The Last Monday Morning Meme

I love me a good meme, and Monday Morning Meme is a great one. Sadly, it has come to an end after this week. Thank you Karen for hosting this great meme!

1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier. I would say that my life has most benefited from the Internet by helping me keep in touch with friends and family that don't live nearby, as well as helping me to meet other great Christian woman.

2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you? I am thinking it is heading down to southern Illinois, which is where I lived during my high school and college years. I don't have family there anymore, but I do have friends there. In a way, that will always be "home" to me, and I have been longing to go "home" for awhile now. :-)

3. Do you reply to comments on your blog? All of them? Or just the really interesting ones? Do you go back to check if the authors or the blogs you comment on reply to your comments? I do reply to some, but I am not great at replying to all of them. There really isn't any rhyme or reason to the ones I do reply to. I do not often check back on other blogs to see if they replied to my comment unless I have asked a question.

4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision? Do you gather a lot of information prior to making the decision, or do you go with your gut in the heat of the moment? I am go with your gut kind of girl. I make rash desicions, and I often pay for that later. ;-)

Grilling Goodness

1. What's the heaviest thing in your purse? That would probably be my wallet.

2. Do you mostly use cash or debit/credit cards? I am a debit card kind of gal. I rarely ever have cash, and I am trying real hard not to use my credit card.

3. Do you cut your hair shorter in the summer or pull it up a lot? Lately I have been keeping my hair short all year round, but I kind of miss being able to pull it up in a pony tail. Maybe it is time to start growing it back out again.

4. Do you like your man scruffy or clean shaven? If we are going somewhwere, I would prefer he be clean shaven, but he sure does look handsome scruffy too. ;-) I guess there is a time and a place for both.

5. What have your children done/said to embarrass you lately? Last Friday the kids and I went to a concert. While we were there, Ali decided to be real sulky, and just wasn't being her friendly self. She also decided she didn't have to listen to me. I wasn't too embarrassed, since we were with close friends, but I was extremely ticked off. We wound up leaving early.

6. Do you use plug-in type air fresheners around the house? Nope. I use Lampe Berger oil lamps. Smells great!

7. Do you have any interest in the NBA or NHL finals? (Do you even know who's competing?) No interest whatsoever! I don't have a clue who is competing.

8. What is weighing heavily on your mind lately? My weight is weighing heavily on my mind. I have got to quit being lazy!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I grew up thinking that I wasn't very pretty, and so I thought I might never find love. I wound up latching on to the first person that show me any attention. Thankfully I figured out that beauty isn't just on the outside, and I am one great looking gal because of that!

2. Facebook was the last website I was at before coming here. I'm addicted!

3. Why don't you stop following me and go play? Just something that I say to my kids quite often!

4.Peace and quiet helps me relax, but I don't often get that at home. Darn those three young kids! ;-)

5. Thanks for the time you took to read my answers. You are so sweet!

6. People who don't "place nice with others" are very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out here at home, tomorrow my plans include hopefully going to the Farmer's Market in the morning, cleaning the church nursery in the afternoon, and then going to the Turkey Festival with my family at night and Sunday, I want to go to church and then go to Ali's dance recital!

Surprise, Surprise!

I bought a new cookbook. I know you are surprised. ;-) I just can't help myself. I am an addict, and Barnes & Noble is like my dealer. I went in there yesterday, and I instantly felt happy. I don't just love cookbooks; I love all books.

So, which one did I get you ask. Well, I bought another one by Barbara Greenman. I love her cookbooks! The only thing that bothers me at all about her cookbooks is that there aren't any pictures, but since the foods are super exotic, I am alright with that. I already have these three...



and now I have added this one to my collection...

I am not joking when I say that her cookbooks are filled with wonderful recipes that are family friendly. In the one I bought yesterday there is actually a section called 'Kid's Favorites.' How cool is that?

The title of the cookbook pretty much sums up what this book is all about. It houses 500 recipes from product packages, websites and test kitchens of over 50 brands we all know and love. Fabulous! Since I love recipes, I had to look through it right away, and I found a few recipes that I hope to try soon and want to share with you all. I hope you enjoy! :-)

Lasagna Roll-Ups

Ingredients

• 8 lasagna noodles
• 1 lb. Italian sausage, casing removed
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 (18 ounce) can Contadina Tomato Paste
• 1 teaspoon oregano leaves, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon basil leaves, crushed
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided into 1 cup and 1/2 cup
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in large skillet until meat is done; drain. Stir in tomato paste, 2 cups water, oregano, and basil. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ricotta, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and salt. Spread about 1/2 cup on this mixture over each noodle; roll up. Place seam side down in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Pour sauce over rolls. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. Cover and bake 35 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie

