Random musings

I promised myself I would write more because I love writing. Not stories, per say, but writing in general. I just enjoy the act of putting pen to paper - or in the case, fingers to keys - and letting whatever random thoughts flow from my brain to the paper or screen. I laugh at what comes out because a lot of it is just random nonsense but sometimes, creative ideas come from random utter nonsense. I'm going to consider this multi-tasking and write my musings here...

Why are my glasses always dusty and why can't you simply blow the dust off? Why is it when you try to wipe the dust off, it becomes a smeary mess that required special wipey things to clean off properly?

When I was little, they didn't have the special wipey things to clean glasses so I would hand them to my mama when we were out - because I can't stand smudgy glasses - and she would lick the lens and use her shirt hem to clean them.

I have been known to do the same without thinking.. because thinking about doing it is just gross but in the moment, doesn't bother me at all.

I have been wearing glasses for 40 years.

I should design glasses for people with small nose bridges but full cheeks - the plight of my life in the bespectacled world.

I love my house being clean but I begrudge cleaning it because I know that Pokey and Hobbit are going to mess it up. Not on purpose or out of spite, just by living life. Messiness doesn't bother them like it does me. Messiness makes me physically mad. I think the phrase "living in a refugee camp" came out of my mouth last week - and I wasn't kidding because that is how it felt. I made Pokey help me clean it all up before he tucked into his game on his day off. Now I'm just trying to maintain it but working nights makes it harder than I thought it would since I am constantly exhausted.

I am not naturally a night person.

I applied for a new role. I meet all the desired qualifications, which are above and beyond the required qualifications. I hope I get it - though the interview process scares the snot out of me. Hi, I'm a random girl with social anxiety so let's spend the next 30 minutes to an hour focusing on me and what I have done in my life because that's not an area of life I suck in.

My off day outfits seem to simply consist of things I can't wear to work because of the guidelines. Today's ensemble: Twenty One Pilots grey tshirt with Trench yellow graphic of daisies and my black leggings with glittery gold Mickey head icons all over it. To me, it 'matches' and works... it's the gold that ties it all together.

I'm a boring cook. I have chicken thawing for supper and I have no idea what to do with it. Probably just going to bake it and slap BBQ sauce on it. It sounds good to me. I have the taste-buds of a toddler. I really want to eat at one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants one day but I don't like poncy food so I would need to get a burger after we leave... because burgers are the world's most perfect food.

So, yeah... this is an exercise I try to do just to keep me writing. It is so easy for me to let my relaxation things go but in the end, it is those things that help keep my anxiety at bay. Writing, knitting, taking pictures - most anything I do creatively keeps me grounded and calm. I work in a role that is honestly a bit stressful so it is important to keep a balance, especially when you are in mandatory OT that has you working super long days on a schedule that is opposite of your normal body clock. It can all pile up until you feel overwhelmed so be sure that you take time for you... and now, a gratuitous collection of things that I have recently completed because no post is complete without a photo or two...

A reminder... for me...

I am waiting... patiently... well... quasi patiently... well... I'm trying to be patient. I can't share at the moment but I am hoping soon that it will all change and then I promise to sing it from the rooftop.

Rediscovering an old favorite

I haven't made this in a while and it just sounded good - so I'm rediscovering an old family favorite this week.

I needed something fabulous and fast - that's when I remembered this recipe from way back in the day.  It was exactly what I needed and everyone loved it.  Have y'all made it?  If not, trust me - you'll love it!  If you have, I'd love to hear about it.

On a Mission

I spent all day yesterday telling myself "don't forget to do the Wound-Up" and do you know what happened... I forgot to do the Wound-Up!  It's okay though because I was actually crocheting on my Order of the Phoenix Mission so that's still working on the Wound-Up, isn't it?

I've been hooking away on this because I don't want to miss the deadline for turn ins now that my OWL is kaput.

I have 8 more rows to go before I do the final variegated bit and then on to the lace.  I think I'm going to work the lace in the variegated as well but I'm still on the fence about it.  I do love how these colors have blended together because the grey matches so well.

I will definitely be making this shawl again and doing it with several different color combinations.  I have ideas for doing a pink fade to red, a rainbow transition, a purple fade, and one that is completely solid without the fade.  It's such an addictive pattern.  The lace bit is done on a 10+1 repeat so the size is adjustable as well.  I think my next one will be in worsted weight so it has some umph to it and I'll put it up for my present stash bin.

Seriously addictive novel!

