Good Happy Morning!! A little Chit Chat :)

 

I started my day off with waking up, brushing my teeth, doing a Peloton yoga class, starting a load of laundry and putting on my running shoes and running three miles.  Oh, to just run feels amazing.  I want things to be simple.  I want life to be simple and happy.  I want to be with my little family. My precious blog holds so many memories and some memories have not been shared.  Some memories are not always my story, so I hold back a little of those things.  I share my thoughts and shenanigans though.  Something's that are not written may one day be shared.  I do love keeping a running journal of my life.  My daughter especially loves this blog and reads here often.  She is an adult now, and so beautiful and stunning.  She is smart!!!!

It is a beautiful September morning, the first day of Fall. but it felt like a hot summer day running this morning.  I so love the warm sun on my shoulders.  I am always cold so the hotter the better.  Who can relate ?

So, if you happen to meander on by over my little corner on the net, drop me a comment. I always respond and I just love the interaction.  I know I have readers still, my stats say I do, so WAVING!!!!!!!!

I bought this sign at Marshal's awhile back and it had an entirely different saying, so I painted it and made the saying my own.  I just love how this came out.

(I used my Cricut)
Here are a few others things in my home.  Some are semi homemade .

I just Love, Love, Love cows.  Who doesn't.

I don't eat them either.  Personal choice for me :)

(This is in my dining room )

(This is in my foyer)

I am going to make some Pumpkin Bars to celebrate the beginning of fall.
I will share them when I am finished.

Have a Happy Day!!

You are not broken and you are enough!!

PROMISE!!!

Halloween Pizza Masks

 HALLOWEEN CHICKEN MASKS

*Photo Courtesy of Holiday Book

Makes 12 mini-pizzas INGREDIENTS:

1 pound ground chicken( you could use any ground meat). Or none at all

⅓ cup onion, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 package (6 count) English

muffins, split

2 tablespoons soft margarine, divided

1'½ cups bottled pizza sauce, divided

1 teaspoon oregano

1 large green pepper

4 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded

4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded

3 large pitted ripe olives, each sliced

into 4 rings DIRECTIONS:

Heat frying pan to medium-high temperature. Add ground chicken and onion. Season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until all red is gone, about 6 minutes. Set aside.

With aluminum foil, cover 10½ by 15½-inch baking pan. Spread each muffin half

with ½ teaspoon margarine and arrange in single layer on prepared pan. Spread

Heaping tablespoon pizza sauce on each muffin half. Cover generously with ground

chicken and onion; sprinkle with oregano. Cut 12 slivers of green pepper into

smiling"

mouth shapes and set aside; chop remaining pepper and sprinkle on

pizzas. Mix together Cheddar and mozzarella cheese; sprinkle generously on mini-

pizzas. Place in 450 degree oven about 12 minutes. Remove from oven. Make mask Face on each pizza by using 2 ripe olive rings for eyes and pepper slice for mouth. Turn some slices up for smiles and some down for frowns.

#CHILI #How to make Chili :)

 VEGETARIAN CHILI

Serves 8 to 10

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup celery, chopped (leaves too)

1 cup onion, chopped

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon celery salt

1 (1 pound 12 ounce) can tomatoes

2 teaspoons chili powder

½ teaspoon salt

cayenne pepper to taste

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce

2 (1 pound 1 ounce) can kidney or

chili beans, undrained

In the oil, sauté celery and onion until tender. Add the rest of the ingredients in the

order given. Simmer for 2 hours. If it needs to be thicker, thicken with 1 to 2

tablespoons cornstarch.

Note: Can also add ½ cup green pepper, chopped, while sautéing onions and celery

I have been making this recipe for DECADES!!!! Especially when my kids were little, it was so fun to make this on Halloween and after a fun night of trick or treating, they would have a nice hot bowl of chili. A family favorite for sure!!!!

* Weekly Menu Plan *

Steak on the grill
Loaded Baked Potatoes
Steamed Broccoli and Mushrooms with garlic

Bread

Tomato and cucumber salad


Steak Tacos with leftover steak made on homemade taco shells

with cheese, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos,

sour cream and guacamole

Meatloaf

Mashed Potatoes <---homemade!!
Steamed veggies <--- most likely Broccoli, because I got a huge bag at Costco

Salad and Bread

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs 
Steamed Rice

Green Beans
Bread and Salad

Chicken Bwak Bwak
Grilled Cheese

Beautiful yummy green salad with all the fixings

Friday Family Fun Night!!
Someone picks where we go for dinner :)

Saturday Pizza

 

Saturday and Sunday

 So, this Saturday we went to breakfast at Golden Corral early.  I had a nice cup of black coffee.  They have such good coffee and my husband loves the breakfast bar especially the omelet station. 

