Lauries Kitchen

Sunday, November 18, 2012

A new recipe!

I think my MSAN (Mandatory Sunday Afternoon Nap) went to a new level today! I fell asleep on the couch and fell into a deep coma. I think it helped my allergies, though so I am thankful! I don't remember the last time I slept that hard. We had a blessed day at church this morning. Then came home to lunch in the oven, which was a new recipe. I have no name for this recipe, so if you come up with one, please feel free to share it! Coy actually found this recipe a couple years ago in a magazine. I forgot out it and lost it. Then I ran across it the other day and decided to try it. Pretty inexpensive but good! I think next time I am adding three cans of soup, though. The taste was spot on. Pretty easy, too!

Cook 1 package extra wide egg noodles.
Stir in 2 (or3) can Campbell's Chunky Vegetable soup.
Heat in 350 oven til hot.

I didn't add any extra water, beef broth or anything and it was still good.

I'm off all this week. while Coy and  the girls get off Tuesday at lunch.  Tomorrow I get the pleasure of taking Coy's truck in to Lakeside Collision to get it repaired since I backed into it.....yeah, not a good day last Sunday. At least I have time to do it and have access to a great place to get it fixed. Then I have to finish grocery shopping and getting things ready for Grace's birthday. She wants cookies tomorrow night then brownies when her friends come over to play games on Wednesday. We'll probably go out to eat tomorrow night since both girls have a home game. It'll beJoGail's first game of the season. That will be fun to watch.

Grace went to a UIL meet on Saturday (thanks to Coach Brown for letting her miss a basketball game) and placed 6th in Ready Writing. I laughed at her, though, because she said she wasn't wearing her letter jacket (that has her patch on it from going to Regionals last year) because she wanted to sneak up on people and not let them know she was any good at it! She still hasn't quite figured out the 'game' in editorial writing, but I'm confident she will. She says she never places because the teachers who grade the papers don't like her view points....she says the topics are usually about school stuff and she tries to answer them like she thinks her daddy would....she said that Saturday she wrote something like, 'making TEA mad is never a good idea'. 

Since we were home yesterday, we got a lot of pesky chores like laundry, mowing, etc done. We are about ready to put Christmas decorations up this coming weekend. Always a fun time, I tell ya! Coy is meticulous out in the yard and it drives the rest of us crazy! I usually try to hide and JoGail gets yelled at the most! We will have a new addition this year, so be sure and drive by if you get the chance! Also, if anyone knows where I can buy more plastic figurines, that would be helpful. It's getting harder and harder to find them. Grace likes them because she says its different than what most people have out in their yard. That reminds that I need to get some extra light bulbs tomorrow! There's always one figurine that somehow has a lightbulb go out in between last Christmas season and this Christmas season!

I hope everyone has a thankful Thanksgiving!


Laurie










Monday, October 29, 2012

Wow! Its been over a month!

Wow! It's been over a month since I have posted! I would say I have been busy, which I have, but I haven't posted mainly because I haven't been a bundle of energy. Most days I have come home and crashed (as in out like a light) before 7:00. Just exhausted. I finally went to the doctor who did some blood work and my B12 is low. I started shots today, so hopefully everything will be on the upswing. Yes, I know I could give myself the shots, but some reason B12 shots and diabetic shots aren't the same in my mind. I think it has some thing to do with the needle size. My doctor said I am young (hehe) to need B12, but given the ole family history (both my dad's dad and my dad both had to get them) plus one of my diabetic medications is known for blocking B12 absorption. Hence, why I have to get a shot and not a pill.  I get a shot every day this week, so I should be full of B12 by Saturday! I'm just hoping I get more energy. I have done well this afternoon/evening but am slipping fast (but hey it's 6:40 so I may make it to 8:00 tonight!).

I tried a new recipe tonight and all liked it. I found it in a cookbook I have had for years. I have no idea why I never tried it before tonight. It was really good though!

Pork Chops and French fried onions

1 package boneless pork chops
a little oil
1/3 cup flour
 creole seasoning
 1 can cream mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream
2/3 cup chicken broth 1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
french fried onion

Heat oven to 375. Heat oil in cast iron skillet. Get it really hot.
Combine flour and seasoning in a bag. Shake each piece of pork chop to coat. Sear both sides. Set pork chops on a plate and wipe out oil from skillet. In a bowl combine cream of mushroom, sour cream, chicken broth. Stir gently til combined. Stir in ginger and rosemary. Put pork chops back in skillet. Pour sour cream mixture over all. Bake about 30 minutes. Add french fried onions on top and bake 10 more minutes or until crunchy.

All liked them, even though Grace complained there was 'gravy' on her pork chops. There was absolutely nothing left in the pan, though! Coy absolutely loved this recipe. The Pork chops were really tender-he cut his with a fork.


I made this apple thingy from pinterest for dessert. It was really good, too. Very easy to make!

