First of all...

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Fabulous Day

Wow is the weather fantastic today!!! I bet there are many people smiling from ear to ear as they enjoy their block party, birthday party, camping trip or Wedding Day.

The picture you see was taken in front of a fountain in Lagrange, IL. We went there to see a movie at the Lagrange Theater ($2.00 show). The movie was Meet the Robinsons and all five kids sat there for viturally the whole movie, mouth agape and eyes glued to the screen.

After the movie, I took the kiddos to the library to return books and get prizes for the summer reading program. They all got a bonus prize for playing a little Harry Potter scavenger hunt.

And guess what was waiting for me in the mailbox today???

My preordered copy of the final Harry Potter book...just in time for me to take with on the plane next Wednesday when I leave for Minneapolis!

The magic trick for me will be to NOT start reading it until Wedneday, or I'll wind up sitting on the couch the rest of the weekend reading it...and it's too gorgeous to do that this weekend.

Cold Asian Pasta Salad by Heather Dood

Ingredients:
8oz Fettuccine Noodles (to add fiber use whole wheat or multigrain noodles
1/2 cup Vegetable Broth
2 tbsp Natural Peanut Butter
3 Tbsp Asian Aura Dressing
2Tbsp Garlic Garlic
1-2 Tbsp Si Si Cilantro (depending on how spicy you would like it)
1 Red Pepper Chopped
2 Green Onions Chopped


Directions:
Cook noodles as directed on box ,cool and drain. Meanwhile Mix in a med mixing bowl Broth, peanut butter, Asian Aura dressing, Garlic Garlic and Si Si Cilantro. Add dressing to noodles along with Red peepers and Green onions.

Number Of Servings:4-6

Preparation Time:15-20mins

The Gang in LaGrange!

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Friday, July 20, 2007

Savory Sweet Potato Salad


Since I tried the Sweet Potato Salad from Deleece at the Taste of Chicago, I have been jonesing for more. Sweet Potatoes were on sale at Jewel so I got a few pounds of it, found a recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com/ and am going to give it a go 2day. I don't have any of the hot pepper sauce that the recipe calls for, so I planning to substitute Rockin' Chipotle Dip Mix as a spice in place of the hot pepper sauce.


If I had a Food Network show my culinary POV would be Substituting what you don't have on hand but the recipe calls for for what is in the pantry at present. LOL





Savory Sweet Potato Salad
Submitted by: Marlen SchottRated: 4 out of 5 by 1 members
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 20 MinutesYields: 6 servings
"Give any meal a special twist with this creamy, distinctive make-ahead salad. It's especially good along-side ham.--Marlen Schott, Devine, Texas"
INGREDIENTS:
3 pounds sweet potato,
cooked, peeled and cubed
1 cup chopped sweet red
pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 1/4 cups mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
DIRECTIONS:
1.
In a large bowl, combine potatoes, red pepper and onion. In a small bowl, blend mayonnaise, salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce. Pour over potato mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2007 Allrecipes.com
Printed from Allrecipes.com 7/20/2007

Thursday, July 19, 2007

I do not...do not...like Bananas

Bleh. Can't stand them, but I do remember liking them in grade school. I must have had some bad banana experiences buried deep in my subconcious that has cause me to avoid them like the plague. But many other people like them...and since I got this recipe from the Hungry Girl newsletter a service of the website http://www.hungry-girl.com/ , I thought I'd share for everyone who likes nanas...



Hunka Hunka Breakfast Love

(entire recipe: 225 calories, 4g fat,

615mg sodium, 40g carbs, 3g fiber,

13g sugars, 12g protein = 4 Points)


"The King" used to enjoy sandwiches loaded with peanut butter, banana and bacon.

We think Elvis would have loved this HG concoction!



1/2 cup light vanilla soymilk

1/4 cup banana slices

1 ounce extra lean turkey bacon

1 tbsp. sugar-free maple syrup


Directions: Place cereal in a bowl, and top with banana slices; set aside. Prepare bacon according to pac kage directions (either in the microwave, or in a pan with nonstick spray). Top cereal with soymilk. Plate bacon and drizzle with syrup. Enjoy!


Countdown to Nationals!: 6 days and I'll be in Minneapolis.
This picture was taken by Bordner Aerials



Wednesday, July 18, 2007

When I signed on to be a parent, no one told me...