Now that I'm all caught up on the crafting front, let me share I've been reading.  I am currently enjoying two books the moment.  I know, so not like me to be working on one project but reading two books - it's normally several projects and one book - but I couldn't help myself.  When we went to the library last week, I picked up a 14 day borrow so I had to tuck in straight away.  It's by Betty Hechtman and it's entitled For Better or Worsted and it's just one of those books you can't help but get sucked into reading.  I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it at first because I'm not big on mysteries, even though I love watching Sherlock for more than just having a solid hour and a half of Benedict and Martin viewing pleasure.  The writing is sharp and the characters are relate-able, which is very important to me.  If I can't find someone to love, I have such a hard time moving forward - case in point, Death Comes to Pemberley - I've not given up yet though it is still on hiatus on my dresser.  I have a second book by this author sitting in the wings because they were the only two at the library and if I liked her, I could always order them Books-A-Million if they aren't in the shop.

Your brain will totally thank me.

The other book that I'm reading is entitled Dorothy Must Die.  It was written by Danielle Paige and I will admit, the strongest reason I picked it up was because the heroine's name is Amy.  Seriously, it's true.  No one ever makes a main character with my name and better yet, this one is pithy and sarcastic and has awesome pink hair... come on, how could I not pick it up!  Munchkins with tattoos, witches with permasmile plastered on their face, and the former heroine gone drunk with power.  It's awesome and I haven't even reached the Emerald City yet.  Not your typical tale and it is not disappointing, I can tell you that.  The writing just carries you along and her imagery is amazing.  It really is a fabulous and I know that the heroine is destined to become one of my most cherished.

Tonight is going to be a classic supper night around here.  We're talking meatloaf, mash, and green beans.  All the makings of comfort food heaven.  I used to love coming home from school and learning that we were having meatloaf.  I had to ask though because my mama was prone to tricking me into a state of euphoria with the aroma from the kitchen only to be violently pushed off the edge when I learned it was Meat and Vegetable Pie.  That was always so cruel.  Must be why I've never made that particular dish for my family - besides the fact that I despise mixed vegetables.  We may even have some ice cream for dessert just because I now feel jaded with the memories of Meat and Vegetable suppers.  Ice cream cures whatever ails you so I'm thinking it will be in order.

Are y'all making anything fabulous - crafted, food, or otherwise?  I'd love to hear about it!

This, that, and the other thing

My allergies have me feeling like such a space cadet during my little weekend here.  I know it will pass but by golly I do hate feeling like I have a head full of cotton and the seven dwarfs are mining their way through my face.

I finished my book last night.  I picked up Divergent while I was at the store the other day and I started it on Monday morning, reading all the way up until I had to go work, then I didn't have time to pick it back up again until last night after supper, when I finished it.  It was really good.  So good actually, that while Pokey and I were out and about Tuesday he bought me Insurgent so I'm good to go on the second one tonight or tomorrow.

All my little projects, lined up in a neat little row.

Today was spent on the sofa since I felt puny.  I watched Leap Year and Robin Hood (the director's cut) while I worked on a blanket for my niece and nephew-in-law who are expecting their first child in May.  She doesn't know what she's having but I do so I am doing my best to make it so when she opens my present it doesn't blow the surprise.  The colors are green, yellow, and peach which would work for either a boy or a girl so I think I did alright.  I need to run out to the store once Pokey gets home tonight so I can get more yarn.  I need to pick up at least one green and hopefully a yellow but if not, then I'll get a second green which will work out fine because I have two more skeins in a fabulous green, grey, and blue colorway waiting to be made for our sofa.

I also started a hat to help work my way through my stash.  I have the band and about 6" of hat done but the pattern calls for 10" so I'm plugging along.  It's the same pattern that I made my OWL hat out of last term over at HPKCHC.  I love the pattern but the crown decrease was never awesome to me so I'm going to do my own thing once I get to that point.

We're having sloppy joes for supper tonight because they just sound good.  You know how when you feel kind of icky, certain things just sound perfect?  Welp, initially I was going to make a meatloaf but then I got to thinking and I really wanted sloppy joes so Pokey is bringing home buns, kettle chips, and ice cream so that I can have my comfort food supper.

I think I'll get caught back up on my American Idol before tonight... I forgot to vote so I'm hoping that Dexter, Alex, and Caleb rocked it.

Awesomeness in chicken forms

Yesterday I made a chicken for supper but I tried something new.  Normally, I put it in my roasting pan, with the lid, and cook it at 350 for about an hour and a half.  It usually splits the breast but the meat is so tender, I don't care.  It isn't for the Queen or anything so a split breast is a decent sacrifice for such juicy meat.

Well, my husband made a comment that he misses having crispy skin on his chicken.  I don't normally eat the skin so it never dawned on me that there was a difference.  To make Pokey happy, because it's my duty to keep him pleased as punch, I decided to cook my chicken last night in a different fashion.

I first took two lengths of aluminum foil and rolled them length-wise so that I had something to rest the bird since my normal roasting rack did not fit in my dish.  This lifted it up just enough that it wasn't sitting directly in the juices while cooking.  After that was all set, I washed the bird and set it in the dish on the foil bits.  I took my orange blossom honey and drizzled it over the entire bird.  I then sprinkled on some lemon peel, celery salt, pepper, and parsley.  It looked fabulous -

That is one beautiful bird right there!