Apple Dessert
1 can crescent rolls
1 can apple pie filling
4 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 stick butter melted
cinnamon sugar

Heat oven to 350. Spray 8x8 pan with pam. Line bottom of pan with half of the crescent rolls. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together and spread over crescent rolls. Spread apple pie filling over this. Put remainder of crescent rolls on top. Pour butter over and sprinkle all over with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 30 mins.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

4 new recipes!!!!

I've tried 4 new recipes lately and we have liked them all! One of them, Corn and broccoli bake is going to get some revisions just because I want to try it, but it's still good the way it is!

Lazy Day Cake is simple. I made it this morning before church so we would have it for dessert at lunch.

1 yellow cake mix (I used butter)
1 stick melted butter
1 package chocolate chips
2 beaten eggs

Mix all together and sperad in 13/9 pan sprayed with pam. Bake at 350 for 20 mins or til it starts to get golden brown on top.


Arkansas Green Beans are also simple! I have no idea why they are called Arkansas Green Beans. You basically take an otherwise very healthy can of green beans and make them as unhealthy as you can....that being said, they are great!

1 large can green beans drained
4 pieces bacon cut in to small bite sized pieces and cooked in the microwave (save grease and stir in!!)
1/2 c brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce
Mix all altogether adn bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or til hot.

Like I said, pretty unhealthy but AWESOME!

Corn and Broccoli bake is something I found in a cookbook I have had for years. For some reason I flipped through it the other day and I landed on this and thought it sounded good. I like it because it doesn' t have any 'cream of soups' in it !

1 can regular corn drained
1 can ceram style corn
1 package steamfresh frozen broccoli
1 box chicken in a bicuit crackers
5 Tablespoons melted buttrt

Crush crackers and mix with butter. Line bottom of baking dish with this, reserving some for the top. Partially cook broccoli in microwave (I cooked mine for about 3 minutes)  Mix 2 cans of corn with broccoli. Pour over crackers and put reserved cracker butter mixture on top . Bake at 350 for about 30 misn or until heated throughout.

Variations Coy and I want to try: Using ritz crackers instead of chicken in a biscuit and then omitting the crackers and using a box of stove top stuffing.

I'll keep you posted as to how they come out!


I also had a neato frito salad Friday at work.    Sounds weird but everyone liked it!

I'm just cutting andpasting straight from the email I got the recipe from...Tabitha Hale brought it..again....sounds like weird ingredients but they are awesome mixed together!


2 cans of corn drained

1 green bell pepper chopped
1 bag (2cups) of shredded cheese
1 small purple onion chopped (I leave this out because I don't like onions)
1 bag of Frito chili cheese chips
Mayo or Miracle whip

Directions from Tabitha:
I mix all ingredients together except the chips (they will get soggy if you do). I add chips and stir right before serving. I use mayo to taste you can make it really thick, I like mine thin.



Friday, August 24, 2012

I'm feeling funny....

I thought it would be fun to answer some questions  from another blog post....hope you get to know me a little better....it's a finish the sentence thingy.

1. I hate....when I am hungry and can't figure out what it is I want! I'm a good cook but there are still lots of nights I want to eat something but can't figure out what it is I want! That's when the family gets cereal or sandwiches! (Can you tell I'm hungry and can't figure out what I want???) Homemade potato salad by my mom would always hit the spot, though!

2. I have never been to....New York City. I don't have much desire to go, either. from what I hear there's way too many people and everything is expensive. I prefer my quiet nights at home on the netbook thank you very much.

3. The hobby I love the most is......well, right now I do not have  hobby unless it's called chasing the girls from sport to sport. I do enjoy watching my girls enjoy sports. I tend to be a little loud (Grace says she never hears me, but really, how could she not???) but I get over it. I used to paint t shirts but haven't done that in about 16 years!

4. My favorite store to shop at is....umm I don't have an answer for this one. I am really not much of a shopper. I might be transformed if I had an unlimited supply of money, but....I don't so life goes on and stores make money from everyone else but me. I do prefer Target over wal-mart and HEB is probably my favorite grocery store chain that I have been to.

5. I clean my house.....when I deem it dirty enough and not a minute sooner. I figure if Coy can stand it so can I.....

6. I always wanted to marry.... a coach and someone who had the qualities on my checklist....Coy's first day as a principal was the week after we got married.....sigh.....and the only characteristic on my list he didn't meet was that he had a mustache. I gave in on that one!

7. I see God's blessings.....when I look at my kids. They are true miracles and joys to me.

8. The last thing my husband did for me was......encourage and go with me to workout this afternoon. Really didn't feel like it, but we went and it helped with him there (I'm not as apt to cheat when he's there....)

9. If I had twins I would name them...........oh I don't even want to go there! But when we used fertility drugs Coy wanted twins, before he found there was only one.....He wanted to name them Kimberly Rebecca and Rebecca Kimberly.....true story.....I'd never get their names right if that had happened!

10. My week.....has been long. Actually the past two have been. Back to work and 2 back to back volleyball tournaments, with a school board meeting and lots of church meetings splattered in between. I'm ready to slow down, cook some good meals and stay in the slow lane awhile!




~Laurie

Friday, August 17, 2012

Taco cups and more!!!

