Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Quilting Finds

My buddy Sarah and I went to a local quilt shop and took advantage of a 20% off coupon for Memorial Day.  I bought something that I've had my eye on for over a year and I finally took advantage of a good deal and bought it.  I also found some other little odds and ends that I just had to have :)

I ended up with the Dr. Seuss Quilt Kit that I have been wanting so badly, a cute little bird panel, a pattern for a "quilt as you go" quilt, and a tiny little pattern for a card holder, which I have great ideas for :)

Here's the link to the sweet little shop that we visited.  Linderella's Quilt Works

Monday, May 30, 2011

Meal Plan Monday 25

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- Dinner Out
Tuesday- Chicken Tenders
Wednesday- Crockpot Beef Stew 
Thursday-  Salmon Patties
Friday-  Grilling Out
Saturday- Date Night
Sunday- Cheeseburgers on Grill

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Oriental Chicken Salad

I can't recommend this salad enough.  It used to be the only reason I wanted to go to Applebee's.  No more!  I can make it at home for a fraction of the cost and it tastes the EXACT same!  Big thanks to Mandy over at Mandy's Recipe Box for this delicious copycat recipe!
 The dressing is what really makes this salad.  To make it you will need:
1/4 cup mayonnaise 
3 Tablespoons honey
1 1/2 Tablespoons white rice vinegar
1 teaspoon grey poupon mustard
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

I would go ahead and double the above recipe because you are going to love it so much!  I would also suggest that you mix this in a little bowl with a whisk then store in a salad dressing holder.  Refrigerate while would mix up the salad ingredients.

For the actual salad you will need:
1 bag of romaine lettuce salad mix
1 bag of coleslaw cabbage
Big handful of chow mein noodles
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds
2 crispy chicken strips (I like the tyson frozen brand)

Bake crispy chicken strips in the oven according to the directions on the bag.  While that is cooking combine romaine lettuce and coleslaw cabbage in a large bowl.  Then sprinkle with chow mein noodles.

When the chicken strips have 2 minutes left, add the almonds to the baking pan and toast for the last 2 minutes.  When chicken is done, take out strips and cut into bite size pieces.  Put chicken and almonds on the salad.  When you are ready to eat add dressing and enjoy!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday Favorite 24: New (to me) Car!

My husband and I have been searching for a nice used car for me for a long time.  We finally found it, on where else, craigslist!

I have spoke of my love of craigslist before but really I do love it.  It helped me sell my old car (in 3 days) and found my perfect new to me car!  As long as you are safe, I think craigslist is a wonderful tool.

Check out my sweet new ride!










































































Thursday, May 26, 2011

Say Yes to Tacos

Why didn't I think to do this before!  Store bought taco seasoning is so... blah.  And I hate that it is a dollar a one time use packet.  I want to have some to sprinkle when I need it.

Well justJENN recipes to the rescue!  This week she had a great blog post on how to make your own homemade taco seasoning!  All I need is chilli powder and its already on the grocery list!  Guess I will just need to get a cute little shaker to keep it in... sounds like a trip to The Container Store!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tuesday Tip 25: Lemons

nataliedee.com
Today's Tip is all about lemons.

Using a lemon for its juice only?  Don't waste the zest!  Zest the lemon (either in little pieces with a zester or peel it with a veggie peeler) and place the pieces in a baggie in the freezer.  Whenever you need lemon zest, bam!  It's in the freezer for you!  Then take the left over rinds and rough cut them.  Place these lemon chunks in your garbage disposal and give it a whirl.  They will freshen your garbage disposal in a flash!


What if you have lemons that need to be used or you just needed the zest of the lemon... Well you can save the juice in the freezer too!  Just juice your lemons into ice cube trays and voila, instant lemon juice when you need it!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Meal Plan Monday 26

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- CopyCat AppleBee's Asian Chicken Salad
Tuesday-  Lemon Garlic Tilapia
Wednesday-  Brown Sugar Chicken (Didn't get to make last week)
Thursday-   Beef Stir Fry
Friday-  Out of Town Wedding Weekend
Saturday-  Out of Town Wedding Weekend
Sunday- Out of Town Wedding Weekend

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Green Thumb


One of my hobbies in the springtime is planting a small garden...  This year I have tomato plants, bell pepper plants, watermelon, zuchinni and cucumbers







This year I expanded with 4 blueberry bushes.  Look what I found yesterday...


















BLUEBERRIES!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Technology!

