Book Review: We Be Big

I've recently stumbled across the booksneeze program that gets books to bloggers in exchange for two reviews. The first book I selected to review is We Be Big: The Mostly True Story of How Two Kids from Calhoun County, Alabama, Became Rick and Bubba. I picked this book because 1. I thought my dad would enjoy reading it once I reviewed it and 2. I remembered watching their tv radio show on Turner South as a kid and I remembered that they always made me laugh.I always struggle a bit with book reviews because I don't want to give away the plot but I think that the title pretty much serves as a plot summary as well. The book alternates  from Rick to Bubba's POV chapter by chapter. I really enjoyed that aspiect of the book. I liked being able to read about the same event from two different perspectives, especially in the early sections of the book before Rick and Bill were Rick and Bubba. When I first started reading the book I thought it was a bit dry but the more I read, the less I wanted to put the book down. It's a good book and I enjoyed reading it. After the first few chapters, it kept my interest and kept me intrigued. It has its funny moments and gets better and better as the book goes on. I didn't remember the Rick and Bubba show expressing their Christian beliefs as much as they do and say they do in the book, but I was a kid when I watched the show so I may hae just forgotten that part. So it was a pleasnt suprise to realize that Rick and Bubba are Chrisitians and do their best to out on a Chrisitan, family-friendly and funny show.I think that the Christian overtones and messages in the book were wonderfully done. The book didn't hit me over the head with the author's believes but I was able to understand their thoughts and beliefs. So if you're not a Christian please don't shy away from this wonderful read. Want to buy the book? Check out the links on the top-left side of the post.

First Trip to the Steel City

Mike and I decided to go to Pittsburgh yesterday. We got stuck in an awful traffic jam on the way into the city, but that was the worst part of the trip, so after we got into the city things went smoothly.
We stopped off first thing for lunch. We had pizza at a place where you can watch them toss the dough. My half was bacon and pineapple, and his half was bacon and spicy peppers. My half was the perfect combination of salty and sweetm and it was fun to watch the pizzas being tossed. Next time though, I 'd like to stop at food stands for tacos, gyros or kebabs.
After lunch we stopped and I bought a piece of the most perfect chocolate baklava in the world, which I munched on throughout the day.

After stopping for the baklava we checked into a few oriental grocery stores so Mike could look for his Korean favorites. We eventually found a specifically Korean store, and overheard the cashier speaking Korean. Mike tried to speak a little Korean to her, but she just blew him off. When he asked her about a few specefic items, she looked at him like he was crazy and said "I don't even know what that is.", and went back to what she was doing. Regardless, we still ended up buying kimchi, mando, and some kind of wasabi peas that Mike likes to snack on.

We then went to the place I'd been excited to go to Mon Aimee Chocolate. It was wonderful to look at all of the different types of chocolates and chocolate products. Everything was quite expensive, as to be expected I suppouse at a speciality store in a city. But, I did walk out with a small bacon chocolate bar, which is on my list of 101 things to do. I'll let you know how it is.

Afterwards we walked around the city a bit.

And then we went to a Pirates baseball game! I'd been to the Greenville Drive games twice but this was my first *real* game, and I had a ball. (Pun intended)

Book Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

This book was recommended to me several times by my mother, so it made it onto my list of books I want to read by 2013.
Its the first of a series, and one I plan to continue reading. However, I when I first began the book I thought it would take a lot for me to finish it.
It starts out slow, but by the time the book ended I was all "no way. that can't be the end. I need to go get the second book".  I think part of the reason that the book was so hard for me to get into at first was that because the book takes places in Scotland, the majority of the book is written in Scots or a strong scottish accent, I'm not sure if its technically Scots. But once you read enough of it and get into the story you're able to ignore it. Still, I think it was a major editing mistake to allow  so much of the book to be published in that style. You can get the feel of the place without having to struggle through unique spellings.
Now, about the story. I'm always nervous about this part because I don't want to give away to much of the good stuff but I do want to give you the gist.
So basically, the main character is finally able to honeymoon with her husband when she is suddenly transported back to to 17th cnetury Scotland. She's stuck in the midst of clan wars, and the planning for the Jacobite Revolution. She falls in love with a clansman and must decide whether to stay in Scotland or to try and make it back to her husband, who she also loves. While in the 17th centurty she also struggles with the descion to share her knowledge of future events to help or hurt certain causes.
Have you read Outlander? What do you think? What's on your must read list?