You know one of the many many things that no one mentions in those parenting books, magazines or on daytime television...when your kiddos make friends, you are also emotionally involved. Bryce, age sometimes 5 1/2 sometimes 21, has new friend down the block from us. It's his friend's grandpa's house so sometime he is there for a few days and other times not.
When he isn't there Bryce is looking outside for him about ever hour on the hour....it's cute

But this week he is staying w/his grandpa and his 2 older sisters are their too. They are ahhh about 3rd grade and 5th grade. Yesterday Bryce went down to play. All is good. I am taking deep breaths and saying it is OK for him to play down the block w/his friend. I don't have to be in the same room as him when he is playing.

Yesterday, the girls and his friend brought Bryce back home and said that he was mad and was fighting w/his friend and wouldn't talk to they and say what was wrong. So they dropped him off. Bryce slumped into the house and refused to communication. Sigh, having friends isn't all pinky swears and playing army guys. My heart sunk. I tried w/o much luck all day to figure out what is the problem. But he won't say, is that typical? Does man communications begin by Kindergarten?

Today is a new day and his friend and his sister came down to see if Bryce could play. I have my fingers crossed that today he has fun, and it's stress free, for him and me.
********************************************************************

Classic Kid Fare:
The only way my kids will eat PB&J is if the jelly is Rhubarb Strawberry Fruit Spread. I hear tales that kids love wraps. Not at my house...but if they did I would make a wrap using..

whole wheat tortillas
farmer's medley dip mix w/a brick of lowfat cream cheese
then mix that w/finely chopped broccoli, zucchini, carrots
I'd spread that on the tortillas, layer on a slice of low fat turkey or ham and roll those up and serve it w/a glass of milk and some Baked Lays and some grapes

Doesn't that sound like a great lunch? Any thoughts on how to get the little dudes to eat wraps? I think I'll try a spongebob angle, like this is a recipe from The Crusty Crab? Or this is the favorite food of Bumblebee the Transformer?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Pot Luck Parties



Here is a recipe from Better Homes and Gardenswhich I made some adjustments to, to make it healthier and easier:



If you like to have recipes delivered to your email box you can subscribe at their website for a daily recipe email.








12 servings
Prep: 20 minutes Bake: 45 minutes
View Nutrition Facts
Ingredients
8 ounces dried whole wheat penne
2 pounds uncooked ground chicken or turkey
1 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 cups water


2-4 tbsp Fiesta Party Dip
2 11-ounce cans whole kernel corn with sweet peppers, drained
2 cups sliced pitted ripe olives
2 cups ( 8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup prepared Simply Salsa
8 cups shredded lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, cut into thin wedges or a can of drained diced tomatoes
Tortilla chips (optional) Use Baked Tostitoes or Guiltless Gourmet Chips
Dairy sour cream (optional) low fat or fat free sour cream
Directions
1. Cook pasta according to directions; drain and set aside.



2. Meanwhile, in a 12-inch skillet cook ground chicken and onion, half at a time, until meat is brown; drain fat. Return all of the chicken mixture to skillet. Stir in water and fiesta party dip mix. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked pasta, corn, olives, half of the shredded cheese and salsa.



3. Transfer mixture to a lightly greased 3-quart rectangular casserole. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 45 minutes or until heated through. Remove from oven; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
4. Serve with lettuce, tomato wedges or diced tomatoes , and, if desired, tortilla chips and sour cream. Makes 12 servings.



To Tote: Cover tightly. Transport in an insulated carrier. Transport lettuce, tomatoes, and, if desired, sour cream in an insulated cooler with ice packs. If desired, transport chips in an airtight bag or container.



For 6 Servings: Prepare using method above, except transfer mixture to a 2-quart rectangular baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.

Monday, July 16, 2007

One of those days, where you wonder, what did I do all day?

I don't even know. Seems like not nearly enough of my to-do list got completed. Does this happen to you? It was nice that we didn't have to leave the house today, but I did miss my morning run..can't go for one of those w/the kids finished w/daycamp!

I did find a website called http://ecarepackage.org you can go there and put together a care package to be sent to a deployed serviceman or woman or their family. It's pretty nice to be able to put together a care pacakage online, for me much easier to make it happen that way than to try and put it together on my own. It matches you up w/a member of the Armed Services and you can see what they would like. So I hope my serviceman likes what I picked to send to him.

Ah a week from Wednesday I'll be traveling to Minnesota for the big National Conference, can't wait!
************************************************************************
A friend of mine has an easy and healthly recipe for homemade chicken nuggets.