Even before it went into the oven, I thought it was beautiful.  I honestly sat there and stared at it for a goodly bit thinking that Gordon would be so proud of it if he could see... Paula would tell me to add butter but in my cooking daydreams, Paula is always telling me to add butter to everything.

So I preheated the oven to 275F and placed this gorgeous bird on the middle rack - mine are actually marked A-D so she was on B for her holiday in the oven.  I set the timer for two and a half hours and went about my day.  When the timer went off, I temped her to make sure we were on target for supper time.  She was a big girl at just over six and a quarter pounds so timing was important.  I then covered her lightly with aluminum foil so she didn't burn and placed her back for another hour.  The final results were amazing!  Have a look -

I had to run and grab the camera to get a picture because Pokey couldn't wait to dig in!

It tasted absolutely delicious.  I will admit that the breast meat was not as juicy as it is when I cook it in my covered roasting pan but it was still good.  It didn't dry out at all, like I feared it would.  All I know is that Pokey and Hobbit were very happy and I have two more bags of leftover chicken to use in the freezer from this baby which will yield me a total of four more dinners. 

Like I always say, you just can't beat a good roaster when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck.  This awesome bird was just over $13 so we'll call it $14 for the sake of argument.  That means I got five meals for $2.80 a meal.  You just can't top it.  Just because you are feeding a family on a budget doesn't mean that you have to eat cheap boxed meals.  Good food, when you purchase wisely, can actually save you money and feed you well.

Oh, what was I doing while the chicken was cooking yesterday - finishing up my Mission... which I am promptly going to frog now that I have turned it in.  I love this neon yarn so I am going to turn right around and make something else with it, I just didn't care for the excessive fluffiness of this particular item.  The chicken bag though - well, that's just awesome no matter how you look at it.

See how it drapes like curtains, not a fan.  I'm going to frog it though and make something fabulous.

Off to spend my morning rewinding yarn and searching patterns.  I hope y'all have a wonderful day.  This is Hobbit's last day of school before Spring Break so I'm going to enjoy my last day of quiet for the next 8 days.  On the super up side, Pokey and I were both able to get vacation during her Spring Break so it will be a week full of family fun!

Happy endings and new adventures

I finally made the time to finish the third book in the Hunger Games series.  I must say, since rereading it with fresh eyes and a different perspective on Katniss, I honestly loved it.  It ended just as I had hoped and it even had enough surprising twists to keep it interesting but not annoy me with a feeling of prolonging the story for the sake of additional pages.

I won't share the ending in case there are those who have yet to read it but I must say that I love it when a trilogy can capture my heart in such a way that I honestly get emotional for the characters.  The first time I read it, I simply loathed Katniss so much that I didn't make it through the second book before I just gave up.  I then sat through the movie because my husband loved the books and wanted to see it... wow, did Jennifer Lawrence change my perception of that character.  I picked up the first book and reread it with a better understanding of who Katniss was and the stories came alive for me.

I'm in that mourning phase now -  you know, the one where you were so invested in the characters that you are sad you completed their stories.  I have a few books on standby for my next adventure so we'll see where I land next week.  In the meantime, I'm going to pick up the next movie in the series tomorrow since it comes out on video then.  That should help with the transition.

Tonight I am going on a culinary adventure as I'm making my first ever curry.  I was originally going to make Butter Chicken from scratch but there were so many new spices and ingredients that I wasn't sure I wanted to invest my funds into something we might not ever use again.  In light of this - and the sheer cost of it all - I opted to go a different route.  We are still having Butter Chicken but I am using a jarred sauce from the U.K. crafted by Sharwood's.  They have a ton of recipes and ideas but I'm simply making this over rice and we'll see how it goes.  It's one of the best selling curries in the U.K. so it has to be good, right?  I have an emergency $20 tucked away for pizza, just in case we don't like it.

Now, I am going to go and spend some time enjoying this deliciously lugubrious day.  I managed to make up ground last night from the frogging that took place the day before and I'm hoping to finish this section of color changes to see where it falls before starting the cuffs for the whole sleeve idea I have.  This is where I'm at now...

Almost done with the first round of the round (and skein) of orange.  It's extra fluffy for the sleeves.

Naturally, when a project is on the floor it needs to be joined by Tinkerbell who helps model.

Though apparently she only works alone... poor Buddy, he lives with such a diva.

Some bigger projects and a fabulous cheat

Morning y'all!  It's chilly here - currently 34*F and will only get to 54*F with a wicked wind that whips things up.  At least the sun is shining.

I really need to get cracking on making some African Flowers for my OWL bear because I'm behind schedule so I think that will be my office project instead of my Mission chicken bag like I had been doing.  I've got a good bit of the bottom done but it's not as mindless for me as the flowers have become so I need to switch anyway.  So, knowing me then you know I have no other choice than to say... guess what...

