The Missing Blogger

  
  Did you all know there was a missing blogger?  It was me!  Some of you may have wondered where I've been and why I haven't been blogging....well, I've been here....and there.....and here....and really nowhere!  Seriously though, the reason I haven't been on here that much is because all I want, & dare, to put on here are recipes & I didn't know if that really went with the title of this blog!  I know, I know....way to  much over thinking on my part!  I think that's part of my O.C.D!  LOL  Who cares, right?  It's my blog & I can put anything on here I want, right?  Well, I was missing that part!  I thought I needed to give you, my readers, more DEEP, in depth topics on family, relationships, communication, & stuff that will REALLY make a difference in your life!  I want to help people "Stay in it for the Long Haul", but I think I haven't got the courage yet, to actually speak my mind.  I don't want to offend anyone, especially my friends & family.  Also, due to my O.C.D. it takes me FOREVER to write something up & post it!  I want it to be perfect!  Well, here's your WARNING.....it's not going to be perfect...it's going to be ME....& I'm going to have fun, & heaven knows I'm far from perfect! 
  
  Today I spoke with a close friend of mine, who moved & she said it didn't matter....she missed my recipes.  It really made me start thinking, who cares?  Share what you want!!   So, I'M BACK & ready to start sharing my recipes with you all again!!!!  BUT if there's something else you would like to discuss, PLEASE let me know & we'll chat it up!  I have PLENTY of opinions on different things, & I don't know if most of them will really change much, but if you want my opinion, then I'll give it to you:) 
  
  Anyway, BBQ season is right around the corner & there are a TON of fun & yummy recipes I will be sharing, so if you have any also, please feel free to share with us all!!  I love trying different summer salads, appetizers, snacks, grillin' recipes & just about anything that is yummy & easy.  Who knows....I might give out my FAMOUS dutch oven potato recipe.....maybe....if you all want it;)

  Thank you all for letting me vent.....maybe I should see a therapist;)

Andrea's Ham & Bean Soup

  I took 3 recipes I found online & came up with this DELICIOUS recipe for your leftover Easter Ham.  I don't know how many calories, but there's nothing fattening in it, except the ham itself.  Hope you enjoy!!

Ham & Bean Soup

1 lb of dry white northern beans (2 cups)

1 onion - diced

8 cups water

4 cups cubed fully cooked ham

1 ham hock

2 cups chopped celery

2 cups chopped carrots

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/2 tsp. pepper

2-3 cloves garlic - minced

1 tsp dry mustard

~ Place beans in a pot with about 6 cups water. 

Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat & cover for 1 hour.

Drain & rinse beans, discard liquid.  Return beans to pan. 

Add all remaining ingredients.  Cover pan & place on stove, medium heat. 

Cook for 1 hour or until beans are almost tender.  Uncover & cook for 30 more minutes

or until beans are tender.  Discard ham hock & serve with rolls.

~ Note:  I think you could add corn, cabbage &/or fresh parsley

& it would be really good too:)

Memo From Your Child

   This is a great reminder to all us parents, caregivers & mentors.

Memo From Your Child

1.  Don't spoil me. 
       I know quite well that I ought not to have all that I ask for.  I'm testing you.

2.  Don't be afraid to be firm with me.
       I prefer it; it makes me feel more secure.

3.  Don't let me form bad habits. 
       I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.

4.  Don't make me feel smaller than I really am. 
       It only makes me behave stupidly "big".

5.  Don't correct me in front of people if you can help it. 
       I'll take much more notice if you talk to me privately.

6.  Don't make me feel my mistakes are sins. 
       It upsets my sense of values.

7.  Don't protect me from consequences. 
       I sometimes have to learn the painful way.

8.  Don't be too upset when I say, "I hate you." 
       It isn't you I hate, but your power to thwart me.

9.  Don't take too much notice of my small ailments. 
       Sometimes they get me the attention I need.

10.  Don't nag. 
          If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.

11.  Don't forget that I can not explain myself as well as I should like; 
         This is why I'm not always accurate.

12.  Don't make rash promises. 
         Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.

13.  Don't tax my honesty too much. 
         I am easily frightened into telling lies.

14.  Don't be inconsistent. 
         That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.

15.  Don't tell me my fears are silly. 
         They are terribly real to me and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.

16.  Don't put me off when I ask questions. 
         If you do, you will find that I stop asking and get my information elsewhere.

17.  Don't ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. 
         It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.

18.  Don't ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. 
         An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm toward you.

19.  Don't forget how quickly I am growing up. 
         It must be difficult to keep pace with me, but please, do try.

20.  Don't forget that I love experimenting. 
          I couldn't get along without it so please put up with it.

21.  Don't forget that I can't thrive without lots of understanding love,
         but I don't need to tell you that do I?


By Thomas C. Ritt, Jr., Arizona ACLD Newsletter December, 1975

New Year, New You!