I have been so blessed this week!!!! I got to visit with 2 good friends yesterday and it ABSOLUTELY made my day! Then I went to a volleyball game and sat with more good friends. I felt SOOOO social!!! (hehe for those that know me!)   My sister thinks I'm on a record breaking roll this summer for dinners with friends and get togethers with friends.....well maybe I am!

I cooked tonight for the coaches room at the volleyball tournament. I bought and took pizza yesterday but was informed by Grace that they WANT me to cook something g(she thought that was funny). So I cooked tonight. Cheesecake bars and taco cups. I have been making cheesecake bars since before we had the girls. I got the recipe in a 50cent cookbook magazineMawMaw Cole bought me at a dollar store. It is the only recipe in the book I use, but I do use it. It's one of Coy's favorites. Then I found a Taco Cup recipe on pinterest. I modified it of course (after all, I do work in Special Education and everything there is modified). They turned out awesome.  JoGail had one and was begging to eat more. I'll make her some more tomorrow since I had leftover fixings.

Taco Cups

wonton wrappers--I used 24
1 pound ground meat-I used turkey-browned and seasoned with taco seasoning
1 can black beans drained and rinsed
cheese salsa (it's by the salsa in the grocery store)
grated cheese for on top
muffin pan

Preheat oven to 375. Spray muffin tin with pam. Lay 1 wonton wrapper in each muffin cup. making sure its flat on the bottom. put 1 tsp cheese salsa in each cup. Next put 1 teaspoon meat, then black beans. Top with grated cheese and bake 20 mins.

I can envision other toppings such as jalapenos, guacamole (added after it cooks), etc. But I didn't have any of that. The cheese salsa is what makes these really good in my opinion!


can you tell I'm tired from working all week??? I'm kind of giggly!



Sunday, July 29, 2012

Blessings

Blessings, blessings, abound, even though its been a tough week. A best friend from college has had her world turned upside down, a best friend from work is moving on, and another one at work HAS moved on. (Jill Beall that would YOU). I totally understand the moving on and am in fact a little jealous. I don't understand why young mothers get stage 4 brain cancer though. One day they are fine, the next, normality is gone for their whole family. Kind of like when Denise had her wreck that changed her life forever. One night she was baking chocolate chip cookies with her son, and the next night she was paralyzed. I'm concluding that there are something we aren't supposed to understand and that has to be enough. It's kind of like trying to figure people out. Some you can't, others you have no chance of-for whatever the reason. Those of the ones I spend endless hours trying to figure out, too. I shouldn't. I should simply TRUST HIM. He never promised I would understand the why of everything and everyone else's business. He has promised to love me like no one else can. One thing I am learning through Sunday School....in the book of Judges for those who use the same curriculum....is that there are always consequences. Yes, God loves me and yes he forgives me when I ask, but he doesn't take away consequences. There are temporal and everlasting consequences of the things I choose. While I don't have what most people would call  'serious' sins, to ask forgiveness for, I do sin. Sin is sin. Period. Sin means there will be consequences, whether I like it or not, whether I WANT it or not. At that point I just have to accept it and GO ON. Staying where I am and griping or pouting only makes for more consequences (from my experience).

Blessings

1. Leigh Ann and Cassie--we may not see each other alot, but I am so thankful we keep in touch and text and facebook! Leigh Ann we love you and are here for you. One step at a time, sweet sisters.

2. Air conditioning (and Gary Smith who fixed ours). It's just plain hot here. Over 105 today. Way too hot to get out and do anything. Just laying on the couch in the dark with the curtains closed is the best thing to do while its so hot.

3. The little snow cone stand we discovered in Mabank. Sort of like Mr. G's in Brownsville but without the mango and tamarindo flavors! Coy's favorite so far is pink bubble gum. I think mine was the strawberry lemonade flavor.

4. Television-especially during the Olympics. I just like the Olympics and watch it nonstop-even what Grace calls the 'dorky' sports such as handball, ping pong, field hockey, water polo, and synchronized diving. I really don't even understand how to even play those sports!

5. Coy working me out in the gym. Yes, I actually typed that. My workout today was kind of wimpish, but others have not been. He tells me what to do then leaves me to do it. I enjoy that he isn't constantly critiquing me. I am overweight, so I'm not the picture of a healthy body yet. My blood sugars have done well, too. I have to eat something before I work out, otherwise it gets whacko on me. My knee is trying to be a pain but I'm determined to not let it stop me. I ice after every workout and take advil. That seems to help (til the advil wears off).

6. Christian friends. Friends that show me how to stand up for what's right. I have a friend who was in a difficult situation. Her friends were all telling her to divorce her husband but she refused-said that was not what God intended when they got married. That made me really stop and think. Looking for the easy way out is not always the right way out. Friends that listen to me and love me despite my downfalls and insecurities. Friends who don't care if my house is clean or what I make for supper. They just love me because I'm me!

7. Food to cook and experiment with. I am blessed to be enthralled with recipes and blessed to have enough money to go get what I need when I truly want to try a recipe. Lots of people in the world can't do that. God has blessed me in this area. We have enough to eat and often enough to share.