Blog fans...  I am so sorry that I have been gone for so long.  We've been without internet since Tuesday!  And now the u on my keyboard doesn't want to work.  What in the world!  I LOVE technology but when it doesn't work it makes me want to scream!  So here's to have my blog back up and running!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Meal Plan Monday 25

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- CopyCat AppleBee's Asian Chicken Salad
Tuesday-  Pork Chops
Wednesday- Out of Town
Thursday-  Brown Sugar Chicken (Didn't get to make last week)
Friday-  Grill out Hamburgers
Saturday- Dinner out
Sunday- Grilling Out

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Sorry...

Hello Blog Fans.  I am so sorry I have been MIA the past few days.  We've had a very very busy weekend and then when I sat down to blog yesterday between events we had planned Blogger was down.  My apologizes.  This week I'll be back to my usual posts!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tuesday Tip 24: Corn on the Grill

Here's a tip.  If you hubby likes to grill (like mine) then make everything on the grill :)

Grilled Corn on the Cob.

First shuck and clean however many ears of corn you would like to cook.  We did 3.

You will need 1 tablespoon of butter for each ear.

Take a piece of aluminum foil and place your ear of corn on it.  Then top with 1 tablespoon of butter, cut in half.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roll them up!  Make sure that the butter is not on the seal or it will all leak out.

Place your corn on a hot grill, rotating every two minutes for about 20 minutes.  Remove from grill and let it stand for 5 minutes or you will be burned with delicious melted butter.
Unwrap and eat... Mmmmm!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Meal Plan Monday 24

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- Chicken Tenders
Tuesday-  Creamy Chicken with Broccoli
Wednesday- Crockpot Beef Stew (didn't make last week)
Thursday-  Brown Sugar Chicken
Friday-  Going Away Party for a Friend
Saturday- Dinner out
Sunday- Grilling Out

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Narrowing Down the Search

I think we've narrowed down our car search to two styles that are within our budget and we still get lots of bells and whistles that we want...

We are looking at an 08-10 Jeep Compass














And a 08-10 Nissan Rogue

Friday, May 6, 2011

Friday Favorite 23

I know I complained about it and all, but I really did love my car...
But it is no longer mine, I sold it on Friday and am currently looking at something else... yay for new beginnings!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Cinco De Mayo!

In honor of Cinco De Mayo I thought I would have a link fiesta!  Below you will find some great dishes to serve today :)

You could always make my Mexican Pizza that I featured last week...  so yummy and easy!

Or maybe you would like it on a bigger scale?  Try Taco Pizza from Random Thoughts of a Super Mom!

Maybe you want something else... Enchiladas?

Here's a great chicken enchilada recipe from Kevin & Amanda's recipe blog.  It is similar to a fantastic recipe that I was given by a friend (thanks Jill).  *Note to self:  Post that enchilada recipe soon*

Or try the Honey Lime Enchilada recipe from The Sister's Cafe.  You could use either chicken or pork on this one!

My husband loves those frozen taquitos, I'm sure this Baked Creamy Chicken Taquito recipe from Our Best Bites is a billion times better.  She has lots of great cinco de mayo links today, check them out!

Well, you have to finish any celebration with a dessert...

How about Sombrero Cookies?  These would be so cute for little chefs to help make!  Also from Random Thoughts of a Super Mom!

Or one I always find interestng on the menu at the Mexican resteraunt... Deep "Fried" Ice Cream from Tatertots and Jello.

And finally, when I think mexican food I think margaritas.  So I'll wrap it up with a fantastic Beer Margarita recipe that my friend Sarah gave to me but I was able to find the same one at the Celebrations at Home website, since I am away from my recipe books.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Tuesday Tip 23

I hate trying to spray a pan with a non-stick spray and it gets everywhere!  Here's what I do to combat that problem.

Open your dishwasher.  Place the pan you need to spray on the door, spray away!  Now take your pan out, and close the door.  Ta da!  All the excess is left on the inside of the dishwasher to be washed away when you do a load of dishes.  No more residue!!!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Meal Plan Monday 23

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- Best Ever Porkchops
Tuesday-  Hamburgers on the grill
Wednesday- Crockpot Beef Stew
Thursday-  Cinco De Mayo!  Taco Night
Friday-  Grilling Out
Saturday- Dinner out
Sunday- Mother's Day Dinner

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Brick City 5k

Pic Credit: www.courier-journal.com
Today I ran my 2nd 5k race of the year.  I was worried about it because I had only ran 2 times this month and I have been sick... But guess what?!?!  I have a new PR (Personal Record)!  My time was 29:51  37th out of 89 timed runners.  At the time they did not have times for different genders or age groups, I hope that they will post that online soon.

I am thrilled!  Next time I hope to come in under 29...