Here is my project page if you are curious or want to keep tabs on it - it will be epic when it's done!

CHICKEN BUTT!!

Yep, I have the humor of a toddler.. lol.  To offset the silliness, here is a serious photo on my African Flower progress - of which I need 56 and there are 28 days available so it means I have to do two a day (plus seaming together) in order to make it on time right now for my midway check in points -

Here is the project page for this one too because it is going to be one massive bear when I'm finished.

I have to finish this one and do my two for today, if not more to build my sanity cushion.  I like how it's coming together though.  I worried a bit that it wouldn't look nice but I have to say, I really do like it.

Last night, around 11:15 pm, I was dying for something sweet and I really just wanted a cookie.  We didn't have any in the house so I was very thankful that I had some cheaters in the fridge.  Y'all know that I am not a food snob in the least so let me tell you that I have no shame in keeping one package of cheater cookies in the fridge for such emergencies.  So I pulled out a cookie sheet, preheated the oven to 350, broke out the little squares of premade cookie goodness and when the oven was ready, I popped them in.  Ten minutes later I had some fabulous cookies.

If you are super curious who makes my cheater emergency cookie dough, click here.

Right, time to get off here and get busy on my day.  Hugs to all - stay warm... it's a rather blustery day in these parts.  I think it is best for me to stay in with a good movie, a decaf cuppa and some cookies to nibble on while I craft the hours away until I have to go to work tonight.

A different light

Nothing beats a bit of crafting and a good book.

Y'all know that I did not like "The Hunger Games" when I read it because there wasn't a single character that I found endearing.  The rest of my family loved it, but I just was not on board.  Well, that was until we watched the film back when it was released almost two years ago.  It never happens where I love the film more than the book...

never...

but I did.

My mother claims it was because I 'read Katniss wrong' in the book.  Not sure how anyone could exactly do that but she claims that the reason I didn't like it is basically because I read it wrong.  Umm, sure Mama.  It cracks me up every time I think of her telling me this, all earnest and doe eyed.  I prefer to think of it as Jennifer Lawrence did an amazing job of softening her and making a character that I despised into one that I adored.  As a human being, I find Miss Lawrence to be of exquisite character and beautifully grounded.  As an actor, I find her to be very gifted.

And this is why I have decided to give "Catching Fire" another read.  I must say, I'm glad so far that I did because I am loving it.  Katniss is softer to me now, instead of the egocentric snob I initially took her for - too good for her family, seeing herself above her mother, a martyr over her sister, and a false love for someone who truly cared for her.  Oh no, that's not how I see her at all any more.  Now she is vulnerable, scared, compassionate and doing all she can to hold it together and protect her family when in reality all she wants is to live a life without worry for those she loves.

I'm at the part where they are just on the train, she and Peeta are talking and he's showing her what he's been up to for his talent.  I won't go into detail in case someone is reading it for the first time but I must say, it's going a lot better this time around because I am seeing Katniss in a different light - and she's absolutely lovely.

On the nibble front - it's my first weekend of the Christmas holiday season and I am going to make a family favorite today.  The cookie to shame all other cookies - Tollhouse traditional chocolate chip cookies!!  Oh yes, they are the first cookie that I make every year because I know I will have to make a second batch before the month is out.  This week, we'll be getting fat on the most delicious cookies ever invented.

I can't wait.. best get off here and get cracking then, huh.

Multi-tasking

This week has gotten away from me so the best way to get back on track is to simply pick up where we left off until we reach where we are supposed to be... so here goes!


I've had this song in my head most of the week so I thought I'd share the joy with the rest of you.   Now we have background music for the rest of the post too!

All of my projects have managed to migrate to my office and I try to give each a bit of love every day.

 The goal today is to make the sweater complete, along with the Christmas present.  I hope to have them off the hooks by this evening and ready for photographing before the sun goes down or by first light tomorrow before I have to go to work.  It's a goal, hopefully one that I will make too.

This is our supper tonight - thanks to Pinterest - minus the bacon because of my really dumb pork allergy.

Pokey and Hobbit are both having a Thanksgiving feast today while they're out so I figured a lighter supper was in order.  A simple egg and hashbrown casserole will do the trick because they should still be full when they get home and I don't see the need in wasting a roast on a group of troops that are already stuffed.

Gotta love Goodreads.com

I also started a new book the other night.  Not because I really wanted to read it but because I wanted to read something and it was there.  I'm not into it yet but I'll give it a bit more time because the scenes are still just developing.  I have high hopes for it since I like the author from when I read "Wicked" so many years ago.