~Laurie

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

This dinner is so easy it isn't funny! I got the stuff, threw it together then we went and worked out. Came home to a great smelling and great tasting dinner! It's fairly cheap, too. Everyone liked this, just as it is, so it'll start making our 'rotation' (if there really is such a thing). I stole the recipe off pinterest. There was a picture there and a recipe, but no link. So I'm not sure really where this came from. I just had a thought that this would make a great Sunday lunch. Set the oven timer and come home to a cooked lunch!

Oven Baked Chicken Dinner

4-6 chicken thighs (really any kind of chicken would do)
1 large can Allen green beans (drained really well)
6-8 red potatoes (washed and sliced into equal size peices)
1 stick melted butter
1 package Good Seasons Garlic and Herb dressing mix
13X9 pan

Preheat oven to 350. Spray pan with pam. After draining green beans, line them on one side of pan. Put chicken in a row down the middle. Put sliced red potatoes on the other side. Spread seasoning mix over all, but really focusing on the chicken in the middle row. Pour melted butter over all. Bake at 350 for an hour.

Coy roughly calculated this at 400 calories, that's with getting 2 chicken thighs and 1/2 cup each of the red potatoes and green beans.




Sunday, July 22, 2012

Blessings

Time for a Sunday Seven! That's even things I am thankful for...

1. My husband. I know you've all heard me before, but I am truly blessed by the man of God he has become. He has a deep understanding of God and reminds me almost daily that my main goal in life is to Glorify God. Period. (he's kind of matter of fact like that.) When I have something to talk about he listens. He wraps me in his arms and reminds that I'm God's daughter and that everything will be ok. I am truly blessed by him.

2. Air conditioning that works. Our air conditioner had issues this past week and boy am I ever thankful for Gary Smith and his working knowledge of air conditioners! It was fixed relatively quick, and I am also thankful for that. As we got hot the one night it was out, I had the chance to tell the girls that this was what it was like growing up. Windows open, listening to crickets and cars going by. You take a bath to cool off. It was definitely a blessing but I 'm not hoping to repeat the adventure soon!

3. The stupid spartica workouts. Coy found this sparticus workout in Men's Health and starting doing them. That's how he toned up and lost 30 pounds. He finally convinced me to do them. The exercises hurt like crazy. but I kind of look forward to doing them. Yes, I'm probably still doing half of the exercises  wrong, but I am doing something. I had to move up in weights last time and I have been sore again. It only takes 33 minutes to complete the workout, but let me tell you that can drag out! The other days he has me walking on the treadmill. I actually jogged a little this afternoon. Scary, huh? But it does perk me up and I think I'm feeling better. My main motivation for doing this is to spend more time with Coy and get STRONGER. I've almost been doing them a month.

4. My church. My church is my second home. There are people there I can  talk to, I mean really talk to., who give me Godly advice. Are we perfect? No. But we try in everything we do, to Glorify God!VBS was last week and I cherished the memories of my daughters helping.  They are both naturals at it and loved every minute, even though they got tired as the week went on.

5. The girls friends. They both have friends who accept them for who they are and don't try to change them. Kids that come over and just talk and hang out. Plus their mom are pretty cool, too!

6. MSAN...Mandatory Sunday afternoon naps (stolen form my college friend Jeff Reedy).....there is just something about relaxing after a great Sunday morning worship service and just sleeping--no medication required, just laying down and falling asleep. They are the best ever!

7.I have thought several times this week that I am truly blessed to enjoy cooking. I love making food for my family. I love perusing recipes and making meal plans. And yes, we do tend to stick to them and rarely eat out unless we are on the road.

and 8. (because #8 (Tommy Kasner would want me to have 8 things instead of 7).....I am thankful that a baby girl came into our lives 8 years ago. She was teeny tiny and here for only a short amount of time. She has brought my sister Melissa and I very close even though we live a long ways apart. We are close in heart and spirit and I am forever indebted to sweet Marci for that. I can't wait to see her again someday. I know she'll be waiting on me when it's my turn to get into heaven and I an thankful beyond measure for that!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Chocolate protein bars, leftover chicken spaghetti, koolaid pie

I'm trying to catch up on some recipes. I have made this at least once a week this summer for the girls. This recipe is orginally from themarathonmom.com. I took out some ingredients to suit the girls' tastes, though. I'm not sure how much protein is actually in these bars, but I do know there's some healthy stuff in them. You could easily add dried fruit, coconut, flaxseed, etc. They don't travel well because they melt so easily, but they are good to keep in the fridge and let the girls munch on.

Chocolate protein bars
1/2 cup peanut butter (orginal recipe called for natural peanut butter)
1/3 cup (local) honey --I used wal-mart to be more cost effective
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup oats (NOT quick oats)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Other original ingredients include 2T wheat germ and 1/2 cup coconut

Melt peanut butter, honey adn butter over a low heat stirring to keep it from scorching and sticking to the bottom. Turn off burner when it's melted. Pour in oats and stir well. (add wheat germ here if you want) Stir til combined. Let is cool slightly then stir in chocolate chips (and coconut if using). Pour into a pam sprayed foil lined 8x8 pan and refrigerate. Once cooled cut into bars.