After breakfast we headed to Costco. 

 

We usually do Costco every Saturday to stock up on essentials.  Every list every week can be different.  We don't need the same things every week.  Sometimes it is water, sometimes it is cheese and sometimes it is vitamins.  I bought some produce while I was there, I got English cucumbers, tomatoes, celery,  We got hamburger and steaks too.

After Costco we went to Kroger to replace my soda stream, they were out at that Kroger.  We then went to Ingle's grocer and got a few things there that no other store carry's.

We then came home with our groceries.  I happily worked in the kitchen, cleaning and cutting and using my vacuum sealer on some things.

After that, I put on my running shoes and ran 3 miles straight.  Came home and did a peloton yoga class.

I love my Peloton.  GREATEST BIKE EVER!!!!

Made Dinner which was Little Cheddar Meatloaves with Roasted Rutabagas in my ninja foodie
I cut the rutabagas in cubes, put them in a bowl, with oil and garlic salt and roasted them in the ninja for 16 minutes!!  MMMM MMMMM
GOOD!! 

Cleaned the kitchen sparkling clean!

Sunday Morning comes and it was one of my favorite morning of all..

CHURCH TIME!!

I go to the best church ever.

I always try and get dressed up and look nice.  I think Church deserves the effort. I love Jesus!

After church we went to another Kroger and replaced my soda stream bottle..yaya, this one had it !!

I changed out of my clothes and put my running shoes on  again....I did another 3 miles..whoop whoop!!

It is supposed to be really hot this coming week and I am super excited.  I love to run in the heat, and I know winter is coming...so I am taking advantage of as many hot days coming up as I can.

After my run, I made lunch.

I food prepped quite a bit and made Chocolatey Brownies...

Made hardboiled eggs.

Prepped veggies.

Made a pasta salad

Laundry is always a go.

I found these laundry boosters, that I really like.  The smell is really beautiful

Sunday Dinner
Steak

Baked Potatoes

steamed broccoli and mushrooms

salad

and bread :)

I am going to put together my menu plan and share that as well, probably in the next blog post.  I am also going to keep posting holiday recipes that I have cooked or I am going to make a again. The holidays are coming!!!

This year I am going to get a skinny tree.  I want a tree that goes up more then it is wide...

I am super excited for the months to come and I hope I am able to share everything I am doing on my beloved blog.   need to keep it going.  I love my blog.

If by chance you made it this far, can you leave a comment.  I would love to know I f I have readers.  I respond to all who comment here :)

Happy Thursday! Do you have some time???....

     I am posting a picture of one of my most favorite pieces I have in my home.  It is this precious clock.  One thing I am not sure you all know about me is how I am always conscious of time.  I must have a calendar in every room and a clock where I can see it in every room.  I like to be very organized in my time.  When things are up in the air is when I notice I get a little anxious and panicky.  When I can organize my time and be somewhat organized I feel so much better.

Lists, I am a list maker.  I must write with pen and paper and I love post it notes...yes, I do!!  I love the perfect pen too.  Black fine tip that won't smudge but writes smooth and is easy to read.  I love felt tip pens also, I will decorate my planner and color all sorts of little pictures on it along with cute stickers.  Also, my cute little notebook that goes with me and my bible each to Sunday to take notes.  I use a bunch of different pens and highlighters.

I bring lists with me to the grocery store.  I have a white board on my fridge, that I make a running list of things needed and sometimes as I run out the door I snap a picture just to insure I bring back needed items.

Some of my greatest ideas come in the middle of the night, so I write thi gs down then too...lol..not often bt sometimes.

Time is so very precious now and I like to make the most of everything.  I can't believe how little my babies were when I started this blog and now they are almost fully grown up.  I wish I could slow things down.  How I miss the baby years and being so busy, busy, busy.  I am finding new joys though in life.  I am thoroughly enjoying my youngest and his studies and helping him.  He is 15 and soooooo smart!!!

Life is beautiful.  Life is so very precious.  Time is so important.  I thank God for every moment I have and I thank him for this beautiful life.  It's the little things :)

🍁CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP🍁

 Chicken Noodle Soup 

INGREDIENTS: For 4 servings you will need:

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely chopped

½ cup finely chopped onion

1 large chicken breast, skinned

(about ½ Ib.)