I've actually had this book for some time, along with "Mirror, Mirror" and "Son of a Witch".  I received them as presents the same year I was raving about "Wicked" but I've never been moved to immediately read them because I worry that the next won't be as good as the first, leaving a souring on the first book.  I know, it's strange but y'all know that I'm strange anyway so this is not some kind of miracle revelation.  I'll keep plugging away and we'll see if it pulls me in as I go along, which I hope it does because now that I sit here remembering his first novel, I've rekindled my desire to read his later works.

There you have it - all caught up and ready for the rest of the week.  I have a great sense of accomplishment about the day now.  Let's see if we can't carry that through to the sweater like I was talking about earlier...

Why wait?

Seriously, who can beat $5 to feed a family... twice over!

Y'all know that I love a good bird, especially one that can get me several meals.  Last shopping trip, we got a beautiful turkey because we love it and figured why wait for the holidays when we can eat it whenever.  So we made a delicious bird that weekend and from that beautiful beastie, we got another 6.5 lbs of meat which gave us six more initial suppers, of which we were able to get another six full suppers.  Breaking it down just for this bird - that $27 fed us for half of the month at 13 full meals, plus a few lunches for my husband.  Oh yeah, I love me some roaster birds!

Today, I'm taking one of those bags of leftover meat and making Turkey Alfredo.  It's a super simple recipe that anyone can make.  Sure, I have the ability to make the sauce from scratch but that's for times when we aren't attempting to squeeze blood from our pennies, so I went the super frugal route.  I can tell you that this entire meal cost me a grand total of $5.  Yep, seriously - and we'll get two full meals out of it so that would be $2.50 to feed my family tonight.  The bird breakdown at $2, the sauce was a bogo at $2 a jar and the noodles were just under $1.

It's great for nights when I have to work or just don't feel like "cooking" cooking.  You boil the noodles, heat the sauce, toss in the turkey because it's already been cooked so it just needs warming.  Once the noodles are done and drained, mix the sauce over it and you could call it done.  I like to put it in a casserole dish and cover it with Parmesan cheese and parsley, letting it bake in a 350* oven for about 20 minutes to give it nice crispy topping.

Just showing proof that I'm honestly & actually doing it.

Walla.   The three of us get nice full bellies and there is usually at least three servings left over, sometimes four.  I swear, just because it's frugal doesn't mean that it's nasty... I'm not talking Hamburger Helper, which would have actually cost me more and not gone as far.  When things get back to being more fluid, we'll go back to making our own sauces but for now, I'm not turning my nose at a jar because it tastes great and they're just as happy.

I'm happy to report that I have finished my book and I absolutely loved it.  It left me sad that I didn't have the second installment of the series to immediately dive into and that is an awesome feeling.  I can, with confidence, recommend "Beautiful Creatures" to anyone who enjoys a story about finding that one soul that you can truly connect with on every level possible.  A story about finding yourself and your capacity to love when you never thought it possible.  A story about strength, compassion and vulnerability with characters who are developed fully and that you can completely relate to on several different levels.  It is a wonderful story - it's not heavy but it doesn't pander either... it is simply engaging, captivating and intelligent.  I'm picking up the second in the series on Friday... if not, I may die too!

Sunday Snaps

Wowzers, what an end to the week!  Lots of things going on - some good, some freakishly awesome, and then some not so good.  Spent yesterday up at my folks' house, hanging out with my mama.  We all went to supper and watched a bit of TV, nothing earth-shattering but it was awfully nice to spend time with her.  I worry about her being alone all the time until my daddy retires (47 days!) and comes home from Texas for good.  I know I love to be alone and enjoy the stillness but after a while, it's just too quiet and too still.  Even I, with my hermit tendencies, need people every now and again.

I'm reaching the exciting conclusion to my book and I must say, it's definitely exciting.  Lena's birthday is in five days and I can't wait to see what happens.  Will she figure out what those clues mean?  Will she and Ethan be able to stay together?  What is his power and what does 'claim yourself' really mean?  I know once I'm done that I'll want to start into the second book.

I got a new set up for work and I'm excited about using it.  The headset is super comfy so that right there makes it all worth it.  By the end of my shifts lately, my head hurts so badly because the headset would squish my glasses earpiece into my head - making a dent!  There is the added bonus of being able to stop the bill for the work dedicated phone line so that's another plus.  Granted, it's only $16 a month but that's almost $200 a year back in my budget - that makes me happy.

I didn't take a lot of pictures this week.  You can always tell how busy my week has been by how many pictures I've taken... and I have nothing new for you!  All the images I shot last week were on Wednesday and so you've seen them all.  I know, sad stuff.  I'll leave you with a favorite from a while back - every time I see this shot, I honestly bust into giggles...

Hehehe... silly girl!