How I foil line my 8x8 pan.....I take 2 pieces of foil and put in the bottom, laying one the opposite direction than the other.

I have been boiling Grace a chicken to eat every week this summer. She eats it like crazy. She loves to dip it in A1 sauce........so I had 'some' chicken left and some whole wheat spaghetti left from lunch yesterday. Since I don't mix the spaghetti and sauce, I was able to make chicken spaghetti for lunch today. I got recipes together and realized I didn' t have quite all the ingredients to make 1 specfic recipe, so I made my own. It really didn't turn out that bad.

Leftover chicken spaghetti

Leftover spaghetti, cooked
Leftover chicken (I'm guessing about 2 cups)
1 small can mushrooms drained
1 can mild rotel drained
2 cups shredded velveeta
1 can cream mushroom soup (lowfat)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chicken broth


I put the spaghetti in the bowl first and used my kithcen scissors to cut it into small pieces. I then did the same with the chicken. I sitrred all that together in a big bowl then baked it at 350 for about 30 mins. It's not too cheesy and was very moist.

I orignally saw this recipe on the internet years ago and make it once or twice a summer. Not sure why I don't make it more often since it's super easy and always gets eaten very quickly. We absolutely love it with the lemonaide kool aid mix. I've also read that its very good with the strawberry kool aid mix.

Kool Aid Pie
1 package kool aid, any flavor
1 8 oz tub cool whip (I used the lite)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 graham cracker pie crust

Gently mix first three ingredients together then place is graham cracker crust. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I've been making these bacon wrapped eggs for the girls for the last couple of days. In fact I hve to go get some more bacon to keep making these. They love to eat these when they come in from workouts. I don't mind because it's simple and full of protein. They usually eat a protein bar (store bought) or granola bar before workouts. They hold the girls over til lunch pretty well.

Bacon wrapped eggs
4 large eggs
6 pieces of bacon
salt/pepper

Mix  eggs and salt/pepper together (like you are making scrambled eggs). Spray 6 cup muffin tin with pam (Spray really well-especially if it's an old pan like mine.) Take 1 piec of bacon and fold in hald. Wrap around the inside of the muffin cup. Do for all 6 cups. Pour eggs into the 6 cups....Bacon at 350 for 20-25 minutes. You could also add cheese to the scrambled egg mixture. Less than 150 calories per serving (1 bacon egg per serving) You can also just bake the eggs without the bacon.

Saturday, July 07, 2012

Well, it's been a long day! We officailly ended vacation this afternoon with a trip to teh movies. Grace has been begging us to take her to see Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer. We were leery because it's Rated R. Grace read the book and so did Coy. No sex scenes in it just gory blood. So off we went. I normally do not like movies in general, but this one was actually ok. There really wasn't that much blood in the movie. Coy said there was waayy more in the book and that the Aveangers movie probably had more violence than this opne (it wasn't rated R). Anyways, its was ok. Poor JoGail. We have probably tainted her view of Abraham Lincoln. I'm not so sure she can separate history from myth. (Actually I'm not sure she KNOWS his history) Everytime I looked down at her in the movie she was just watching, munching on her popcorn.

We started my workouts today and oh my am I sore. Like really sore. Like I can't remember the last time I was this sore! Coy's having me do the Sparticus (or Spartica...ahem Missy) workout. It's basically alot of variations of pushups and stuff. I've decided that Coy needs to be a personal trainer when he retires. You should see some of the food we are eating and the recipes we are trying. I'll post a few so I can find them later on. Most have been decent. The power protein balls (20 g protein per ball) were ok. I could get tired of them pretty quick, though. The bacon wrapped tuna was delicious. I also made a bacon wrpaped egg thing for breakfast. You just take a piece of bacon and wrap it inside a muffin tin. Then mix up scrambled eggs and poor in teh muffin tins and bake at 350 for 30 mins. Very high in protein breakfast. My muffin tin had to soak to get clean though. Bacon and eggs seem to be favorite meals of protein for people looking to add more protein to their diets. And the bacon's not so bad when bake it and only have one slice. I think it's like 35 calories or something ridicuously low.

We just got back from a great vacation .It was very relaxing and peaceful. With two teenage girls we did some retail therapy which has helped with back to school shopping. We are about done with that! They are almost in to the same size clothes, so you would think that would mean they could share and we could buy less, but it isn't soooo! They actually do share clothes pretty well. I think it's because they are at different school campuses though! One highlight of vacation was catching the Fourth of July parade in Fredrickburg. I highly recommend going to see that and the National Museum of the Pacfic War. It was, of course, educational, and VERY informative. The parade was probably the first parade the girls has seen were there was actual political candidates in the parade and there were numerous political party floats. Of course we toured UT and I must admit that it wasn't as 'spread out' as I thoguht it would be and the people on the campus were very friendly. Grace still wants to go there. JoGail said she was thinking about Texas Tech....but who knows where they will end up or what they will even major in. I'm still praying for a smaller campus, simliar to ETBU when I was there. I made so many lifelong friends there.  Truly though, I'll be happy when they are happy, big or small campus.

