Boo to YOU!!!

This one just never gets old...

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!!

Hope springs eternal

My freighbor just brought over a three pack of the gigundo size cans of pumpkin that she found at Sam's.

I am back in the bread baking business!

Thank you, SP!

New Crisis

Forget about the financial problems our country is facing and the wars overseas. We have a national crisis occurring and I bet you don't know about it!

There is a shortage of canned pumpkin!!!!!

Yes, it's true. Try to remain calm.

Albertson's is out, so is the commissary and Costco. I have my neighbor checking Sam's Club, but I am not holding out much hope.

When I asked at Albertsons about the missing pumpkin, the sweet girl informed me of the shortage and suggested I pick up a pie pumpkin in produce instead. I graciously thanked her for the info and suggestion as I inwardly rolled my eyes and thought "Yeah, right. I ain't making my own pumpkin puree."

I don't need the pumpkin for pie (Costco makes killer pumpkin pies - FYI) but for pumpkin bread. A friend of mine gave me her recipe last year and it is amazing. The girls love it, and it is nice to cook on a cold day. I alter the recipe adding applesauce for the oil and replacing some of the white flour with whole wheat pastry flour. It seems almost healthy!

So, if you find pumpkin in a can, hoard it. If the shortage doesn't clear by Thanksgiving you could sell it on the black market and make a lot of money!

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

350 degree oven
Cook time approx 1 hour

Mix together
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

add

2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 c water
1 1/2 flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup canned pumpkin

Mix. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan.

Found Time

Last year our evenings were hectic. Isabella moved in slow motion and the smallest tasks took a long time to accomplish.

This year Isabella is doing better and our evenings are smoother. I have discovered that we have what I am calling "found time" after dinner and homework is done. Time when we can relax, play a game or just talk. No rushing no hurrying, just being.

Last night I put Ali to bed at 6:45Pm, the girls got their homework and baths done, and we had found time. They were cozy in their winter jammies, working on word searches in my room as I changed the sheets on my bed and added the electric blanket. It was fun to listen to their conversation.

"Sometimes when I am bored at school I put the pencils in my mouth and bite them, and then I remember and take them out of my mouth and drink a lot of water to get rid of the germs," Isabella informs us.

GREAT! Just put those germs on a fast track to your gut!I think it, but don't say it, as I am pleased that she is at least keeping germ containment in mind.

"Ya" Emmalena chimes in, "When I am bored I chew on the erasers."

"Um, don't you all share the pencils at school?" I ask.

"Yes."

And then it comes to me. All the money we are wasting on hand sanitizers. A complete and total waste of time. As is washing the hands, coughing into your sleeve. It all makes me laugh now. The CDC is just filling us full of pipe dreams. And, I have bought into it, stalking my children, making them wash their hands the minute they get home from school (the damage was done a long time ago and already circulating through their systems by the time they get home. Who cares now?) telling them not to share cups, not to cough on each other, to take their vitamins. It's like trying to put out a fire with a straw and a glass of water. Kids are going to share germs, they are going to get sick (mine already have) and I am done being the germ police. Kids are just kids, they don't think about this stuff. I love them, but they are kind of gross.

So, I just found myself some more time now that I am off the force!

Get on It!!

For those of you who still haven't made this soup -

Get on it!!!

My neighbor and I are making it for dinner tonight!!!
What are YOU making?????


Cheddar Chicken Chowder

Tip: Buy skinned, boned chicken breasts and preshredded cheese.

2 bacon slices
Cooking spray
1 pound skinned, boned chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced red bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 1/2 cups fat-free chicken broth
1 3/4 cups diced peeled red potatoes
2 1/4 cups frozen whole-kernel corn
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups 2% low-fat milk
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cook bacon in a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan. Crumble; set aside. Add chicken, onion, bell pepper, and garlic to bacon fat in pan; sauté 5 minutes. Add broth and potatoes; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add corn; stir well.
Place flour in a bowl. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended; add to soup. Cook over medium heat 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Stir in cheese, salt, and pepper. Top with crumbled bacon.

Yield: 7 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)CALORIES 306 (22% from fat); FAT 7.5g (sat 4g,mono 2.2g,poly 0.6g); IRON 1.6mg; CHOLESTEROL 58mg; CALCIUM 193mg; CARBOHYDRATE 33.7g; SODIUM 376mg; PROTEIN 25g; FIBER 2.9g Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 1996
Posted by Alison at 10:39 AM

Get on It!

Get on It!

Birthday Brrrrr!!!

In spite of the fact that we had to postpone going out to dinner on Saturday night, and then breakfast on her birthday, because the roads were too icy, Isabella had a great birthday.












After opening presents, we made a nice big breakfast and ate in the dining room.

We then headed to Aerials Gymnastics to celebrate with all of Isabella's little friends.







After dinner, we had cake and ice cream with our special freighbors.
And, Isabella had a surprise visitor join us to celebrate her special day. Miss Tami was Isabella's therapist at OT and she stopped by for a visit. Lucky us!




Miss Tami

What a busy day! I told Jimmy I worked harder yesterday than the day Isabella was born!
Happy Crazy 8, my brown eyed girl!

Blah, Blah, Blah

I posted the longest post I have ever written on my SIL's blog today. She is still in the hospital with her new baby, so I still have control of her blog. (Insert evil laugh here.)

Here's the link if you want to read it.

http://inthebeaverstate.blogspot.com/

Earned

I pulled up my winter clothes from the basement this morning and discovered that I own four gray sweaters, in various shades. A 3/4 sleeve, cowl neck dress in charcoal grey, 3 black turtlenecks, and one brown turtleneck.

Perhaps my SIL is justified in calling me Morticia.

I'm a Star (wink wink)

While my SIL is in the hospital resting with my new nephew, I am filling in on her blog. I am a guest blogger! It's probably as close to famous as I will ever be.

Go here to check it out, not to read more from me, but because her blog is awesome!

http://inthebeaverstate.blogspot.com/

2 for 1

Today is turning out to be a good day for our family.

Aunt Gayle celebrates her birthday today. Happy birthday to you!

And, this morning my SIL delivered unto us a new baby!

Welcome Lincoln Wilson!

Now, I will NEVER be able to top that birthday gift!

The Truth will set you Free!

There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves.

THOMAS WOLFE, The Web and the Rock

I love this quote! Where has it been for the last 13 years?