Tasty allergens

I could resist it no longer - I had to have some BBQ Pulled Pork and I had to have it now!!  That meant one thing, pulling out my crock pot and getting to work on some of the tastiest allergens ever.  I'm happy to report, I only had a slight reaction so I just may have the leftovers tonight!!  Here's my recipe -

Ingredients

• Pork roast - about 6 lbs is what I bought
• 1 can of coke - I'm southern, it's all coke but for everyone else I guess it's cola or soda.
• Garlic salt and Pepper to taste.
• One small minced onion.
• 16ozs of your favorite BBQ sauce.

Directions

1. Place roast in crock pot.  I put mine in frozen but it can be done thawed as well.
2. Pour coke over entire roast.  Be sure to lift it up so it gets underneath.
3. Toss in the onion and your seasonings.
4. Turn on low for about 7 hours.  Now, mine was frozen so I had it on high for an hour and then turned it down to low for the remaining time.
5. Take the roast out and shred it.  Drain all but 1 cup of the juices.  Put shredded roast back in the crock pot and smother it with all the bbq sauce and saved juices.  Mix it all up so that the meat is properly covered and wet.
6. Let cook on low for another hour or two or until you just can't take it any longer and have to have some.
7. Serve on a bun, over rice, on a plate with taters and corn... anyway you want it and enjoy!

I was so set to eating it that I totally forgot to take a picture of it.  I'll try to remember to do it with leftovers tonight... but I can honestly tell you that it was the most delicious thing I've put in my mouth in a very long time.  It was heaven on a bun, let me tell you!!

Nibbles and Narratives

(c) mostlyhomemademom.com

I am just past the halfway point on my current book, Beautiful Creatures, and I have to say that I am rather enjoying it.  Granted it does have the whole standard storyline of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy questions girl and loses her (this is the part that is building up if I'm right), and then boy wins girl back (I hope, if the previous occurs).  It's a very engaging story and I do love that the author has yet to play down to me and spoon feed me plot lines instead of letting them fully develop naturally, trusting that the reader will be able to 'get there' on their own.

The characters are well developed too.  The 'good guys' are good but not too good so that it ends up being super unrealistic and the bad guys are just bad enough that you can associate but not so bad that it's fantastical.  They are all just regular people whom you can latch on to and go on the journey with, emotionally connected, and hope that y'all make it to the other side with very few wounds.  As long as the author doesn't ruin it by killing a main character simply because they can, I am going to absolutely love this book.  It's even something that both Hobbit and Peanut will enjoy so I'm sure I'll be passing it on.

What makes this book even better is that it is part of a series so I already have my hopes set on getting the other 4 - and to add to my nerdy love, the series is numbered as 1, 2, 2.5, 3, and 4... yep, there is a 2.5 which just makes my heart happy.

(c) Ohbiteit.com

As far as the nibbles go, it's been a bake free week but I am hoping to remedy that this weekend.  I have been wanting something but I wasn't sure what I wanted - I still don't actually - but cruising my Pinterest foodie board as led me to two fantastic ideas.  One is a supper dish called "Ranch Chicken Enchilada Lasagna" that sounds oh so delicious and then a dessert called "Apple Pie Cookies" which looks really neat.  I need a few things from the store for these but hopefully, I'll be able to run in and get the missing ingredients.

Time to get started on the day - make it great!

Nibbles and Narratives

Marbled bundt cake with powdered sugar on top.

I know, it's been a while since I've had a chance to do one of these segments.  I do love them, just hadn't made the time to sit down with my book in a while but now that Hobbit is back to school and I'm getting my updated routine down, I've carved out a bit of time to read again.

I am not much further than where I was last week but I am further so that's what counts.  Lena just had her first "moment" in Mrs. English's class - I can so relate to that feeling, can't you?  Thankfully, the results of mine were nothing compared to what happened with her.  I am curious as to how they are linked, Lena and Ethan, and I love how he's figuring it all out along the way.  It lets me know that the author doesn't think I'm an idiot and has to have it all spelled out at the front of it but lets me discover it bit by bit, just like Ethan.

This week I also did a bit of baking.  Ever since I was a little girl, my mother would always make something on the first day of school.  Cookies, brownies, cake - just something homemade to celebrate... our return to school and her return to a calm, quiet house.  When I became a mom, I carried on that tradition with my own kids.  On Monday, Hobbit headed back to school and I made her a bundt cake.  Now, in order for you to totally get the reason behind why it looks like it does, you have to understand that "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is one of Hobbit's most favorite movies.  So not only did I make her a "cyak", I made her a "boont cyak"... and she loved it.

It is Important

It appears to be a theme with me this month, doesn't it.  Working a day late on everything.  I can make excuses - and they're good, see...

1. School starts on Monday so we're getting ready.
2. Sorting is happening at HPKCHC and I'm a minion.
3. I'm still getting used to my work schedule and feeling constantly worn out.

That's all I've got but they're good excuses as to why things have been off... except that I despise excuses.  Every time I hear an excuse for anything, I think of this...

