Cheesy Potatoes

1 bag frozen hash browns--(thawed)

1/2 stick butter or marg.

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 16oz sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups crushed corn flakes

Mix soup, sour cream, and cheese together.  Mix with thawed hash browns.  Spread into 13 x 9 baking pan.  Mix melted marg. with crushed corn flakes and spread on potatoes.  Bake 1 hour at 375.

A great dish that goes a long way.

Our Bucket List

Jack and I are working on our bucket list.  The kids are grown and gone.   Now it is time for us to do all the things we want to do before we climb into our rockers.
A few things on our list:
Montana National Park (stay for a week)
Fisherman's Wharf
Yellow Stone
Costa Rica
Italy
Disney
We have been to Disney a few times, but we have never been there for a week without children.  So, in 3 weeks, we are going for a week!  I am going to make Jack wear Mickey Mouse Ears.  Jack wants to spend some time in Epcot.  It is time to be a kid again!!

Whole Food Cooking....Green Beans

There is nothing like green beans fresh from the market or better yet, the farmers market.   It is much cheaper to buy them fresh.   Here are some ideas for them.


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1.  Trim and wash fresh green beans.  Arrange on sprayed baking sheet.  Cover with olive oil, sea salt and pepper.  Bake 400 for 10 to 15 min., until they start to brown.  My Favorite

Add-ons  :  minced fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, just about any spice you like or fresh herb.

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2.  Of course, green bean casserole
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3.   Blanch green beans for 3 minutes in boiling water.  Transfer directly to ice bath to stop the cooking process.

Heat in skillet olive oil, add green beans, sea salt, and fresh cracked pepper.  Cook until hot and tender, just a few minutes.

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4.  Roast green beans  as in number one.  Cook these over medium heat- 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar.  When beans come out of oven, pour sauce over beans.

Whole food cooking....RedSkin Potatoes

A Bag of RedSkin Potatoes......

A much more economical way to cook.  Not to mention, much more healthy

A couple of dinner ideas:

Clean and pierce as many potatoes as you need for the amount of people you are cooking for.

Use a microwave safe plate, place a wet paper towel and then the potatoes.  I usually cook 2-3 on high for 4 minutes.

Cut into cubes.  Cook in pan with a bit of olive oil, salt, and fresh cracked pepper.

A couple of add ons to change it up:  Red pepper flakes, and /or fresh garlic.  Also add sliced green onion....Anything you have on hand.

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Just a plain baked potato in the oven at 425 for 35-40 min. (Watch what you top it with)  The spray butter above is a staple in our kitchen.  Zero Calories, Zero Fat.  We put it on everything and cook with it.

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Of course, boil for mashed potatoes
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Boil potatoes, use a masher and smash each potato on a sprayed baking sheet.  Spray with butter.  Add Sea Salt and Fresh ground pepper.  Bake in oven 425 for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.

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1 bag of potatoes will take you farther than anything prepared in a box.  Cheaper and healthier.

Harlem Shake- Bridgpeport McDonald's Style

This is Bridgeport McDonald's Harlem Shake!!'

Thank you to all the crew that set this up and participated!!  It is not the final video, there is still more.  Thanks for letting me be a part of your awesome idea!  What fun.

Customer Service was not disturbed during the shooting of this video.

Eat Fresh and Healthy

Co-Worker (and friend of mine) would like (not a diet) but to 'lose weight eating better' tips.  

I will be adding recipes and tips for a healthy life for all.  I will research and find more tips that I can share.  

First Five:

1.  Eat whole foods.   Buy fresh fruit, vegetables, and a bag of potatoes.  Farmers markets are your best friend.

2.  Pass by the frozen food section completely.  There is nothing there you want or your body needs.

3.  Pass by the boxes prepared foods....You have all the ingredients to make the same thing in your cabinets...  If you want to know spices that will help, leave a comment.

4.  If you need to lose weight, never pick up any drink that has sugar, I would rather eat.  (  also - I would rather have a beer than a soft drink, up to you....

5.  Get a fresh black cracked pepper shaker and sea salt shaker.  Makes all the difference in food taste, you will be a fan. 

Amazing 5 things my husband said to me today

5 of the most amazing things my husband said to me today!

You look sad....the basement will be ok....promise

You sound sad....you sure your 'ok' ?

You had a Monday....We are going out!

Damn......Your so cute......

Where the Hell did I find you.....


Thats my man.....A full day of reasons to look forward to our time together...

Blueberry Surprise French Toast Bake

This is Blueberry Surprise French Toast Bake

This is an easy and impressive dish.  Great if you have a big family or company.