1 quart chicken broth, canned or

homemade

4 oz. noodles, narrow, wide or

Dutch

1 cup corn, frozen or canned

¼ tsp. black pepper

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a large, heavy

saucepan. Stir in the celery, carrot

and onion. Coat with butter.

2 Add the chicken. Cook over

medium-low heat, covered, for 10

to 15 minutes. Turn several times.

3 Remove chicken. Cut into small

cubes. Set aside.

4 Add the chicken broth to the

saucepan. Bring to a rapid boil.

5 Add the noodles and corn.

Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes

until noodles are just done.

6 Remove 2 cups of the soup and

blend until smooth. Return mixture

to soup.

7. Add the chicken. Heat for a

minute or two. Season with pepper.

Add salt, if needed.

****Serve steaming hot in large, wide

bowls.

Pumpkin Pan Rolls #PUMPKIN #FALLRECIPES #HOWTO

 PUMPKIN PAN ROLLS

*photo courtesy of Taste of Home

PREP: 20 MIN. + RISING • BAKE: 20 MIN.

MAKES: 20 ROLLS INGREDIENTS:

¾ cup whole milk

⅓ cup packed brown sugar

5 Tbsp. butter, divided

1 tsp. salt

2 pkg. (¼ oz. each) active dry

yeast

½ cup warm water (110° to 115°)

2 to 2½ cups all-purpose flour

1½ cups whole wheat flour

½ cup canned pumpkin

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground ginger

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk,

brown sugar, 4 Tbsp. butter and salt

to 110°-115° set aside.

2. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast

in warm water. Stir in milk mixture.

Add 1½ cups all-purpose flour, whole

wheat flour, pumpkin and spices.

Beat until smooth. Add enough

remaining all-purpose flour to form

a soft dough.

3. Turn onto a floured surface; knead

until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, turning once

to grease top. Cover; let rise in a warm

place until doubled, about 1 hour.

4. Punch dough down. Divide into

20 pieces; shape into balls. Place in

a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Cover

rolls and let rise for 30 minutes or

until doubled.

5. Preheat oven to 375°. Melt the

remaining butter; brush over dough.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden

brown. Remove from pan to a wire

rack. Serve warm.

1 ROLL: 124 cal., 3g fat (2g sat. fat), 9mg chol.,

154mg sod., 21g carb. (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g pro.

Strawberry Jello Delight #strawberry #simple

                INGREDIENTS:

      One 6 oz. box regular (not sugar free) strawberry Jello, prepared according to instructions below

      One 8 oz. container of Cool Whip

        1 cup of freshly sliced strawberries, preferably bitesize

      Directions:

1.    Boil one cup water on stove top and mix in the package of Jello

2.    Add in one cup cold water and stir. (These are the instructions on the side of the box.)

3.    Chill Jello, preferably in shallow pan, for about 45 minutes or until it is completely cool, just starting to set.

4.    Pour the Jello into a large mixing bowl.

5.    Mix the Jello up vigorously, for about one minute. Using an electric mixer is great for this step.

6.   This breaks up any Jello bits that have started to set and adds air to the mix.

7.    Then fold in the Cool Whip and then strawberries.

8.    Mix completely but be gentle.

9.   When serving this delicious light and fluffy dessert, you can top with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 If you put this in the freezer, it will taste just like ice cream :)

OVEN CLEANING MOTIVATION

https://youtu.be/xmpRO_5hKlg

 

Happy Monday!!

I made this little clip awhile ago and I am now sharing it with you!!

With a kind heart and a gentle thank you for stopping by, I always appreciate you!!!

I hope this year has been good to you!

Using Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide and a little elbow grease my oven came out so nice!!

Leave a little comment so I know you stopped by!!

Waving to my daughter, she always reads here.
Love you xo

HOMEMADE GRANOLA #Granola

 Homemade Granola Recipe:

Made with Love by me

Ingredients Deselect All 3 cups rolled oats 1 cup slivered almonds ~ Use Substitute for a nut allergy, something crunchy, like pretzels 1 cup cashews ~ Use Substitute dried edamame 3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1/4 cup vegetable oil (butter can be used) 3/4 teaspoon salt (use sparingly) 1 cup raisins or craisins

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. 2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar. 3. In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color. 4. Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.

Today!

Price of eggs. This is at Costco.  

Today!

                    A butterfly on my blueberry bush 

My Peloton!!!

I love this bike! 

 

Gardenia.....Pretty!

From my garden...

                  Smells so lovely.....

 

To all who read here......

You are enough......

                    You are not broken........

You are going to be okay.......

 

Grilled Asparagus #ninjafoodi