Ingredients

• 1/2 gallon softened vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup Reese's Peanut Butter Topping (plus more for garnish)
• 1 (9 ounce) extra-serving size packaged crumb crust
• Whipped topping (optional)
• Reese's Milk Chocolate Baking Pieces filled with Peanut Butter Creme (optional)

Directions

Place softened ice cream in a large bowl; stir until it looks like soft serve ice cream. Quickly stir in peanut butter topping. (Do not overmix. You want to see streaks of the topping throughout the ice cream.) Spread ice cream mixture in crumb crust. Cover; freeze 6 to 8 hours or until firm. Serve with additional peanut butter topping. Garnish with whipped topping and peanut butter filled pieces, if desired.

Brie en Croute

Ingredients

• 1/2 package (1 sheet) Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed at room temperature for 30 minutes
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds (optional)
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 (13.2 ounce) Brie round
• 1 (26 ounce) carton Pepperidge Farm Entertaining Cracker Quartet Collection

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix egg and water. Unfold pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll out into a 14-inch square. Cutt off corners to make a circle. Sprinkle almonds and parsley in center of circle. Top with cheese. Brush edge of circle with egg mixture. Fold two opposite sides over cheese. Trim remaining two sides to 2 inches from edge of cheese. Fold these two sides onto the round. Press edges to seal. Place seam side down on baking sheet. Decorate top with pastry scraps if desired. Brush with egg mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Let stand 1 hour. Serve with crackers.

Grape Glazed Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup Welch's 100% Grape Juice made from Concord grapes
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons grated ginger

Directions

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. In a nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the chicken and cook over medium heat until nicely browned on both sides, about 12 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate. Add the garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Stir in the remaining ingredients, scraping the bottom of the pan. Bring the liquic to a simmer and return the chicken to the pan. Cook, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate. Cover and keep warm. Turn the heat to high and boil the sauce until thickened. Return the chicken to the pan and turn it once or twice in the sauce. Serve immediately.

Cook's Note~Make wraps with the leftovers. Cut the chicken breasts into thin crosswise slices. Place the slices on tortillas or wrap bread, then add cucumber spears, cilantro leaves, and thinly sliced scallions. Drizzle with the grape sauce. Roll up the wraps and serve immediately.

Well, there you have it, four new recipes that I want to try. Do any of those sound good to you? Let me know if you give them a try.

Heads Or Tails

This week is....

HEADS - "Tune"

I often get tunes stuck in my head, and then I walk around humming them. I am not joking when I say that I hum my way through the grocery store. People probably think I am nuts! Especially since the tune I most often hum sounds like a tweaked version of the theme song from Mission Impossible. I guess I feel like I am on a mission when I am shopping. LOL!

Our Menu for 6/8/09 to 6/14/09

I don't know why I am going to post my menu. I am in such a cooking slump. I keep carrying meals over from week to week, and I find myself eating out more than I should. I have got to change this. Help! Encourage me please! :-)

