Girls Cookie Day, Part 2

So the original reason the girls came over the other day was to make sugar cookies.  Sometimes it is helpful to read the directions for the cookies before they get there because after we started fixing up the cookie dough, then I saw where it had to chill in the fridge for 2 hours.  That’s why we made the Funfetti Cookies.  I say we, I really wasn’t involved other than calling out the directions.  Zebra Girl, Tbug and Moo were in charge and Tbug knows my kitchen well enough to keep things under control.

With Moo being Gluten Free, we made these cookies Moo friendly by using Oat Flour.  Holy yum!  I’m not sure I’ll want to go back to regular flour for sugar cookies!  YUM!

Tbug got a cooking set for cookies & brownies for Christmas one year.  Here’s our Gluten Free Sugar cookies

What you’ll need: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1 cup sugar; 1 egg (so almost A friendly, she can’t have eggs); 1 1/2 tsp vanilla (eh eyeball it!); 2 cups Oat flour; 1 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt.

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Goals. Drive. Motivation.

Circa August 2003

Goals.
Drive.
Motivation.

Things that are floating around in my head right now.  I keep my hotmail email account open for one reason and one reason only… that is to keep my facebook account up and running.  All the notifications go there and don’t take up room in my gmail account, probably why people who know my gmail email have a hard time finding me.  Once every few months I go into my hotmail account to 1) keep it active and 2) clean all the crap out of it.  It fills up fairly fast!

Yesterday while I was in cleaning out that email I clicked on one of the side folders that was titled “my stuff.”  For some reason, most of the emails I have saved over the years to my hotmail account have been deleted (it’s been active since 1999) but in the “my stuff” folder there were 30 emails that date back to 2002ish and the most recent was 2006.

a Photo I’ve been promising you for a while. Circa Summer 1999

I started reading through the titles and author (for lack of better word) of the email and found one from a friend of mine.  She was a few years behind me in school so while I was in college, she was still in high school.  She sent me her goals list and told me to save the email and every so often send it to her to remind her of her goals and to keep her on track.

I could see where I forwarded it once, but I didn’t pay attention to the date I sent it.  But yesterday, I forwarded the email to her again, if for no other reason than a good laugh.  These were her short and long term goals circa 2004.

Circa May 2001

I’m not going to lie, I was wishing I could find goals I had made for myself dated back to 2001 era, around the time I graduated from high school and was headed to college.  I really thought it would have been fun to look back on those goals, just to see what I’ve accomplished and see how my goals have changed.

That’s when I remembered a few months back I found a journal from my junior year in high school.  I found it in my room at my parents’ house and brought it to our house to read to my husband, especially after one entry I made.

9/8/99
When the day comes, will you be ready?  Where will you go and what will happen?  Will it be peaceful and nice or will it be gloomy and a place to avoid?  It is the way we all are, we want to know.  You will wonder, what’s happening?  What’s next?  Am I really ready for this?  Is it actually for me?  So many thoughts will run through your mind.  It’s scary to even think about.  Breathing deeply, now your heart is racing wildly.  You wish you could control it but you can’t.  You start to shake and get hot.  Wait you’re cold.  You can’t even tell what you are.  You are so nervous you can’t handle it.  You are ready to freak out.  It is bothering you.  It is really hard to decide what choice to make or if it will be the right one.  Walking slowly you keep taking long deep breaths to try and calm yourself but it isn’t helping at all.  You just keep getting closer and more nervous.  Now comes a decision in your life that could change you forever.  Shy or standoffish?  Big or little?  Now soon or never?  What is your choice?  You only have 20 steps left.  You can take the hard road which is better in the long run, or take the easy way out and go down.  All you have worked for is gone if you choose down.  Now is the biggest decision ever.  You’ve come this far but can turn back now; but you’ve come this far.  You keep coming.  There you are at the grandest staircase you’ve ever seen!!  10 steps left and you are there.  Through the huge double doors is the most exciting feeling you have ever had.  Four steps, three steps, two steps, one step.  Now you are there at the double doors.  They seem to be 100 feet tall.  You grab the knobs and pull them open.  You walk in just to hear the bell ring.  Awe, man you realize you’re already late for your first day of school.  You walk in and go to class.

I also snickered at my spelling and grammar.  Whoa was it bad!

I guess technically this journal wasn’t my hopes and dreams, especially because it was for a school English class so I couldn’t write my true hopes and desires, but one thing is for sure, it shows where I was in life.  It shows my character, it shows how I saw the world, it shows my feelings toward many situations, including the man I married :).

Circa August 2003

I’ll keep looking for my list of goals, because surely they have to be somewhere.  I guess from this, I should sit down and write out where I see myself in the next year, five years and 10 years in the future so that when Tbug is graduating high school I can show her where I thought I would be…

You know Me & Cheese Dip!