The House That Built Me

We moved from our small two story yellow house between my kindergarten year and first grade year.

I cried and cried and cried.



I wanted to take my ballerina teddy bear pink and white striped wallpaper with me.

 I wanted my pretty white ceiling fan.

 I wanted to keep going to my supercool school that had twin yellow slides that my best friend Chassidy and I could ride while holding hands.


I wanted my yard and our 20 or so cats, one of which was named Mr. Barbie.






I had so many memories of playing in the yard, riding my dogs Sandy/Beau around like horses, riding my little red car around with a parade of cats behind me.
 I loved doing handstands in the corner of the stairwell. Even though I hated having to slide down the stairs on my "hiney", because I would start going too fast and be unable to stop until I had tumbled my way down to the bottom.I loved sitting at a desk, in front of a mirror and doing a talkshow about my "homework" I hated our realtor and was very bratty to her.


And then I fell in love with my big room, connected to my sister's.


I loved being able to whisper to her at night. My mother says she would come check on us because she heard us talking, only to find out we were both babbling in our sleep.


I  loved my new pink ceiling which was later painted white, so I could have a leopard/jungle themed room. (I loved the trunk my daddy built me and the bookcase. I loved my bench of a window seat and the cushion my mother sewed for it. )


I loved playing on my Barbie rug and swinging on the porch swing at night. And I loved helping change the flag on our flagpole.



I loved not having to slide down stairs. I loved that the yard was still big enough for my swing set, and a fort, and a garden!

I loved that my daddy had a garage that he would work in, and sometimes let me help.
I loved that there was a big magnolia tree to climb and play in, and rough up my knees on.
 I loved that we could still have cats, a dog and a bunny!

I loved finding treasures in the old house left from previous kids.

I loved my supercool remote controlled ceilingfan. (man I miss that thing!

I loved living in a neighboorhood. We lived in the perfect place- I had kids to play with my age, and lots of lovely older ladies, and couples that would always watch out for my sister and I, buy GS cookies from us  and make us special treats at Halloween 
What do you remember about your childhood home(s)?


This post was inspired by a mama kat prompt.




















































































 

Bouchons Au Thon- It's What's for Dinner!

Who da what?


Thats what I thought when I first read the name of this recipe in Molly Wizenberg's   A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. And then I saw that the recipe was for tuna. And I thought no matter who da what, no way. I don't like tuna. And then I remembered that Mike has been asking for tuna and had even stockpiled some in the cabinets. So, I thought what the hey...lets give it a try. And I'm glad I did because now I can say I like tuna. And I'm also now a big fan of Gruyere...which I'd been wanting to try for awhile.Ingredients:
6 oz can of tuna packed in water, drained
1 cup lightly packed finely shredded Gruyere
1/3 cup cream
3 tablespoons of tomato paste
3 large eggs
1/4 cup finely  (don't ignore the finely) chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoons of basil (recipe calls for italian parsley)
1/4 teaspoon of salt...I left it out and didn't noticeSteps
1. Preheat to 325F. Grease 8 muffin cups.
2. Put the tuna in a medium bowl and mash it into small pieces. No chunks bigger than a dime.

3. Add the other ingredients, mashing and stirring as you go, until the mixture is a light orange-pink color.

4. Divide evenly between the eight muffin cups.

5. Bake for 25 minutes until they look set on top. Set on a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Run a small thin knife around the edges toremove from tin. They cave in a bit as the cool.

I served these with fresh steamed green beans in a garlic butter sauce and a broccili/carrot/cauliflower mixture.

half eaten veggies, I couldn't wait for the picture

For the green bean sauce:
Cook 2 tablespoons of butter with 1 glove of mashed garlic until tender. Add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, salt and pepper and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Toss with cooked green beans

And for dessert?
Instafondue! Strawberries, banana and marshmallows slathered drizzled in chocolate syrup. Mmmm!