 
  Happy New Year!!  This is the year to make it great!  (I know we say that every year, but let's REALLY make this year a great one:)  What are your New Year resolutions?  I know that when I hear those words, I think to myself . . . "Does it really matter?  I'm going to break them anyway."  But this is the year that I am going to change that.  I'm not going to have my resolutions be to loose weight, it's going to be to eat better & be more active.  It's not going to be financially free . . . it's going to be to watch where my money goes & ask myself if I REALLY need it.  It's going to be to put at least $20 a week away for a vacation or the holiday's!  I am serious about this!!  I know that I'm worth it!  Are you?  Of course you are!!  I want to be healthier & skinnier for myself, my husband & for my kids!  I want to be more financially stable, so that we can enjoy the things that mean the most in our lives . . . spending time with my family! 
  You can start small by cleaning out your fridge & cupboards so that you don't self sabotage yourself!  Get rid of all that left over Holiday treats & junk food.  Go buy yourself some almonds & light popcorn to munch on when you get those cravings!  Find a friend or online network to keep you motivated.  Set a goal on what it is you want, then work backwards to make it happen.  For example, if your goal is to loose 20 lbs, start by loosing 5 lbs, then 10 lbs & so on.  Start by being aware what you are eating & try to do something physical for 15 minutes a day, then work your way up to more time.  
  I know I have had every excuse in the book on why I can't go work out . . . dont' have the money for a gym membership, it's to cold outside to go for a walk; the kids have kept me up all night & I'm to tired . . . well enough of the excuses!!  It's time to find a way or make a way!!  Use cans of soup to lift as weights; do 3 sets of 20 jumping jacks; do 3 sets of 10 sit ups before you get in the shower, then work your way up to more; whatever it is, do SOMETHING!!!  Eat better . . . stop using sugars & use Splenda; eat more fruits & vegetables; have at least 2 or 3 servings of dairy a day; eat more fiber; cut back on your soda pop & drink more water.  
  If you have other resolutions that you would like to discuss or have me help you figure out a plan, let me know.  These are just a few of the ones I always hear people talking about.  Let's do this together & be better examples for our family & friends . . . but more importantly . . . let's prove to ourselves that we can do it!!  I know we can do this!!  We are worth it!!!

Easy, Yummy Carmel's

 
  I have had this recipe for about 10 years, but have never made it due to the fact that I don't like cooking in the microwave because I feel that it takes a lot of the nutritional value out of foods. . . but let's be serious . . . how much nutritional value can you get from Carmel's?  LOL  So, this year I decided to try them & all I can say is "Why did I wait so long?"  It was REALLY easy & cheap to make!  The hardest part was actually getting the Carmel's our of the baking dish, so that I could wrap them.  But I figured it out, & the time & energy it took was well worth it!!  These would also be good dipped in chocolate!!  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!

Easy Carmel's (Microwave Style)

In a large glass bowl, melt 1 cup butter

then add:

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white Karo syrup

1 can sweetened condensed milk - stir well

~ Microwave on high for 14 minutes, stirring a couple times while cooking. 

Beat with mixer for 2 minutes, then pour into buttered 9x13 baking dish. 

Freeze for 1/2 hour or place in fridge for 2 hours. 

Cut & wrap in wax paper.

Fresh Cranberry Salsa Over Cream Cheese

  My new found friend, Carrie, introduced this DELICIOUS recipe to me about a month ago & I have made it a few times.  You will definitely want to share this mouth watering, unique appetizer with your family & friends this holiday season!  It's very yummy & very festive with it's red & green colors! 

  This recipe makes enough to cover 2 (8 ounce) blocks of cream cheese.  So I would make the whole recipe, put 1/2 on one block of cream cheese, then store the rest in the fridge until I needed it.  It keeps well in the fridge for several days:)

Cranberry Salsa Dip

1 (12 ounce) bag fresh cranberries

1 bunch green onions, chopped

(the entire thing all the way down to an inch from the end)

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded then chopped

2 Tbs chopped cilantro (about 1/4 of a bunch is what I used)

 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 - 1 tsp. cumin

2 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened

Instructions:

Wash and pick through fresh cranberries.  Discard any soft or wrinkled cranberries. Put cranberries, green onions, jalapeno, & cilantro in a food processor. 

Pulse until ingredients are chopped finely.

Add sugar & cumin, then stir together. 

Put in a bowl, cover & let season for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. 

Spread softened cream cheese on a serving plate. 

(I divided the cream cheese between two plates.)  

Spread cilantro salsa over the cream cheese. 

Serve at room temperature with chips or crackers. 

(I used Ritz crackers & loved it:) 

Note--this dip needs at least 1 or more hours for the flavors to blend.  It is a little bitter when it is first made, but tastes different after it has had a chance to sit for a while. 

Enjoy & Happy Holiday's!!

It's Been A Minute

 
  Phew!!  It seems like it's been a minute or two since I've posted anything on here.  I have been sick for the past month or so & I am finally starting to feel a bit better!  I had an awful cold, with a horrible cough.  In fact, my cough was so bad that my muscles & tendons tore away from my rib cage!  Let me tell ya . . . that did NOT feel good!!  Anyway, I'm starting to feel lots better now & want to start posting more.  So, what are some ideas that you would like me to discuss?  I can do the research on a specific topic, find a recipe for you, or whatever else you have on your mind.  By the way, I will be posting a way YUMMY, & very pretty, recipe on here tomorrow that is PERFECT to take to a holiday party, so stay tuned!  Do I post to many recipes?  Oh, well!  I just enjoy cooking & like to share the goodness with my friends:)  LOL  Do you have a recipe that you have been looking for & can't find it?  I also have some REALLY yummy, fun holiday treat recipes if you all want them.  Better run for now, but don't worry . . . I'll be back tomorrow :0)