Hopefully this week will be a fairly quiet one. One thing on the agenda is cleaning the wooden cabinets really good in the kitchen. Of course, I may be too sore to help!They (the girls)  will finally figure out why I have been buying them ice cream in the gallon buckets......so each can have their own bucket when we do that! :)












Saturday, June 23, 2012

Grateful....

This week I am writing about thing si am being grateful ful for..

This past week could have been an absolute nightmare. We had a hearing at work and it was very nerve racking to someone who has never been through any kind of hearing, much less one that focused on the work I have done! God prepared me in ways I never could have imagined, though and He brought me through it.

1. I am grateful for my 'little' family. I say little because it's basically just me, Coy and the girls here. We have school and church family, but not much kinfolk around here. I learned that my girls are getting closer (answered prayer) and that they are capable of surviving without constant attention or reminders from me. I don't think there is a better sound than laying in our bed, listening to the girls watch a funny movie together. Their laughter is just precious...and even the 'not' laughter is precious....

2. I am grateful for Coy and our relationship. Even after 18 years he is still the person I turn to. We debated back and forth on whether or not he should come hear me testify and decided against it. I am grateful he wasn't there because he would have probably gotten a  little defensive of me. Talking with him the night before I thought I would testify (which actually turned into 3 nights), he gave me the best advice...answer in love. That played like a recording through my head while I was being drilled with questions. He is truly my best friend and someone who has seen me grow up ( hesitate to use the word 'mature' here) . I love him immensely.

3. I am grateful for friends who love me. Friends who pay for a hotel room to get me away before the hearing started. Friends who leet me run into Charming Charlie's even though we are starving and ready to go eat! Friends who put on a makeup demonstration so I can learn how to do my eye makeup (by the way, I call this Casey style now). Friends who sat with me while I waited to testify (again I waited two whole days). Friends who texted me while waiting to testify...I am blessed with many good and true friends.

4. I am grateful for my body. No I am not the prettiest, nor the most fit. But it held up through an enormous amount of stress. I didn't get sick (sinus, allergies, nothing) throughout last week. Again. God provided. Coy had the sinus infection last week...I'm still not a fan of picures with me in it, but God's working on that.

5. I am grateful for waking up every day and getting to start the day over. When the girls were little and they had bad days, I would put them to bed early so they would be ready to start the next better. That advice works for adults, too. Sometimes it's ok to just stop, call it a day and go on to bed. But waking up the next day guarantees that God isn't through with me yet. He has SOMETHING for me to do each day.

~Laurie

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Friday Fave Five

I know it's Saturday, but I'm just now getting around to the Friday Fave Five.

1. Friends. Friends who care enough to whisk me away for a night of relaxation. Friends who care enough to pray for me daily. Friends who I can talk to. Friends who actually sit by me at ballgames-- yep, there's story there! I am blessed beyond measure with true Christian friends!

2. Sweet potatoes-Yams whatever you call them! I love them baked, mashed and as french fries!

3. Air conditioning. I would absolutely melt away in the summer around here without it. I sleep better because of it, too. It helps my mood, too!

4. Hot water. I now it's simple, but I love a good hot shower and I love washing cour 'whites' in HOT water. A good hot bath is also wonderful and definitely in order after a day of basketball and sitting in a gym.

5. The male role models in my life and my daughter's! I have been truly blessed with wonderful male role models in my life. From my PawPaw to my Dad, to #8, to the man I married. I have had the opopportunity to see how God intended men to be. I am most thankful for them!


~Laurie

Friday, June 08, 2012

Friday Fave Five

1. Summer fruits and vegetables...Really is there anything better than fried squash? or a squash casserole made from squash grown from love? Or fresh blueberries for my morning smoothie from Mr. Miller's?I'm missing watching our watermelons and cantaloupes grow this year..we just didn't get the garden in the ground with all the track meets and everything else going on. Very thankful for friends who share, though! 

2. Friends who I don't see very often but make me feel like I see or talk to them every day! I can be quirky at times and my friends help me through it. Very thankful for all of them!

3. My fitness pal... I actually have a love/hate relationship with this app. Love that it helps me, but hate to use it. I mean. it could potentially help me lose weight, but it's a pain and often embarrassing to add what I really ate to it.

4. Melamine plates and bowls. Some know, others don't that we have dishes from the 70's in my kitchen cabinet. Coy hates corelle and other types of plates because he says when he cuts on them with a knife it makes a noise. Now I have never noticed the noise, but if he says so. So all our plates are melamine and most do not match. Therefore, I don't have to worry about JoGail dropping them on the tile and breaking them. I have not always felt this way about the plates. I prefer matching, but that' s almost impossible with Coy's request. Trust me--these plates are durable though. I have baked them, dropped them , microwaved them and done anything else I could to get rid of them......but alas they are still being used on a routine basis. Our current ones are tan with orange and yellow flowers on them. (think 70's)... I say current, they are the ones Coy had when we got married 18 years ago!