Meal Planning Tuesday

I wnet grocery shopping on Saturday. Here's the upcoming menu:
Tu- Bouchons Au Thon
W Chicken and Dumpling (I can't wait)
Th Brats and Beans
F Penne Pasta (my moms recipe!)
Sa Leftovers
Su Leftovers
M  Mexican Manicotti
Tu Chicken Enchilidas
W Cowboy Beans
Th Corn Frittata
F Slow Cooker Spicky Chicken with Broccoli and Cheese
Sa Leftovers
Su Leftovers
M Chicken Chili
Tu Cheddar Chicken and Black eye peas
W Chile Relleno Casserole with Tortilla chips
Th Pasties with mac and cheese (my scottish favs!)
Upcoming baking:
Frosted Flakes cereal bars
Mounds Bar Cupcakes
And something from somewhere else...probably scones
I promise I haven't dissapeared and that I have more posts coming up soon

Things My Mother Taught Me*

1. How to Bag Groceries
My mother was always very picky about how the baggers at grocery stores bagged her groceries. Something are no brainers- like bread and eggs seperated from everything else, but other things she insisted on seemd strange to me at the time, or, judging by the heavy sighs, to the cashiers as well. However, if I pack everyone's groceries as I would pack my mother's most customers seem to be fairly satisified and occasionally complement me on my bagging job. Others either insist I shove everything into one bag or glare at me and mumur something along the lines of kids can't do anything right, when I fail to bag their groceries- plastic in paper in plastic, two items maximum per bag- without being asked.
2. To Always Do My Best
Dealing with the public and ringing groceries several days a week as never been my dream job, and certainitly won't be a career for me, but while I'm there I suck it up, smile, and do my best to ring fast, pack well, be courteous, and remember 8000 codes. This belief was instilled in me from my mom always insisting that I do my best, even if it was something I didn't care of or didn't excel at.
3. Be Nice to Everyone
My mom was like the mom in Bambi. I frequently heard "If you can't say anything nice then don't say anyything at all." I learned that everyone deserves respect and should be treated nicely. As for the rude customers who think the grocery store revolves around  them and that I can balance their 12 pack on my head while ringing and baggin their groceries, I "kill um with kindess". This belief gets a bit tricky when it comes to dealing with my mother in law because she  calls almost everyday, and if we don't pick up she will continue to call on the hour, and will alternate between our house phone and cells. She always asks (both of us) the same questions, several times, in the same conversation. She even told my husband that she does that because she doesn't listen to our response. As far as being mean to her goes- I want to explode and tell her everything she does that drives us both crazy. The worst thing I've done so far is hang up on her. Like I said, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all" :)
4. Volunteering
My mom instilled in me, at an early age, a desire to volunteer and help others. As a Girl Scout I picked up trash, helped out a camp,served at nursing homes, held food drives, worked with children at Head Start and helped with Hurrican Katrina relief. I volunteered a lot in college too- helping with the Children's Shelter, Girl's Home, baking cupcakes for the soup kitchen, cleaning at a woman's shelter and a varieety of other things. Helping others is missing from my life right now, and I miss it. I'm looking for something to get involved with in my area, but I keep coming up short. There seems to be a shortage of nonprofits in my town, as well as the next one over, there doesn't seem to be a soup kitchen and the food bank is also about 45 minuts away and has a confusing volunteer system. The only flyer I've seen is for a lunch buddy program, but I tend to work during hte lunch hour. Any suggestions for programs to check into? Perhaps something that I can do with my inconsisten work
schedule?