Two weeks ago on Rachael Ray they had one of The Doctors on the show and he was discussing food health and reading labels, etc.  They picked up a bag of Bacon Bits and read through the ingredients… how scary was it that there was no bacon in Bacon Bits.  ACK!  So I guess the take home from this boys and girls, read your labels!

Ok now I’ll share a fun recipe with you, hows that for fun?!?!  It even contains bacon bits, but the real things… just sayin!

Cheese Dip

1-16oz sour cream
1-8oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese
1-cup green onion
1-bag real bacon bits

Mix together & bake 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serve warm with crackers or chips.

10 Things to Smile About, February Edition

1.  Tbug got to attend a Try it Tuesday with us and give scuba diving a try.

2. The girls got to have a fun cookie day.  And the adults got the yummy cookies out of the deal, heck yeah!

3.  Rio came into our lives

4.  I made fun of hubby for trying to leave for work in his house shoes and then I tried to leave for date night in mine.  Woops 🙂

5.  We celebrated Grandma’s birthday at one of her favorite places to eat – Red Lobster

6.  We celebrated Mardi Gras with a King Cake although everyone was avoiding the “good luck” baby thinking that it meant you’d have a baby.  btw, that’s not what it means….

7.  I celebrated my 3 year reminder of the best decision I’ve ever made.

8.  Hubby and I went to a Brazilian Steakhouse for our Valentine’s Day Dinner

9.  Earl, Moo and I spent the day with my grandma getting cooking lessons on how to make Strawberry Jam, Homemade Chicken & Noodles & Kid Friendly Muffins.

10.  We finally got some winter weather.

11. Oh and I’m being a rebel and doing 11 things to smile about.  I saved the best for last: Hubby and I went Ice Skating!!!  Happy Valentine’s Day to us!

Linking up with EmmyMom


and IA & SS for Talk to us Tuesday


and Stacy!!
Stacy

and
 photo ArtatHomeButton_zps18898da7.jpg

Bacon, Cream Cheese & Jalapeno’s, Oh My!

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Hello yum is all I have to say. In fact I couldn’t keep my sweet husband out of them, but don’t worry, for every one he got, he took a bite and then I got a bite is it was all good, right!?!?

Ok so what you do:

Get Jalapenos.  Slice them in half and remove the ribs and seeds (because that’s where the heat lives in a pepper).

Then you take cream cheese and stuff the half pepper full of cream cheese.  Wrap a half piece of bacon around the pepper.

Place them in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Then try to stay out of them!!

Eat and Enjoy!

Girls Cookie Day – Part 1

Tbug was at the house this weekend, just chillin when I thought it might be fun if Moo & Zebra Girl came for a visit.  Earl had mentioned a time or two the last few weeks it would be fun to get the girls together to do sugar cookies, but Tbug has been so busy with her cheer competitions that this was the first week she’s been around for a while.

I shot Earl a text and asked if Moo could come decorate cookies with Tbug not knowing Zebra girl was around.  When Earl said she was there too I said, bring her as well!  They all get along and have so much fun.

I was standing back in the kitchen and telling them what to do.  I know Tbug has cooked enough in the kitchen with me that she knows how to do things and I figured between the 3 girls, I’d stand back and if they got in a bind, I’d jump in to help.  Plus, great way to get photos :).  Although Zebra girl caught me :).

They worked so well together and took turns.  btw, look at Moo’s face. haha!

I’m sure Tbug was telling them how to do this and that :). 

Now we actually chose to do these cookies while our sugar cookie dough was sitting in the fridge chilling for 2 hours :).

What you need: 1 Funfetti cake mix (or a white cake mix and 1 cup sprinkles), 1 tsp baking powder, 2 large eggs, 1/3 cup veg or canola oil, 1/2 tsp vanilla.

In a bowl, mix together the baking powder & the cake mix.  (if adding your own sprinkles, wait until the very end).

In a smaller bowl mix together the eggs, vanilla & oil, whisk together.  Mix into the dry mixture.  Mix together to make sure all the cake mixture is mixed with the wet ingredients.  At the very end add your sprinkles if you used a white cake mix – don’t over mix though or you’ll color your dough.

While the cookies were baking the girls were discussing all the problems of the world.  That and making the funniest noises :).

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

Funfetti Cookies

by Nicole
Ingredients
  • 1 Funfetti cake mix (or a white cake mix and 1 cup sprinkles),
  • 1 tsp baking powder,
  • 2 large eggs,
  • 1/3 cup veg or canola oil,
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla.
Instructions
In a bowl, mix together the baking powder & the cake mix. (if adding your own sprinkles, wait until the very end).
In a smaller bowl mix together the eggs, vanilla & oil, whisk together. Mix into the dry mixture.
Mix together to make sure all the cake mixture is mixed with the wet ingredients.