5.Our couch. It's microfiber and usually a little dirty and somewhat coming apart in places, but it is AWESOME to take a summer nap on. I keep thinking that when we replace it I might want a leather one, but I'm not sure if it will pass the nap test!

Monday, May 28, 2012

What a great weekend!

What a great weekend! We thought we were going to start with a volleyball game on Friday, but Grace was still coughing alot so we made her skip it. And for those keeping up, that was a week with  no athletics for Grace. That's pretty unusual for her. We 're back into the swing of volleyball abs basketball this week, though!  So Saturday we had the EHS graduation. I love going to graduation and seeing all the formalties. This was a hard one for me though, because I am envisioning Grace graduating more and more and more. I had to remind myself several times to just enjoy the moment! So after graduation we went for our weekly 'cheeseless' pizza at Pizza Hut (it's cheaper to eat there than enywhere else for us!) Then we headed to Mesquite to go to Academy. Now that's an adventure. Everyone goes in with their phones so we can find everyone when we need them. Grace headed to shoes to find discus throwing shoes...JoGail was in the clothes and Coy was everywhere. I just kept up with Coy! He needed new clothes since he has lost so much weight, so we loaded him up there. Grace would have gotten the shoes she picked out but they were 'Kemp Orange'. (Had they been 'Eustace purple' they would be in her closet right now). She ended up with workout clothes along with JoGail. I know, we're weird buying workout clothes, but it works for us. Since the girls do their own laundry in the summer it helps keep them motivated to keep up with doing their laundry! An enjoyable time was had by all.....then we slept in Sunday..don't do that very often but we were ALL tired. (3 out of 4 of us are on antibitics for strep.) Then we went our for brunch. It was very enjoyable just spending time with the four of us. Today we slept in again and grilled out for lunch. The hamburgers were great and the desserts even better-chocolate skillet cake, root beer floats, or key lime pie. Everyone enjoyed it and we talked about the significance of the day to keep everything in perspective.

Tomorrow night it's volleyball again. I'm very excited to get to see my Grandmother and Aunt Toot on Wednesday! Plus I get to see Aunt Nancy (really my great aunt) and cousin Wanza! Thursday is a half day at school. Then Friday is a workday for me. I'm excited to be pretty much finished by June 7! (They reduced our days and our pay but it doesn't bother me as long as I can still get most everything wrapped up at work!) There's a few days I'll have to go in through out the summer, but I can handle that! I'm really looking forward to summer workout walks starting up and seeing all my EISD friends! And of course Wednesdays at Sherry's!!!! I've been really trying to let my hip heal so I'll be ready to walk!

I can't believe both of my girls are old enough to do summer workouts. Grace loves those. She fell in love with working out during these when she was younger. We're hoping JoGail will as well. Grace is also planning on throwing the discus some and lifting even more weights to try and get stronger to throw farther.  She's already cut cokes out of her diet and been trying to eat more and more protein and drink more water. It's amazing to watcher her and her passion for throwing. And it is a passion. something she absolutely loves.

JoGail will have a rough time at workouts, but will adjust. She'll get to see some friends, so that will help her alot.

I am looking forward to getting some deep cleaning done around the house and of course finding and trying new recipes. Sometimes it's hard to try new recipes when you live with people that could eat the same thing for days on end.  I made some homemade chocolate syrup (for ice cream and making chocolate milk) today. It turned out pretty good. Next up is hot fudge sauce. Since I found some ice cream (Breyer's LActose free) ice cream Coy can have, I'm hoping we get to eat more of that this summer!

Coy is reading to quite wearing suits every day! He will keep going in early in the summer and get lots of things done. I know he'll  enjoy the 'daily report' from the girls when they fnish the summer workouts too. (I'm sure he will get more out of JoGail reporting it than he did with just Grace!) . Of course she'll have to learn (the hard way) that Daddy sees and knows all with his video cameras....BAWAHAHA  She did make the year without being sent to the prnicipal's office........first time since she started in head start...like 8 years ago! She adds so much fun to our family!

Enjoy your summer!!

~Laurie

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Snickers Salad, Grape Delight

We are having another salad luncheon at work tomorrow. Not a problem, except that (in case you haven't noticed), I'm not a big salad eater. So, I have been scouraging the net trying to find something to make for my friend Suzette who is retiring. It just won't be the same without her but I know her sister well and will find her when I need her. :)   So, I saw this recipe several places and decided to try it. JoGail loves it. I promised her I would make it for Memorial Day. Without further adoo, here's the recipe. The source is not listed because I saw it lots of places including allrecipes, cooks.com and pinterest.

Snickers Salad

1 extra large tub cool whip
1 box instant vanilla pudding
3 green apples chopped into bite size pieces
3 regular size snickers bars-cut lengthwise doum the middle then into bite size pieces

Mix fiurst two ingredients well then stir in the apples and snickers pieces. Best if you let it sit in the fridge a while before serving.