*This was inspired by a Mama Kat prompt

2 Easy Recipes= 1 Great Dinner

I made these awhile back and just haven't gotten around to finishing the post. That actually happens a lot. As many drafts as I have I should have a new post going up every day but that rarely happens.
I'd been craving fried chicken but didn't want to go out to a fast food place for some, and as luck had it I happend to be flipping through channels when I stumbled upon some blonde lady, that I didn't recognize making "easy fried chicken". Sold!
Easy Fried Chicken!
Take your chicken breasts, or thighs or whatever you prefer, and let them soak in buttermilk for 20 minutes or so. Dip the meat in to a 1 part paprika 3 parts flour mixture, back into the buttermilk and then back into the flour mixture, pressing to adhere it to the chicken. Pop into hot oil for three minutes. Promply remove and bake in a 350 degree oven, on a bakng sheet for about 30 minutes. Presto- a crunchy "fried chicken"
And to go with it I made Twice Baked Buttermilk Potatoes. I'd always had twice baked potatoes from the store and thought they tasted like regurgitated cardboard. But Mike likes them (along with instant potatoes that you make from pieces that look like cardboard. I swear that boy must have not had a decent culinary childhood. But I digress), so I thought I would try to make  them at home...and they turned out super yummy!
Twice Baked Buttermilk Potatoes
I put two potatoes in the microwave until tender and then let them cool until room temperture. I scooped out the insides and mixed them with 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1tbsp melted butter, salt and pepper and chunks of cheddar cheese. I popped the mixture in the microwave to insure that the butter and cheese melted and mixed all into everything else. I filled the skins back up, sprinkled with paprika and popped into a 350F oven for 15 minutes. YUMMY!

Go Win!!

Ends March 31. Win some chocolate!

Ends March 20. Win a scarf!

Ends March 22, Win cotton bags.

Ends April 6th. Win candy!

A Quad of Q's

1. Q is for....Quilts

My mom knows how to uilt, as do the mothers of my friends and some of my friends. Lyric explained it to me in principle back in the fall. I've been tossing around the idea for some time now of learning to quilt and making all of the  tshirts that I don't/can't wear anymore but have sentimental signifigance into a quilt. What do you think? Has anyone done this? I know there are places that will do this for you but I think it would be a neat skill to learn.
2. Q number two is for....Quotes

I get to interview and quote people in my freelance writing and I love it. People have such great stories, and I'n such a nosy person that this works out fabulous. I really hope to find a way to make this my fulltime job.

3. Q is for quirky

My friend described herself as quirky in a recent interview and got strange looks back. She meant that she was an individual, and an out of the box one as that. But the connotation her interviewers read was "weird, odd, strange". Thats not what I think of when I think of quirky. It's like an "innocent different". An extra bit of personality, in a good way. What are your  thoughts?

4. Q is for Quinn.

I've happened to catch a few episodes of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman lately (reruns of course). And I remember how much I used to love that show, although I pick up on a lot more things now than I did when I watched it the first time. It's a good show, and I still think Sully is hot!

Tempting!

Here's what has been tempting my tummy this week!

Mexican porkchops

Chicken Fajita pasta

Breakfast Casserole

Wine and Cheese Cupcakes

Homemade Mashed Potatoe Candy (we always but it, but I'd lole to make it)

Another Breakfast Casserole

Go Win Wed March 9th

Not much here this week, but still work checking out:
 Win 2 handbags. 
 Win a shop credit to a cute etsy store!

Completey, Totally Yummy!

I could eat this stuff for days- it is that good. It's a recipe for Cowboy Beans and Sausage that I found in my Woman's Day cookbook. I followed the recipe and then topped it with grated cheese and crumbled cornbread. But you have to use Aldi's Baker's Corner cornbread mix. I've never had any mix other than Jiffy until the other  night and this stuff knocked my socks off. It was very light and had a slight honey taste to it. Mmmm!
Here's the recipe for the Cowboy Beans and Sausage
1 can pintos1 can kidney beans1 can black beans8-16 oz Kielbasa or smoked sausage1.5 cups chopped onions3/4 C bbq sauce2 tbs pancake syrup or sugar1 tbsp cider vinegar
1. Brown the sausage and remove from skillet.2. Add onions and cook until tender3.Add bbq sauce, syrup and vinegar and bring to a boil.4. Cook 15 minutes, covered over medium heat. 5. Sprinkle with cheese and serve with Aldi's cornbread- I loved my cornbread  crumbled into it! Mmmmm!