Found on Pinterest a very long time ago and it stuck with me.

So no matter "how good" the excuse is, it's still just an excuse... and I don't like them.  Now, it's Thursday and I think the above the moment could be considered a motivational moment (work with me people) so that takes care of Monday.  I just learned about this artist and wanted to share...


Fully awesome, I know.  Best way to be forgiven for Tuesday is by posting an awesome video today... lol.  So that bring us to Wednesday (which I honestly thought today was until I remembered all the errands we ran yesterday for Wednesday) and Wednesday is wound-up of current projects so here goes...

Here they sit, patiently waiting as I carry them from the sofa to the office and back again, every day...

My bag, my blankie toy and my shawl... all getting a little love over the week.  Very little love.

Which brings us to today.  Thursday.  Nibbles and Narratives day.  I did not cook anything new this week but today I am making a family favorite - Turkey Corn Soup.  Though I am using chicken for this batch because I just want chicken.  I have turkey chopped up in the freezer but this time, I'm hankering for chicken.  I actually need to get it started so it can simmer this afternoon.  As far as reading goes, I'm so ashamed that all I can do is show you...

Yep, I've not picked it up this past week.  It's going to live by my bedside table now so I will read it tonight!

Haha!  See, that little saying from the top of the post is right... if something is important, you find a way.  I just did an entire week's worth of series on one post because it was important to me to get back on track.

Tomorrow, I'll show my plans for the weekend!  I promise!!

Care for a Nibble?

Things have been whackadoodle around here since I started working again.  Getting into a rhythm has been hard but I'm sure by August it will all be ironed out.  I'll be working my real schedule instead of what I've been doing during training and hopefully Pokey will have the position he interviewed for on Monday which will put his office just up the road instead of almost 2 hours away.  All of that to say, I've not gotten in much reading time lately.  When I get off work, I am brain dead so I just turn on Netflix and fall asleep to a classic series I've seen a million times over.  I do, however, have a nibble to share!

Hehehe - I couldn't resist.  You can't eat that but I just wanted to say that I am finally done with it!

Gotcha!  I just had to my project share since I finished it last night and the only reason it is even finished is because I love my mama that much.  So many times I wanted to toss this sucker in the trash.  It was fiddly, unforgiving and rather rude.  The tree is an original design since the pattern from the kit was all kinds of pathetic.  Trees should be big and fluffy, not tall and skinny.  Anywho, here is my contribution to my mama who is reestablishing her Christmas decoration collection.

I do have a recipe to share though.  It's down and dirty simple but it tastes really good and you can get 8 or more servings out of it, depending on your portion size.  We didn't name it so I'll just call it "Down and Dirty Dinner", for when you're cooking on a budget and in the trenches... kind of like us lately.

Seriously taste, seriously easy!

Ingredients:

1. 1 16 oz package of angel hair pasta
2. 1 10 3/4 oz can of Cream of Mushroom soup
3. 1 cup of milk
4. 1/2 pound of chicken, cooked and chopped
5. 2 tablespoons of parsley
6. 1 tablespoon of garlic salt
7. 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
8. 1/2 teaspoon of pepper

Directions:

1. Cook noodles per instructions on package. Drain and set aside.
2. Mix soup, milk and spices.  Combine well and until smooth.
3. Add soup mixture and chicken to pasta.  Mix thoroughly until all the pasta is wet.

That's it... I told you it was super simple, Down and Dirty Dinner in under 15 minutes.  Not bad when you're cooking on a 30 minute supper break.  We got a full supper, two helpings of seconds and three frozen larger portioned meals.  The total meal costs were less than a dollar a portion!

Everyone loved it and my mama suggested putting broccoli in it.  If I did that, I might add more milk to stretch the sauce a bit more but not much, maybe a quarter to a half cup more.  Plus, if Hobbit wasn't going to be eating it I think I would have added some crushed red peppers because they would take it to a whole other level of wow.

Enjoy!

Nibbles and Narratives

Summer is officially here at our house.  We're on our second day of summer break from school and Hobbit has been enjoying the freedoms that it brings.  I figured I'd give her the rest of the week off from structured events and we'll just start our routine on Sunday.  During these unstructured days, I've managed to sneak in a bit of reading which has been wonderful.  I must say though - my mind is starting to wander in this section of the story so I'm hoping things will get engaging again soon but I'm almost done so either way, I'm thinking a new book will be on the horizon.

Lazy Pasta... I think that's what I'll call it.

Speaking of lazy summertime fun - I've got the perfect supper.  All you need to sacrifice is ten minutes of your time to toss it all together while the oven heats up, then you can go back to relaxing for the 40 minutes it takes to bake.  Sounds good, doesn't it?