Monday~Pork Chops, Peas, & Fried Potatoes
Tuesday~Ham, Broccoli, Rice & Cheese Casserole
Wednesday~Hoagies and Potato Salad
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Chicken Burgers with Homemade French Fries
Saturday~Turkey Sandwiches & Strawberry Shortcake...we are going to the Tremont Turkey Festival!
Sunday~Spaghetti & Garlic Bread

~~~Food Holidays~~~

This week:

June 8th~Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
June 9th~National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day
June 10th~Herbs & Spice Day, National Iced Tea Day, & National Black Cow Day
June 11th~National German Chocolate Cake Day
June 12th~National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 13th~Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
June 14th~National Strawberry Shortcake Day

Next Week:

June 15th~National Lobster Day
June 16th~National Fudge Day
June 17th~Eat All Your Veggies Day, National Apple Streudel Day
June 18th~National Cherry Tart Day, International Picnic Day
June 19th~National Dry Martini Day
June 20th~National Vanilla Milkshake Day
June 21st~National Peaches & Cream Day

Monday Morning Meme

1. If you knew of a way to use your estate (and let’s assume you HAVE money to leave), following your death, to greatly benefit humanity, would you do it and leave only a minimal amount to your family? Why or why not? Well, since my family would be included in the humanity, I would have to say that I would. Greatly is the word that got me. We aren't talking about building a cool statue in the center of town. We are talking about benefiting many people. I like to think my family would not only understand but that they would agree with my decision.

2. What’s something your parents used to say to you as a child that you promised yourself you’d never say — but now you catch yourself saying all the time? Now tell us something that you say all the time that is uniquely you. That would have to be "because I said so!" That used to drive me nuts, but now I find myself saying that all the time. Kids are just naturally curious, and they want to know every little thing. My children don't need to know why we are going to the grocery store. The minute I tell them "because we need food," I will be asked a million other questions. Sometimes saying "because I said so" is much, much simpler. As for something I say all the time that is uniquely me, I guess that would be "Quit fighting!" Oh, that isn't unique? I really don't know what is then. I have unique things I call my kids, but I don't have a unique saying. Sorry!

3. List all the things you’d put in a time capsule to be opened in 40 years. Definitely a current cookbook. I love looking back on older cookbooks. You can get a feel for the era in a cookbook. I would also put some music in there, some current newspapers and magazine articles that I found interesting. Some clothing pieces from our era should also go in there, since in 40 years they might be back in style. ;-)

4.Do you prefer gas grills or charcoal grills? Do you grill out very often? When was the last time you grilled? What did you grill? Tell us about your favorite grilling memory. I prefer charcoal grills, and I think I always will. The taste is far better, in my opinion. We only grill out 2 or 3 times a month during the nicer months (June through September). We actually just grilled out yesterday. Jeffrey made 2 beer can chickens, and they were quite tasty. I can't say that I really have a favorite grilling memory, but that may be because I don't ever do the grilling. When I was little my mom had that job, but she taught me when I got married to never learn how to grill. She said that I would forever have to do it if I did learn, so I have listened to her wise words, and now Jeff does all the grill cooking for our family.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I really do love my home. I only wish I could afford to make some changes. ;-)

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been Taco Salad.

3. One reason we don't have a dog is because I don't want to hear bark! bark! bark!

4. A nice long walk is something I am too lazy to do these days. Sad!

5. If you are going to give me some bad news, could you also give me some good news? Please!

6. When all is said and done, all that matters is our relationship with Christ.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the 33 miles concert with friends and enjoying some KFC while we are there, tomorrow my plans include taking Ali to her dance dress rehearsal and hopefully going out with my hubby afterwards and Sunday, I want to go to church and then eat lunch there and hang out for the VBS training!

Our Menu For 6/1/09 to 6/7/09

Monday~Spaghetti Pie with Garlic Bread
Tuesday~Pig in a Blankets with Mac 'N Cheese
Wednesday~Pork Chops, Peas, & Fried Potatoes....3rd week on the menu, so I have got to finally make this
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Ham, Broccoli, Rice & Cheese Casserole
Saturday~Pizza
Sunday~Mustgoes

~~~Food Holidays~~~

This week:

June 1st~National Hazelnut Cake Day
June 2nd~National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day
June 3rd~National Egg Day
June 4th~National Cheese Day, National Frozen Yogurt Day, & National Cognac Day
June 5th~National Gingerbread Day
June 6th~National Applesauce Cake Day
June 7th~National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Next Week:

June 8th~Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
June 9th~National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day
June 10th~Herbs & Spice Day, National Iced Tea Day, & National Black Cow Day
June 11th~National German Chocolate Cake Day
June 12th~National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 13th~Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
June 14th~National Strawberry Shortcake Day

Monday Morning Meme

1. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently? I have learned that I can't do everything, and I have also learned that it is okay to say no to things.

2. What’s your hidden talent? Are you double-jointed? Can you sneeze the alphabet? Share your unique skill. I don't think I have any hidden talents. Nothing like being double-jointed or sneezing the alphabet. Heck, I can't even burp the alphabet or whistle a funky tune. I can pick things up with my toes, but can't everyone do that? That's not really a talent. I can bake cakes and decorate them. Does that count as a hidden talent? I hope to someday take classes, so as to refine my talents.

3. Hello June! What are your final words for May? Adios May! I enjoyed spending time with you, and I look forward to seeing you again next year. Thank you for not producing any tornadoes in our area. I can only pray the rest of the summer months will be as kind as you. ;-)

4. Summer Vacation: Staying home or traveling? We are doing a tad bit of traveling. For now our only plan is for my mom, my kids and myself to take a quick 3 or 4 day trip to Toledo, Ohio to visit family. My mom and I are also contemplating taking the kids on a quick day trip to Chicago on the train. I would love to take the kids to a museum while we were up there. Also, if hubby could squeeze in a bit of time off, I would love for our family to spend a weekend in St. Louis. No really big trips this summer though. I think I am still a bit worn out from our trip to Disney World last November. ;-)