Book Club February 2008

I've Been Tagged

Tag! I'm It.
I have been tagged by Nancy:

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning

B: Each player answers the questions about themselves

C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 Years ago today...I was happily waiting for Spring Training to Start. I was on my way to Phoenix to watch the Brewers play. I of course was teaching 3rd grade at West Clinton Elementary. I was also thinking about my 30th year class reunion. I was 10 pounds thinner.....and I'm working losing that so I can be awesome at my 40th year reunion.

I Enjoy: Cooking, reading, spending time with my family. I must have 100 cook books, and I don't dare admit how many other books I have in my home. If you have been there you know what my library looks like. I belong to a bookclub that has really made a difference in my life. My family is my first love. I know that I bug them all the time, because I talk to all of them at least once a day....sometimes 2 or 3 times a day.

What would I do if I was suddenly a billionaire. I'm sure I would see that my family was debt free.... then I would buy a Bed & Breakfast (hire Jason and Nancy) and enjoy being the Hostest with the MostessT I would travel to Italy, and learn the language.

3 of my bad habits: This is not a fun question....

#1. I eat to much. Most of my life I have been very slim...now I just eat to much.

#2. I use shopping as RETAIL THERAPY. I own to many shoes...is that possible?

#3. I do laundry only when I have to...or when I'm tempted to buy more socks!

5 places I have lived:

Spanish Fork, Utah

Provo, Utah

Orem, Utah

Kaysville, Utah

Clearfield, Utah

5 Jobs that I have had:

I worked for my parent's at their Hallmark Bookstore. GIFT FAIR

Geneva Steel as a clerk

Selective Service as a Draft Board Secretary

Mountain Bell ......as a order clerk

Teaching.......2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade......this is year number 29

5 things people don't know about me:

I pretty much can't answer this question, because then everyone would know 5 more things they probably don't want to know about me. Okay - I'll keep it generic

1. I'm compeitive

2. I'm spoiled (just a little bit)

3. I don't make public speeches.....I'm way to nervous to stand in front of a group of adults.

4. I avoid situations that are confrontational.

5. I am a Morning Person... I love watching the sunrise.

Tag your It.... Jason, Robyn, and Jayedee

Weekend Breakfasts

Breakfast Sausage EnchiladasIngredients:
2 lb browned breakfast sausage

1/2 cup green onions chopped

1/2 cup green peppers chopped

2 1/2 cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese

(There will be left over sausage mixture. I use it the next night on baked potatoes.)

10 flour tortillas

4 eggs beaten

2 cups half and half

1 tablespoon flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

4 drops Tabasco sauce

Sour Cream ~ Salsa ~Guacamole
Directions:Cook sausage. Add green onions, green peppers and cheddar cheese in a bowl. Divide into tortillas and roll then place seam sides down in greased rectangular baking dish. Combine beaten eggs, half and half, flour. salt, garlic powder and Tabasco.

Pour egg mixture over tortillas then cover with foil.

Refrigerate overnight.

Bring out of fridge 30 minutes before you start to cook.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. (I bake mine in a roaster oven)Remove foil during the last 10 minutes of baking. Serve with sour cream, salsa and guacamole

Here is our breakfast buffet, with fruit, drinks and Peach Pancake Breakfast! It was delicious. There were no left overs this morning. We have decided to try this recipe with Mango, adding a little cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter.

Peach Pancake Breakfast

Make Bisquick batter with 2 1/2 cups pancake mix, using only 1 cup of milk. Pour into greased 9 X 13 cake pan.

Drain 1 (16 oz) can sliced/diced peaches; arrange peaches on top of pancake batter.

Cook link sausages cut into bite size pieces; arrange on top of batter with peaches.

Bake 30 – 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

SYRUP:

1 c. peach juice
½ c. sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons butter
¾ c maple flavored syrup

Mix together peach juice, sugar, and cornstarch. Cook until clear and thickened (stirring constantly). Add 2 tablespoons butter and ¾ c maple syrup.

Serve syrup warm.

So, I think I was Snowed In! Look at this

Here comes Halie! Her dad used to make a huge pile of snow in the corner of our front yard. Every winter that we had enough snow, he would pile it, pile it, pile it, until the bushes underneath needed a year to recover. The neighborhood kids would come with their plastic sleds and away they would go. Looks like he is continuing the tradition.

Snowed In at Hayhurst B & B

Book Club January 2008

This month for BC we read Vince Flynn "Protect and Defend".....One of these cutiest could easily be our hero Mitch Rapp. But before we get to hung up on him, we are all assured that he doesn't play by the rules....which means he probably wouldn't fit into any one of BC girls long range goals. Mitch Rapp is enlisted by CIA director Irene Kennedy to investigate the destruction of Iran's nuclear production facility. The usual intrigue ensues and Kennedy and Rapp end up traveling to Iran to defuse a geopolitical crisis. Kennedy is abducted, and in Rapp's tough guy manner, she is rescued. Rapp, as is usual, is willing to do anything to protect his country and those with whom his loyalties lie.