12 slices dry white bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes ( about 8 cups)
2 8oz packages of cream cheese, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
12 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup maple syrup 

1.  Place half of the bread cubes over the bottom of a well-butterered 13x9x2 inch baking dish (3-quart rectangular).  Sprinkle cream cheese and blueberries over brea cubes.  Arrange remaining bread cubes over blueberries.

2.  In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs with a rotary beater; beat in milk and the 1/2 cup syrup.  Carefully pour egg mixture over the bread mixture.  Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.

3.  Bake, covered, in a 375 degree f oven for 25 minutes.  Uncover and bake about 25 minutes more or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, and topping is puffed and golden brown.  Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.  Serve warm with blueberry-flavored or maple syrup.  Makes 8 servings.

Note:  To dry bread slices:  Arrange bread in a single layer on a wire rack; cover loosely and let stand overnight.  Or cut bread with 1/2 inch cubes; spread in a large baking pan.  Bake, uncovered, in a 300 degree f oven or 10 to 15 minutes or until dry, stirring twice; cool.

Life Throws A Curve Ball

And sometimes life throws you a curve ball.   After coming home from Las Vegas, we found the pipes came apart on our sump pump.  4-5 inches of water in our finished basement.

We found this around 11:00 pm, so of course there was nothing to be done until the following morning.  We called our insurance company and they recommended Servpro.  Within 1 hour the project manager was here.  Within 1 1/2 hours- the workers were here working.  Very impressive .  Of course at this point- we are not sure exactly the cost and what the insurance company will cover.

Needless to say....I will be spending my weekend trying to save what I can save.  

Needless to say....the painting project is on hold.

Needless to say....Yet another challenge.

My 50 Shades......Of Me....and Him...

OK,   I read 50 Shades of Grey 3 times.....loved it ....only because it reminds me that Jack is there for me....24 /7....in the hard times.  we have been threw all of it...and are here.  We will never have the money....but....really don't want it....would rather not have the past...but the reason I loved it was he loved her...for her... and I love him for him and he me....its just perfect...and it can be for you..We make time to be one....every day.....without a break...that makes a long marriage.

Tomato Soup gone bad

This is the first recipe on my board on Pinterest that I did not like.  The homemade tomato soup.

For us, it was way too tomatoey.

DIY Basement Painting Continues

More of our Basement painting complete.  Here is a picture as you look down the stairway.

 Exercise / Office area is completed.

 Now to complete the second wall in the bar area and I will be done!!

This has been such a fun and easy winter project.  One that really makes a dramatic difference.  It just doesn't feel like a basement anymore!!

50th Birthday

Yep- I am fifty.  Hard to believe.  What a Birthday .  A weekend with Jack, Chelsea, Bob, and my nieces Heidi and Missy.  We had a wonderful night.  Dinner and cocktails at Cody's and then played Scattergories.  Very fun night!   I received a 'facetime' call from my sister.  She was going to come home for the weekend, but instead, her and Jack planned a weekend for all of us in Chicago!  She got our hotel room for my present!!!

My actual Birthday was very interesting.   First of all, my manager Gloria made sure my day was filled with fun.  My road sign announced my birthday as I drove to my restaurant.  Gloria had also contacted the local radio station and announced my 50th Birthday and asked people to say Happy Birthday to me at my restaurant.

So my day consisted of customers coming in my store, thru my Drive-thru, and calling the store to say Happy Birthday to me.  Wow.

The managers and crew got together and gave me a basket of items that I will soon need.  Denture Cream, Depends, chocolates, candy, and other items I will need in the near future.  They also had flowers delivered to the store.  I love my people!!

My Coffee guys that come in every morning, got me a cane to help me along.  Another manager, Aurora, baked me a cake!

It was awesome!!

Jack took me out for a great dinner at Famous Dave's - followed by cocktails at our favorite bar where I received another cake from our favorite bartender, Diane.

Chicago was amazing.  Shelly told everyone we saw that it was my birthday.  She got me 2 pairs of glasses, a terra, a shot-glass necklace, a shot glass, and confetti for our hotel room.

The beaded necklace said "it took 50 years to get this fabulous. "  I like that!!

We had a great time.  We did lots of shopping.  Had cocktails on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building.  Went to the Chicago Art Institute, The Navy Pier, and of course took Shelly out for a deep dish pizza.

Nightlife included ' Howl at the Moon' a great dueling piano bar, where I found myself on stage with a bride to be, dancing to 'Baby Got Back'.  We also went to Second City Comedy Club, which was wonderful and I highly recommend!

Thank you to everyone that made my 50th Birthday one to remember!!!