Ingredients:

1. 1 16oz box of Ritoni
2. 1 24oz jar of your favorite tomato sauce
3. 24 oz of warm water
4. 2 cups of your favorite cheese or several slices of singles

Directions:

1. Set your oven to 425*F and lightly spray your 9x13 dish with cooking spray.  It helps with clean up after supper but you can skip this step if you want to, it isn't necessary.
2. Mix together your dry pasta, sauce and jar of warm water.  I shake the water in the jar to make sure and not leave any of the goodness inside.  Make sure your pasta is good and wet, then pour it in to your baking dish.
3. Cover your dish with foil, sealing it up good and tight.  Toss it in the oven for 40 minutes.
4. Uncover it, stir it up really well.  Make sure you scrape down the sides and get the sauce mixed up with the noodles evenly again.  At this point, your noodles will be al dente so if you like them softer, cook it a bit longer.  I would think another 10-15 minutes covered would do it but taste and see.
5. Now put your cheese on top, evenly so you don't have burnt peaks and unmelted valleys.
6. Toss it back in the oven for 10 more minutes or until you cheese is melted and your pasta is tender.

If you normally 'doctor' your sauce, don't forget to do it - I did and had to add salt after, not my favorite way to do things so be sure to attend to your sauce as you normally would.

This yummy dish can be done with meat as well, just have to take an extra few minutes to brown it first then toss it in with the sauce in step 2.  Seriously, it's that easy and the best part - Hobbit loved it and even had seconds!

Nibbles and Narratives

Yeah, I've fallen off my "Narrative" band wagon but I've already promised myself that I will pick back up where I left off this coming week.  In the meantime, I made something super delicious for Pokey's birthday yesterday... with a bit of help from Hobbit.  You see, Pokey doesn't like cake or sweets really so this year, we made him some Birthday Bread instead.  It was most delicious Sparkly Streusel bread and I'm here to share it with you.

We used purple on our bread and it was fabulous!

Ingredients:

For Streusel -

1. 2 Tbsp sugar
2. 1 tsp cinnamon
3. 1/2 tsp nutmeg
4. 2 Tbsp softened butter
5. 3 Tbsp edible glitter

For Bread -

1. 2 eggs
2. 2 cups flour (all purpose is what I use)
3. 1 cup sugar
4. 4 tsp baking powder
5. 2 tsp cinnamon
6. 1/2 tsp nutmeg
7. 1/2 tsp salt
8. 1 cup buttermilk
9. 1/3 cup oil
10. 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350*F and grease the bottom of your loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together all the bread ingredients.  Be sure to get out all the lumps. I prefer to add the flour last and do it a little at a time to ensure that it's all mixed well.  Set it to the side
3. Take all your streusel ingredients and mash them together with a fork in a separate small bowl.  This should make a since crumbly consistency - like if you were making a graham cracker crust.
4. Pour half of your batter into the loaf pan and even out.
5. Sprinkle and gently spread half of the streusel crumble on top of the batter.
6. Add remaining batter and top with remaining streusel.
7. Sprinkle your edible glitter on top - use a generous amount to cover the entire top of the bread.
8. Bake in the oven for 40 - 50 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean from the center.
9. Let it cool for 15 minutes in the pan and the pop the loaf out to complete cooling on your wire rack.

Enjoy this tasty treat for breakfast, snack or dessert.  It's sure to be a family favorite and it's a ton of fun!

Nibbles and Narratives

No narratives this week - it's all nibbles because I wanted to share the most amazing creation that took place in my kitchen on Monday night.  Even my idol, Gordon Ramsay, would approve of this one.  It's that good!

You're going to need these ingredients -

I worked it out and with the six servings, it worked out to about $1.25 a serving.. can't beat that!

Ingredients

• 1 lbs of ground beef
• 8 ozs of angel hair pasta, broken into thirds
• 15.25 ozs of corn, drained
• 10 3/4 ozs of tomato soup
• 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of minced onions
• 1/4 cup of rough cut parsley
• 3 tbsp of crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp garlic salt

It's super simple to make and tastes like a million bucks.  Even Hobbit ate it so that's saying something!

Directions

1. Set water on to boil and cook your noodles per the package directions.
2. Toss onions, crushed red peppers and corn into a hot skillet and saute.
3. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt and half of the parsley.
4. Add in your ground beef in chunks to help brown it quicker and easier so you don't break or burn your corn and spices.  Drain once your ground beef is cooked through.
5. Replace mixture on low heat.  Add in the tomato soup and water, mixing thoroughly.  Let simmer for about five minutes or so to marry the flavors.
6. Drain your pasta and add to the meat mixture, combine so all the noodles are wet with sauce.
7. Mix in the Parmesan cheese and add the rest of the parsley to the top for color.

Hungry?

This stuff was so good, I swear! I got six servings total so in our house, that's two complete meals. I think a nice cool salad would compliment this dish really well and if I had had the fixin' in house, I would have made one to go with it. Enjoy - and let me know what y'all think!