Books bring us together, but they certainly don't dominate the conversations. This little saying on Deb's family room wall could certainly be the motto of our group.

Debbie's house is always so warm and inviting, but last night with the snow coming down, we found ourselves cuddling up in warm blankets, hoping Winter has spent enough time with us this year.

We always have so much food to eat. This months menu was homemade chicken noodle soup, broccoli and cheese soup, homemade rolls, salad, and a yummy fluffy cherry salad. There are always plenty of candies and treat to enjoy and then comes the dessert.

BANANA CREAM PIE and BERRY CREAM PIE......Yummmmie!

Look how happy we are when we get together!
I LOVE BOOK CLUB.

Super Snack Foods

For many of us, snack time is when we lose control of our diets, either by overeating, or by indulging in high-fat, high-calorie foods. This often happens because we allow ourselves to get too hungry and then are unable to stop ourselves from overeating. To avoid getting too hungry, it is recommended that you always carrying a healthy, portable snack with you when you know you'll be out on the run without easy access to healthy food choices. Try getting at least two food groups in each of those snacks so that you're getting a combination of carbohydrates and fat/protein, which will help keep you satisfied longer. Here, are some super snack food ideas:

Nutty Corn Mix

This trail mix is made in our own new business Wholefood 2 U. We are just getting our company off the ground. We are so excited about our many products. This one is a snack food item. It has a cajun spice (not to spicy) mix coating. It is packed full of glad corn, giant corn nuts, regualr corn nuts, sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, soy nuts, pumpkin seeds, pecans, and the spices.

Recommended serving size: 1 oz 160 calories

Light Microwave Popcorn
Although this is a single-food snack, it is recommended because of its high fiber and B vitamin content. Plus, who can resist the smell of popcorn?
Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup, 30 calories

~~ Yogurt with Blueberries ~~

Dish up some plain low-fat yogurt with blueberries for a sweet treat that has a similar texture to ice cream. Yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein, and blueberries are packed with valuable antioxidants that help fight off heart disease. If fresh blueberries aren't in season, try frozen instead -- they work great in cool, creamy yogurt. Or if you get bored with blueberries, substitute any other fruit like mango, cranberries, cherries, kiwi, etc. Recommended Serving Size: Plain, low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup, 56 calories Blueberries, 2/3 cup, 30 calories

Banana with Almond Butter ~~~

This combination will keep you satisfied for a longer time than either on their own because of the combination of fiber in the banana and protein and fat in the almond butter.

Bananas are also an excellent source of potassium, which helps prevent muscle cramps and is essential for normal brain function. If you don't have almond butter, peanut butter is a great substitute.

Recommended Serving Size: Medium banana, 95 calories Almond butter, 1 tablespoon, 101 calories

