Healthy and Easy snack or appetizer.

This is a great snack or appetizer.  Easy and good for you anytime.

Cut up your favorite apples and do a light drizzle of caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, or both.  Can't get any easier.  I used Hersey's syrups.

I love it when nature helps you decorate for fall.......

WE ALL HAVE AT LEAST 7 MINUTES

Do you have 7 minutes a day?

JACK AND I HAVE STARTED TO DO THIS 7 MINUTES WORKOUT EVERYDAY.  WE STILL DO OUR NORMAL WORKOUTS---BUT THIS IS SO QUICK AND EFFICIENT, THAT IF YOU END UP NOT DOING YOUR NORMAL WORKOUT, THERE IS NOT GUILT FEELINGS.

THIS IS THE APP AND ITS FREE.  YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE.

Cranberry Pork Chops-Incredible

This is a super simple recipe and its outstanding.

Place onions in the bottom of a crockpot.  Place pork chops on top of the onion.  Pour a can of Cranberry Sauce over chops and add salt and pepper.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Remove them from the crockpot and place them on the grill, 3 minutes per side. This is an amazing and super simple recipe.  You can also use chicken.

A Great Tomato Basil Soup

Here is a 
great recipe for 
Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients  1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup minced white onion 1 tsp. minced garlic 2 (28oz) cans crushed tomatoes 3 cups chicken broth 3/4 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup minced fresh basil  1/3 cup granulated sugar 2 tsp. minced fresh parsley 1/4 tsp. dried oregano 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper.
1.  Heat 1 tsp. of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and then add onion and garlic. 2.  Saute for a couple of minutes. 3.  Add crushed tomatoes and chicken broth and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. 4.  Turn off the heat and let mixture cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes or so. 5.   Pour half of the tomato mixture into a blender.  Blend on high for a minute, pour into large bowl, then add the rest of the mixture and repeat. 6.  Pour back into saucepan and then add the remaining ingredients. 7.  Bring back to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Garnish with croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese.

The Easiest and Best Fried Rice Recipe

I have made Fried Rice and Chicken Fried Rice several times.  This recipe is by far the easiest and most delicious recipe I have ever found for this dish.  Last weekend I just made Fried rice without chicken for a side dish.  It lasted for quite a few meals and was excellent!!  This is also on my Pinterest Board

Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients:
*4 cups rice, prepared
*1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked (slow cooked teriyaki chicken is recommended)
*1 cup peas & carrots, frozen ( I used corn instead of the carrots)
*1 white onion, chopped
*2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 eggs
*3 tablespoons sesame oil
*1/4 cup soy sauce

Instructions:
1.  Prepare rice according to package instructions to yield 4 cups cooked rice.
2.  Heat sesame oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
3.  Add onion, garlic, peas, and carrots.  Stir fry until tender.
4.  Crack eggs into pan and scramble, mixing throughout vegetables.
5.  Add rice, chicken, and soy sauce to pan.  Stir in soy sauce and remove from heat.

When I reheated this dish for the next dinner, I did it with a bit of sesame oil in the pan heated.  Then just added a little soy sauce.
Enjoy!!

Farmers Market......that time of year.

Now is the time of year to save some cash and eat healthy.  Do most of your grocery shopping at your local Farmers Market or Produce store.   By far cheaper side dishes and completely healthy.  All you need to have is a bottle of good olive oil, fresh cracked pepper, and sea salt to roast just about any vegetable you pick up.
Roasted carrots, green beans, the list is endless.  Much better for you than anything in a box or can.  

Great Fruit Salad....

This is one of the recipes we tried last weekend from my Pinterest. 

You mix 2 tablespoons of dry vanilla pudding mix with fruit.  It was amazing and got raves from everyone.  We had 16 people spend the weekend and it didn't make it past day 2.

 

Steak Marinade......Easy yet amazing

Amazing Steak Marinade.....  I always use ketchup on my steak.  I couldn't with this Marinade.


1/4 cup olive oil                                                        2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar                                          2 teaspoons Minced Garlic
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce                                   salt and pepper to taste.
1/4 cup soy sauce

Mix together and marinade steak.  2 hours to 24 hours

Grill as normal....Yum...Yum...Yum...