Meal Plan Monday

I need to go grocery shopping but until then this is the menu plan I'm tossing around

Monday- Fried Chicken with Twice Baked Potatoes (turned out fabulous!)

Tuesday- Honey Lemon Chicken and Black Eye Peas

Wednesday- Breakfast

Thursday- Pork Tacos and Stuffed Jalepenos (grocery shopping day)

Friday- Stuffed Cheddar Chicken with Black Beans, Amish Cake for dessert! (We'll have company!!)

Saturday: New and Improved Pasties (I made these before but they didn't turn out the way I hoped, so I hope with some Racheal Ray inspired modifications these will be the way I remember!!)

Sunday- Turkey Pita Burgers with Amish Black Beans

Monday- Spaghetti with homemade sauce and turkey meatballs

Tuesday- Amish Cheeseburger Pie

Wednesday- Taco Quiche

Thursday- Breakfast Casserole

Friday- Chicken Fajita Pasta

Gotta Love Bend and Dents

We try to stop at Little Barn, a bed and dent store, everytime we drive over to visit Mike's family. This shopping trip we spent around $30 and got:

• antibotic bandaids
• 4-5 cans of Campbells soup
• hot chocolate
• popcorn
• 2 bags of chips
• dried black beans
• 2 boxes of ceral bars
• granola bars
• granulated sugar
• chocolate chips
• pb chips
• sweetned coconut
• 2 rice mixes
• a bag of seasoning for wings
• salsa
• enchilda sauce
• cream of chicken
• beef consome
• marshmallows
• peanut butter
• apple butter
• grape water
• ferror rocher candy

I love going to this store because I can get my baking supplies on the cheap, as well as extras like popcorn, hot chocolate, chips, chocolate candy and apple butter that I wouldn't normally buy because of the price. If you total it out we spent on average, $1 an item.

What's Been Going On

1. My husband is healing.
2. I've been working for the paper and loving it.
3. The paper's freelance photographer has taken to calling me "Word Girl".
4. I enjoy working as a cashier- everyones been very nice and helpful...but I can't help but wonder what it would be like to work in the bakery...have you every done that?
5. I'm reading Ernest Hemingways Moveable Feast, and enjoying the majority of it. Any suggestions on what to read next?
6. Today we're going to an amish store to purchase some mashed potatoe candy.
7. Tomorrow, we're trying out a new church and I'm making mango cupcakes, to complete my challenge.
8. And this time next week, Mike's best friend and his wife should be up to visit!

What I Wanna Make!

Here are some recipes that have had my mouth watering lately.

Plantains with a Coconut Caramel Sauce....I love plantains!
Chocolate Carrot Cake
Turkey Pot Pie
Tex Mex Manicotti...I love manicotti, and tex mex so this seems perfect!
Triple Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread....3 chocolates? YUM!
Peanut Butter Pretzel Torte

Have you made any of these? What have you been craving lately?

I'm linling up with Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Go Win Wednesday: March

Ends March 4th. Win a microwedge bag!Ends March 7. Win Marshmallow pops.    Ends March 8th.  Win a salt and pepper shaker.Ends March 17th. Win a $20 gift code!

A Little Bag of Goodies!

I won a shop credit to Piecefully Home, a super cute etsy store!
And this is  what I picked out:

2 cupcake and polka dot napkins

2 rocket and stripe napkins

1 beautiful set of gift tags

 

 

Go check her out!

Easy Pineapple "Gumbo"

I discovered thsi tasty concoction last night while throwing together a bunch of leftovers. I used:

1. 1 box of rice a roni (rice pilaf) and followed the directions
2. leftover smoked sausage or kielbasa, chopped
3. leftover pineapple chutney (pineapple and onions tossed with salt pepper and 1 tsp of hot sauce and heated in the skillet)
4. raw mushrooms
5. shredded pepperjack

I made  the rice according to the directions. While that cooked I reheated the sausage and chutney and mushrooms in a skillet. When they were both done I combined them and topped with cheese.

What a perfect way to sneak in five food groups grains, fruit, dairy, veggies and meat!