Hummus with Pita Bread

~~~~ Our family favorite, we introduce all our friends to this tempting dish~~~~

Made from chickpeas, hummus provides protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. Spread hummus on pita bread for some added carbohydrates. This is by far my daughter’s favorite snack. She calls me often to send me on a Hummus run. We buy it from a local restaurant every chance we get. It comes garnished with thin sliced red onions, olives, and sun dried tomatoes. Next time we go to "Rooster's" we'll take a better picture.

Hummus makes a great sandwich spread as well. Recommended Serving Size: Hummus, 2 tablespoons, 83 calories Pita bread, 1 round, 195 calories

Apple with Brie Cheese

Our son introduced us to this, he loves brie cheese, and this snack is also a hit with everyone in the family. Please stick to a small amount of cheese with this snack because of brie's high saturated fat content ~pretty hard to do. However, brie does offer a good protein source. Apples have a low glycemic index, which means they keep hunger at bay longer than other fruits.

Recommended Serving Size: Apple, 47 calories Brie cheese, 2 ounces, 160 calories

Salsa with Baked Tortilla Chips

The ingredients in salsa vary greatly, but most tomato-based vegetable salsas are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin C, and lycopene, which helps prevent heart disease and some cancers. Avoid high-calorie fried chips by purchasing the baked varieties instead, and be sure to look for varieties that list zero trans fats on their nutrition labels.

Recommended Serving Size: Salsa, 2 ounces, 20 calories Baked tortilla chips, 1 ounce, 120

This is just a list of the few snack foods our family enjoys. The biggest thing people need to consider is the size of the portions. A snack is supposed to be something to carry you through and take the edge off. It's not a meal before a meal.
You can fill yourself up and not even realize you're doing it. In other words, even the right snack can sabotage your waistline if you're not careful.

Snacking is here to stay. We know it's hard to have three squares a day, so the goal should be to have a snack that's as healthy as it can be and keep us from pigging out at dinner.

Please visit our website to view many of our other products at:

http://www.abundancelivingfood.com/

All Done

Oh My Goodness, it worked. It was actually a little difficult to get out of the pot, but it baked "Almost" perfectly. It was mighty tasty as well. I'm going to try using Rhodes Rolls next time. I've found several recipes that sound pretty good.

I know it looks like I made this back in December, no ....I'm just getting around to putting away the silk plants and I wanted some kind of nice background. Here is the Flowerpot bread after it is half gone.

Rosemary Bread in a Flower Pot

My first attempt at making Rosemary Bread in a Flowerpot. Here it is ready to go into the oven.

Flowerpots provide a very natural setting, along with herbs from my garden, that is fun to enjoy during the middle of winter. If you try this you should only use American pot, foreign ones tend to contain lead. Once the bread is made, it can be frozen a day in advance and reheated at party time.

I'll post pictures later this afternoon when it comes out of the oven. Can't wait ~ I love Rosemary Bread.

Loving in 2008

This link loving in 2008 came from Sasha, but I was tagged by lifeinthelostworld Jayedee who I think is so awesome.

I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!) It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially!The benefits of Viral Linking:
- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!
- Increase your Google PageRank fast
- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site
- Build your community
- Make new friends!Add your blog url here...The Strategist Notebook Link Addiction Ardour of the Heart When Life Becomes a Book The Malaysian Life Yogatta.com What goes under the sun Roshidan’s Cyber Station Sasha says Arts of Physics And the legend lives My View, My Life A Simple Life What Women REALLY Think Not Much More Than This life in the lost world ladolcevitaleann your next!


stephandtheboyz, thezitohouse, familycorner, emptymind, knittyinthesouth


Now, add/tag 5 of your friends blogs…

Ukulele

When I was 8 years old, my parents bought me a ukulele. Not the one with Tiny Tim's picture on it, but a very nice ukulele. I took private lessons for a couple of years. In 1960 I remember seeing Tiny Tim on the Tonight Show singing Tiptoe Through the Tulips. I thought he was a little crazy singing in his falsetto/vibrato voice, but he surely could play the ukulele.

My granddaughter now has a uke... I can't wait to help her learn to play. Tonight I spent several minutes trying to help her dad tune it over the phone. After several failed attempts he went to his piano and said it was at least an octave out of tune.

I'm sure Jason will be posting a You Tube as soon as she can strum a few cords.

2 B This Cute!

Please indulge me in some personal boastfulness.....this cutie pie calls me Grandma.

Miss Halie was ambulatory from early-on. She was walking at about 9 months... really! I would like to take full credit, but no it was mom and dad that spent hours leaning over, as she reached up and grasped their fingers firmly in her tiny hands and soon she was up and walking around.

I would like take credit for the yoga...because I did buy the DVD...that counts! Look at that Tree Pose! As soon as I have a picture of her hula-hooping ~ I do get the credit, we hoop together often.

Update

The driveways and sidewalks are cleared ---- yippy skippy....ready for round 2 ~~~~Winter storm warning in effect until 6 PM mst this afternoon.

Here Comes A Week of Snow

The front yard
From the bedroom window

A dress rehearsal of the week to come. Snow, Snow, Snow~! Snow...heavy at times this morning. Snow tapering off in the afternoon. Accumulation 1 to 3 inches valley floor and 4 to 7 inches benches. Temperature falling through the 30s. West winds 10 to 20 mph through the morning. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

That 100 percent...it's here. Today will be an indoor RECESS..that's right, I have lots of plans for today, laundry, dishes, change sheets, make a pot of hot chocolate, and crawl into the big chair with a book.

I've been away from the blog spot, didn't feel great, had lots of company, and trying to get all those Christmas Trees into a good storage place.

I'll drop by this afternoon with an update on the progress of the snow and mine as well.

Ah the Joys of a White Christmas

The sun is shining the grass is "WHITE" the sky is the brightest blue you have ever seen. What a beautiful Christmas Day. I took this picture to show you all the snow coming off the roof of my home, but look at that blue sky! WOW!

The bushes are covered, the bird houses are drifted in, the poinsettias are .....

There are lots of laws about parking cars on the street after the 1st of November....I'm campaigning for a new law..."Electric Snow Melting Systems installed in every driveway!" I truly envy anyone who has this wonderful system that is buried cables underground, which heat surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways (BYU has them... I know... I walked the campus sidewalks many winters....they were clear and clean!)

DH said they must of course be laid before concrete is poured! Now since we got a new driveway 2 years ago I can't remeber what the problem was or why I didn't request the system be put in immediately.

Installation and maintenance costs were probably a big consideration, but to me it would be worth it, "if someone else is doing the work and paying the bill of course" becauseI truly dread tackling a snow-covered driveway at 5 a.m. and even worse I hate a driveway covered with snow! It ranks right up there with unmowed lawn!