At the very end add your sprinkles if you used a white cake mix – don’t over mix though or you’ll color your dough.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.
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Creamy Hot Artichoke Dip

For Christmas, (I know Christmas, what am I talking about) my mom had us come over early and help her with cooking preparations.  To say she was a bit overwhelmed, well, we all have our moments and cooking in the kitchen is soooo my thing so I jumped at the chance to help out!!  Besides she does everything else so brilliantly!!

The dip was sooo good that hubby and I couldn’t stay out of it.  We practically ate it all ourselves.  So then for New Years, we chose to make it again.  We varied off this recipe we found on the Hellmann’s website a bit, but to remember what we did, well I’m not sure any 2 dips are the same anyway 🙂

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Jalapeno Popper Dip

So who doesn’t like Jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon?  I know, I know, there are a bunch of people out there.  I personally LOVE them however :).  Now I don’t do so well with the seeds and ribs where the heat lives, but you clean them out and I’m good to go.

Back before Super Bowl we were discussing what we’d take to the party we were attending.  Rachael Ray’s daytime show, she had all the different football/Superbowl type foods listed and someone said something about a Jalapeno Popper Dip. SOLD!

Then later on in the day I stumbled across the Our Best Bites recipe in my google reader and immediately showed it to hubby. (fyi, I record the shows and then watch them in the morning while I’m getting ready, so I’m always a day behind :))  I knew we had to make it and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint!

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Recipe adapted from Our Best Bites

2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, softened (light works great) (although I seriously don’t remember using 2 packages of cream cheese….)
1 c. mayonnaise (light also works here, but DON’T use Miracle Whip!)
1 c. Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
1 4-oz. can fire roasted green chilies
1 Jalapeno pepper, diced with ribs and seeds removed.
optional: 8oz bacon, cooked and crumbled (so have to have the bacon, come on!!)
Tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 350. If using bacon, reserve 2-3 Tbs and sprinkle on top of dip before baking.  Combine cream cheese, mayo, parmesan, and garlic and stir until smooth.  Add jalapeno’s and green chilies.

If using bacon, stir in remaining bacon.

Spread dip into a 9″ pie plate or a small baking dish.  Sprinkle with remaining bacon if using.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until dip is bubbly and golden brown.

p.s. Have you checked out the giveaway I’m part of over on Kenzie’s blog yet? You really need to!!

Marriage is like your Engagement

Let me explain that title.

I had someone tell me one time that the way you handled situations during your engagement period, would show what your marriage held in store.  I’ve always thought that was an interesting scenario.  We had a few hiccups in our engagement what with planning the wedding and even just differences in personalities, as all couples face, but for the most part, our engagement went off without a hitch and here we are 2 1/2 years later still married and still very much in love with each other.  (like that run-on sentence?)

So I was talking to a fellow employee who lives out in Sunny CA at work the other day trying to help people at his branch get set up for different systems that our department have in place and we had a side conversation going on about the cost of living between here and there.  I have no idea how that happened, but it really doesn’t matter.

We discussed gas prices (there $4.59/gallon; here 3.58/gallon), electricity bills, how their water bill is more than my car payment, etc.  Then the electric bill got us off onto a house somehow and I named all the things that in the little over 2 years we’ve lived there, we’ve dealt with.

We’ve replaced a pool liner, but just before we did that our well hit bottom and pumped our pool full of mud, just before the 4th of July party.  I was embarrassed but we just shocked the heck out of it and swam in a pool that looked like a muddy pond but smelled like a pool.

Last summer the heater/AC unit went out, so we got the pleasure of replacing that.

In 2 1/2 years we’ve had 2 water pipes break.  The first was the day before Christmas and it flooded our living room and office.  We called both our dads and they came and helped us replace the line and empty the office.  The second was in our dining room the day before Thanksgiving.  We pulled down the wanes coating, the sheet rock and patched it as well.

So we’ve had a few hiccups along the way, a few disagreements, but so far nothing we haven’t been able to handle (knock on wood, don’t want to jinx myself).  So anyway, just something I was pondering and thought I would share.  Happy day friends.

Red Onion Cafe – Joplin, MO

Hubby and I made plans to go out to dinner Saturday night after I got done with the girls and he was done chopping wood for the house.  I was being pretty wishy washy about even going and didn’t know where I wanted to go or what even sounded good when I just smarted off, Red Onion.  Hubby was like, you know, that sounds good.  I probably haven’t eaten there in 15 years or something.  Yup, he just dated himself. lol.

Red Onion is kind of off the beaten path that we generally run so I never really think of it, but  you want to talk about GOOD food… this is the place!

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