4 Servings
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast,
rinsed and patted dry with paper towels
11/2 cups plain yogurt
3 cups crushed corn flakes
2 TB fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground white pepper
vegetable or olive oil for spraying pan plastic or paper bag
Pre-heat the oven to 375°F. Slice chicken breasts into 2-inch strips. Marinate chicken pieces in yogurt for one hour or up to 24 hours, refrigerated.Prepare the crunchy crust by combining the corn flakes, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Place corn flake mixture in a plastic or paper bag. Drop chicken, a few pieces at a time, into the bag and shake thoroughly to completely coat. Remove chicken pieces from bag, shaking excess mixture from each piece.

Place coated chicken pieces on a sheet pan lightly sprayed with oil.Bake for about 25 minutes or until crunchy on the outside and cooked through. Serve with dipping sauces.

I hear it is really good w/a little Garlic Garlic in there. :-)

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Another Weekend On the Books.


Did you have a great weekend? I hope you had fun, saw friends and famiy and maybe brought a little Tastefully Simple to any backyard BBQs that you attended.

Last night my friend and I had a great time seeing Steve Dahl and the Nadas at North Beach in Downer's Grove. Too bad I still don't have that new digital camera I need because my cell phone just wasn't cutting it. There are a bunch of pics from the show already posted at http://www.dahl.com, I check through them and there are no silly pictures of me dance. LOL

It's always nice to have a big frosty drink if you are dancing or listening to a band and so I'll share a few frosty drink recipes:

Prickly Pear Margaritas

Description:

Ingredients:
3 T. Prickly Pear Cooler
1 can limeade
1 Corona beer
1 can water
3/4 -1 can tequila
1-2 can ice

Directions:
Use limeade can for measuring purposes.


Christi Seelen's White Chocolate Chiller
Description:
A fabulous ADULT version of the Chiller!

Ingredients:
2 scoops (8 Tbsp.) Vanilla Bean Chiller™
5 oz. cold milk
1 oz. vanilla vodka
1 oz. white chocolate liqueur (I used Godiva, but I think there are other brands too)
1 1/2 cups ice


Directions:
Combine ingredients in blender; blend on high until smooth.


Number Of Servings:2

Preparation Time:5 minutes


Saturday, July 14, 2007

Tom Bryce and Anna 7/2

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Change in Schedule

Last night and this afternoon, I had 2 Tastefully Simple Party scheduled, but my hosts had to reschedule until August. So this left me with empty slot in my calendar. I tell you the 2nd wknd in July is a great time to have a suprise opening in my calendar!

Yesterday we spend the day garage sale-ing in Palos Hills where they are having a 2 day all town garage sale event. We drove from house to house down blocks here and there scouting the goods to be had for mere pennies on the dollar.

The big finds...

*Care Bear Twin Sheet Set w/Pillow Case New! $4.00

*2 Long Sleeve White Sox Shirts for Bryce $.50 each

* A SpongeBob Rock Em Soc Em game for $3.00 ---Patrick Freaked over that!

And the best find of all...

a Dora Doll House w/accessories and the dolls for $15.00.

Anna is really loving that, today Tom figured out you can open up the top to make a 2nd floor on the house.
So that was our adventures in Garage Sales. Then Anna, Bryce and I went to the library and they got their Summer Book Contest sheet stamped, picked out a prize...it was all good!

And later on we went to the movies w/the kids best friends and our awesome friends and saw Transformers. It was really good, I always love a good movie where the little guy defeat evil and saves the world. This one was also was pro-military and I also love movies w/our troops in them. I guess I like a good good vrs. evil battle. So in any case I agree w/Richard Roeper and give Transformers a thumbs up.

Today, we are probably going to make it to the Palos Friendship Fest, and the fun for me is tonight I'm going with a friend of mine to see Steve Dahl and the Nadas play at North Beach.
It's always fun to go see and say hi to the man I listen to on the radio 5 days a weeks and the man who married me and tom!


A nice twist on the standard slaw featuring our new Ginger Teriyaki Ranch Dressing


Ginger Teriyaki SlawSubmitted by Rosemary (MN) HQ Resident Chef

Ingredients 1 cup Ginger Teriyaki Ranch Dressing or to taste
16 oz. pkg. shredded cabbage for cole slaw
1 red bell pepper, diced
Chopped, fresh cilantro for garnish
Directions Combine first 3 ingredients; toss gently to blend.
Garnish with fresh cilantro. Makes 8-10 servings.