk drawer to clear out, and then I am done!
My Turkey is in the fridge~~Check!
I have the ingredients for the Green bean casserole~~Check
I have potatoes for mashed~~Check!
Pies~~Check!
Turnip Greens~~~Check
Ingredients to make my Rolls~~Check!
I have my list of everything that needs to be finished before the big day~~Check!!

I am going to go to the store tomorrow, for the rest of the things I need. I need cranberries, mushrooms, eggs, sweet potatoes, Macaroni for macaroni and cheese, cheese and fresh produce:) I have my shopping list downstairs, in case I forgot anything here.

Okay, now on to my question, because you all are always so helpful. I have noticed a lot of the great homemaking blogs have closed. I need to go through my sidebar and clean it, a few of the links, are no longer there:( Could you post some of your favorite blogs to visit, that have to do with homemaking, cooking..etc:) I would so appreciate it!

My coffee is calling me!!
XO

Happy Sunday:)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!! I just love these Proverbs. I actually have them printed out and in my notebook.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (King James Version)

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Turkey Saturday!

Happy Saturday!

We got our Turkey's today, Albertson's had a sale, buy one get one free, so we have one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas:) I got most of the stuff I need for Thanksgiving, but I still need to go back this week for a few other things.

I also went and bought some new makeup and new perfume..that was fun.

It is raining today and has been raining all day. It is nice and warm in the house. We have a nice roast in the oven and I have a pumpkin spice candle lit, so the house smells rather nice. OHHH, at Walmart, they had poinsettias, big ones, for 4 dollars each, so I got a couple of those, they are so pretty, I just hope I can keep them alive..I am so bad with plants.

Have a wonderful, safe and warm saturday:)


One more thing, did you see the Duggars this week, Josh and Anna, are going to have another baby. Oh, I would love to have another too:)

Friday!

I just love these vintage ads and pictures!

In just a few short hours, Thanksgiving vacation will officially begin~~YaY!!
Tomorrow I will be getting my Turkey. Albertson's is having a buy one get one free.
Starting this evening it is supposed to start raining and continue to rain through out the entire weekend. I love the rain. Plenty of hot chocolate, hot tea and coffee with holiday creamer:) I also have Egg Nogg:::Giggles::: I know that egg nogg is either loved or not liked at all. I love it.

I have my menu all planned out for ThanksGiving, and I have picked up a few things here and there as I shop. I really need to get a new table cloth for my table though.

Alexis's corn feast at school was a success, everyone brought so many fun dishes. I took a bunch of pictures, I will share in the next post. You have to try the Corn and Bean Salsa Recipe I posted a few posts down, it really was good, and everyone liked it. There wasn't any left when I left the party.

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, I am so happy to be a wife and mother. Is there anything more satisfying then this? I couldn't imagine doing anything else, and I am so thankful for my husband, that I am able to live out my dream of being a wife and mother!!! I just love being able to provide a clean and inviting home for my family with good food for them to eat that I made:) Even certain tasks that I may not enjoy doing I feel good when they are done:) I love going to bed knowing I have a shiny sink and my kitchen is already for the morning's breakfast. Don't get me wrong, there are some nights were the kitchen is a little ignored..LOL...Like last night, I had to soak my pan, so that is waiting for me to scrub.

Well motherly duty calls:)
XO

Ohhhhhhh, Christina!!!!! :)

Here is the Chicken and Dumpling recipe I use, I double the recipe though:) Click on the picture to enlarge it. If you can't read it let me know, and I will type it out. It is out of my Betty Crocker Cook Book. It is easy and very yummy:) Let me know if you try it.

Wednesday!

I have to bring a corn dish to school tomorrow. So after I asked on my facebook for ideas, I decided on the Corn and Black Bean Salsa:) All the ideas I got were fantastic, and I will try them all for my family. Alexis liked this one for her class. So this is what I will bring:)


BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALSA

1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 11 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained
1 t minced fresh jalapeno pepper
1 avocado, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro (or subst. 1 t dried cilantro)
1/4 c. diced red onion
1/4 c. fresh lime juice (about 2 limes, squeezed)
1 t. salt
tortilla chips for dipping

Combine all ingredients except avocado and chips. Cover and chill for at least two hours. Add avocado just before serving. Serve with chips.

I have to go to the market and pick up some of the ingredients today, and I also need a few other things too:)

It is chillier today then yesterday, and it is supposed to rain this weekend, YaY! I just love rainy days. Just in time for the Holidays too. I love being home all cozy on rainy days, especially when my kids are home with me.

We are going to have turkey for ThanksGiving, and Albertson's is having a sale, buy one get one free, so I will have one for ThanksGiving and one for Christmas!

Last night with the steak, I made asparagus with hollandaise sauce, rice, rolls and a salad.

Tonight it is either going to be chicken or what I may find at the store, we shall see.

I spent part of the day yesterday cleaning and cutting all my fresh veggies, so they will be ready when needed. I did string beans, broccoli, and I cut up brussell sprouts, they are all cleaned, cut and ready to be cooked.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, the weekend is almost here!!!

Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone has a wonderful day. It is a little chilly out, not too bad though. It is supposed to be in the 60's today. I have a long sleeve shirt on, for some reason, I stay colder then anyone in my family. I will want the heat on, and my husband has the fan on him, go figure. Today was music day and Alexis was so excited to start playing her violin. She needed a binder too. So we went to Michael's after school yesterday and we bought a bunch a stickers with a music theme to decorate her new binder. She was rather proud of it:)

One of my favorite things in my kitchen is my bread machine. I use it quite a lot. I make bread, rolls, bagels etc. I don't cook the bread in the machine, because I don't like how it comes out, so I let the bread machine do all the kneading and rising and then I do the rest. I use my oven to cook it. I have had this bread machine for so long, I can't tell you how many years. It was one of my very favorite Christmas presents from my husband though. I said to him, what will I ever do if this breaks, and he said, Honey, I'll get you a new one...LOL.