The Best BlueBerry Muffins......

These are the best BlueBerry Muffins......Made some for Memorial Day and everyone loved them.

*no-stick cooking spray *2 cups all-purpose flour *1 cup oats-quick or regular oats, plain *2/3 cup sugar *1 teaspoon baking powder *1 teaspoon baking soda *1/2 teaspoon salt *12 ounces honey nonfat greek yogurt or 1 1/2 cups (Chobani) *2 large eggs, lightly beaten *4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled *1 teaspoon vanilla extract * cup fresh blueberries 1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees 2.  Coat muffin tin with cooking spray or liners. 3.  Combine flour, sugar, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. 4.  Combine yogurt, eggs, butter, and vanilla in a second bowl. 5.  Fold yogurt mixture into dry mixture; stir to combine completely. 6.  Gently fold in blueberries. 7.  Spoon into muffin tins. Bake until top is golden and springs back when you gently touch it, 20-25 minutes!

Memorial Day......

Another Memorial Weekend has come and gone.  Enjoyed the weekend with family.
Thank you to all Our Service Men and Women!!

Updated Fire Pit- Pinterest project complete!

So this is the picture of a fire pit that I loved and wanted to do at our lake house.

So this weekend, we did it!!  We used much smaller stone edging but we are very pleased with how it turned out.

Another Pinterest project completed.

Our Little Cabin in the Woods

Our Little Cabin in the Woods.....

A peak at the outside....

 It is fun to be at the lake - then have the backyard quiet.

Double-Duty Idea's

Here are some idea's to help reduce, reuse, and recycle

---Plastic gallon milk jug- cut top with a utility knife just above the handle and use as a scoop for kitty litter, birdseed, etc.

---Plastic Tub- Get the largest-size container of yogurt, sour cream, or margarine.  When done with the tub, rinse and reuse it as a travel dish for pets or for craft-suppy storage.

---Magazines - Roll up a couple of these and stick on into each of you calf-or knee-high boots so the footwear will keep its shape.

---Old Shower Curtain- Stash one in your car's truck to line it when carting potentially messy paints, plants, beach gear, etc.

---Empty glass food jars - These make perfect see-through storage vessels for nails, screws, nuts, and bolts.  Craft supplies also.

---Foam Packing Peanuts - Put some in the bases of potted plants to help drainage.

---Empty Paper-Towel Roll-Flatten, and use to sheathe a knife kept in a drawer.

---Plastic Mesh Produce Bag - Turn it into a no-scratch scrubber for a gunky pot or pan.  Ball up the bag, scour, then throw the whole mess away.

---Used coffee grounds - Spread them over flower beds of acid-craving plants such as azaleas or rhododendrons.

New York's Naked Cowboy

Make sure if you go to New York, you get your picture taken with the Naked Cowboy.  This is on of my favorite pictures from a New York trip that Chelsea took with us.  This was taken quite a few years ago.

Chelsea is really getting her squeeze on.

Flat Stanley

On our trip to Florida, we got to meet Flat Stanley.  Flat Stanley was sent to my sister, Shelly,  from our nieces son Braydon.  I have never heard of Flat Stanley before.  Braydon sent him to my sister for a visit.  Kids create them in school and give them to family and friends, to take places, take pictures, and create a story.   It was very cool. Here he is with me and Jack at Universal Studios.

 Flat Stanley enjoying the flowers.

 Flat Stanley enjoying Toy Story.

 Posing with my sister.

 Meeting a dinosaur.

 Having a drink, posing for a picture.

 Trying on a hat.

 Riding a motorcycle.

We really got a kick out of it.  A lot of people knew what we were doing.  Also spotted a Grandma taking a picture with her Flat Stanley.

What Is A Soul Mate?

What Is A Soul Mate?

If you have found a smile

that is the sweetest one you've known,

If you have heard, within a voice,

the echoes of your own,

If you have felt a touch

that stirs the longings of your heart,

And still feel that closeness

in the moments you're apart,

If you have filled with wonder

at the way two lives can blend

To weave a perfect pattern 

that is seamless, end to end,

If you believe some things in life

are simply meant to be,

Then you have found your soul mate,

your heart's own destiny.

(Thank you Pinterest)

You have described Jack and Me