These are dinner rolls I made this week. They are so soft and fluffy:)..and they have just simple ingredients...flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, butter, salt, water...that's it:)

I have my Holiday book out, and it it is keeping me on track and motivated~~~ I copied Fly Lady and added my own touches to her Holiday Journal.

I am still working on organizing my kitchen, so hopefully by the end of the week, it will be all done.

Dinner, is going to be beef loin sirloin steak:)

I can't decide if I want to put Little House or the Walton's on for background noise, hmmm...I am patiently waiting for Christmas music to start playing on the radio:)

Monday!

Happy Monday! I have been organizing my kitchen. I want it completely organized by the end of the week. I have to do it a little at a time, because I have other things to take care of too, like laundry, cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children and my husband:) I finished my spice cabinet, and my tupperware. I am going to organize underneath my island today, that should be fun. I have a lot of neat things under there:) On the stove I'm making chicken broth for Chicken and Dumplings for tonight's dinner. The house smells really good.

I found this new flavor of tea at the grocery store; Egg Nogg Tea. It tastes pretty good:) Very Festive:)

I made Banana bread over the weekend. My husband took a piece before I could get a picture of it whole...LOL. He wanted a warm piece, can you blame him?? It was really easy to make and tastes very good. The recipe is below the picture.

(Recipe courtesy of Simply Recipes)

Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Method
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

~~~~~~~

Well, you already know we are having Chicken and Dumplings for dinner, I will also make a salad to go a long with it.

I am all caught up on laundry...and I mean all caught up, bedding and everything. I am going to try and keep on top of it.

After this week, there will be no school all next week, for Thanks Giving break~~~YaY!!!

Have a great Monday!!
XOXO

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!!

I have some ripe bananas, so I am going to be making some banana bread. I also want to make some Pumpkin bread too:)

Question: Who will be cooking ThankGiving Dinner? I will!!!! I just love to cook, especially on the Holidays!

XO

Saturday!

Today we are going to the music store and buying Alexis a Violin. She will be taking lessons at school for two years. She is very excited and so am I:) Do any of your children play the Violin? Hopefully in the future we can get a piano, because I would love for her to learn to play. Learning to play the piano has always been on my list for me too, so I want to learn too:)

Then, after that, we need to get some shopping in. I just Love, Love, Love Costco! If we buy in bulk, it really seems to save money in the long run. The meat section has really great deals. The eggs, 5 dozen, I can do so much with eggs. With the Holidays approaching, stocking up will really help. Do you like Costco? .....Oh, and you can't forget all the samples they give out. My kids just love going too:)

Well, my coffee is waiting for me, and I have to start breakfast!
Happy Saturday:)
XO

Friday~~YaY!

It is Friday and all is well. Kevin made it home safely yesterday from up north. I had a pasta bake all ready for him for when he got home, with homemade rolls and a salad. He likes pasta bake
much better then regular spaghetti.

(Photo courtesy of Taste of Home)

Okay, today, I am going to go through my spice cabinet, and boy does it need it. I bet I find all sorts of things I didn't know I had. I will also make a list of what I need. A lot of cooking will be going on in this home with all the Holidays coming. Cooking and Baking, and decorating. I just love this time of year.

(Not my spice cabinet..LOL)
I wanted to take a picture of mine but my camera was not charged, so I am charging it now.

There is a radio station here in Cali, and starting on Thanksgiving, they play Christmas music 24/7 until Christmas. I can not wait. I have the radio in my kitchen, since that is the room I am in the most. I have season four of Little House on the Prairie on the TV, for background motivation:) It is early here, and my kids just finished breakfast and are now playing games. Little Kevin is old enough now, that he and his sister can actually play games that they both like and understand.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Tonight's menu will consist of split chicken breasts. Does any one have a a recipe for them, I would like to try something new, tried and true:)

Happy November!

Can you believe it is already November? I hope you had a wonderful October, we sure did. Halloween was great! Now, I am getting ready for ThanksGiving, I can not wait! I went grocery shopping yesterday, and guess what I found??? EGG NOG CREAMER, YaY!!! I am enjoying a cup of coffee with it right now:) They only had two holiday flavors, so I am patiently waiting for the rest of them to come out. I am doing Thanksgiving this year, and I love every minute of it. I am planning my menu already. This week I am doing something sort of like a spring cleaning, but more of a fall cleaning. Cleaning out drawers, cleaning things that have been neglected. Soon, we will get our carpet cleaned so it will look nice for Christmas, and I can't wait to put up the tree:)

My children have a four day Holiday this week, so I am so happy they are all home. It has been quite chilly this past week, and since the time change, it gets dark at about 4:30~~~So I start getting sleepy at about 6:30...LOL. I love the Fall and winter days:)

Well, I have a load of laundry in the dryer, and one in the wash. My whites are in the dryer and my linens are in the wash. I hope to get to my bedding today. My husband was also out of town this week, I am so excited he will be home this afternoon, DOUBLE YaY!

I have also noticed a few of my favorite blogs to read have shut down:( Makes me sad, as for why they left:(

Well, I must get off for now, I have hungry kids waiting for breakfast:)

Last but certainly not least; it is Veteran's Day, I am so thankful for all the men and women who have served and are serving our beautiful country under God. Bless everyone!