The other 'salad' I am trying is Grape Delight. I got this recipe from Diana Chambers here in Eustace. She wrote it down for me to put in Grace's cookbook.  I usually don't try those recipes but she kept asking me if I had tried it. She kept saying 'it's good' and she was right! By the way, this IS NOT diabetic friendly!

Grape Delight
Diane Chambers

8 ounces cream cheese
1 can Eagle brand  ANYthing with this is good, right?
1 large bynch washed and dried grapes

Mix cream cheese and Eagle Brand together. Stir in grapes and let sit in the frisde before serving.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Life lessons

My life lessons for the girls......

1. Be you. Be the best you ! Don't change the way you are for someone else.
2. It's ok to wait to for that special guy. You don't need alot of 'experiences' to know when you find your soul mate. Your dad and I have been praying for him.
3. Be healthy! Your size doesn't matter...your health does.
4. God, then family. This doesn't necessarily mean church then family, but it could. Keep your relationship with God first in your life and you will benefit. Keep learning scriptures. Tape them wherever so you remember them.
5. Stay away from Drama! Yes, there is drama at work, in families and in friendships. Stay away as much as you can. ( You are both already doing ag reat job of this!)
6. Manage your money well. You have often heard me say that money isn't everything, and it's not. But money can ruin relationships. Keep it in perspective.
7. Keep up your good work ethic. Yes, we all have to do work that we don't like at times, regardless of our job, title, education,etc. Sometimes it feels really good to just work.
8. Be nice to people-everyday. Holding a door, helpin gsomeone who needs help, saying a kind word--those are the best thigns in life.
9. Get your sleep. (You knew I would put that one in here.) It rejuvinates you, gives you energy and keeps you well. Nothing good happens on the streets after about 11 pm. NOTHING.
10. Do what your are passionate about. Those ar ehte things you will enjoy. Find a career that you are passionate about and go for it.
11. You always have a choice. You might not like the optoins, but YOU do have a choice.
12. Remember that we love you....but not near as much as God does!

I plan to add ot this and print if for them one day...any ideas??

Saturday, May 05, 2012

Satuday's Spectacular Six

This is supposed to be a Fabulous Friday Five Post , but I am a day late ! We had a lot going on last night...volleyball, baseball playoff game, etc. We did have a nice break after school yesterday since nothing really started until 7:30.p

Satuday's Spectacular Six---six blessing from the past week...

1. I had time to come home and walk most days even though we had banquets galore to go to last week. Come home, walk, start the girls supper, shower and then get prettied up for the banquets. I love seeing everyone all dressed up.

2. A husband who truly puts kids first--not only his kids but the kids at school. . I was talking with some friends last night at the ball game and I was reminded of how well and how often he does this. I am truly blessed to be married to someone who loves people the way he does. Sometimes I get frustrated by that, so it was great to be subtly reminded of how much he does that.

3.  Allergies. I know it slows me down and makes me grouchy, but IT SLOWS ME DOWN when I usually need it most. This weekend its hit again and it has DEFINITELY slowed me down, but I needed to. I need to take a walking break and just relax with the family awhile.

4. Two girls that love playing outside-I know I have said that before. But it truly blesses me that they love playing outside, singing, kicking around a soccer ball, listening to theirr music. I seriously think their 'teenage' room is actually outside.

5.Facebook. I love being able to keep up with long lost friends and my family through facebook. With my best friend and sister (Melissa) in Amarillo and my new sister inlaw (Amanda) in Abilene, it's so much easier to keep up with them. I like Grace's posts, too. They are usually hilarious!

6. Comfort food. That chocolate skillet cake tasted alot like MawMaw. chocolate cake! Then I was grocery shopping this morning and got some pinto beans. I can't wait (Leigh Ann) to make a pot of pinto beans and a pan of cornbread. Then I tried to make my mom's potato salad (sort of, Cassie) this evening and it hit the spot.


~~SO Blessed!!!!

Laurie

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Guess blogspot has made some changes since I last posted......ahhh the joys of technology. Sometimes I just wish they would leave things alone and not 'advance' in technology. But that would not be life would it???

Grace competed at the Regional track meet in Stephenville this past weekend. Even though she didn't advance she competed well, throwing he discus a personal best. She is passionate about throwing the discus and I predict we will be back next year and the year after and the year after. She's like that. Once she gets a passion for something she goes all out. Kind of like her Daddy! JoGail and I had fun yesterday. She helped me clean out closets, dressers, etc and not once did she complain. She was rewarded with a bottle of 'chi' for her hair. I say rewarded because that stuff was expensive! But I believe she deserved it. Not many 12 year olds would help like she did and never complain. Plus we had a good time doing it.  So proud of the girls. My favorite moment of the weekend was Grace coming in and giving JoGail a hug. They do miss each other when they are apart!

So proud of my baby sister! She ran (Yes, RAN) in her first 5K race! It was for March Of Dimes and in honor of her and Alex's daughter Marcy. Missy trained hard and it paid off! So so proud of her!!! She got to cross it off her bucket list. And now that she KNOWS she can do it, she'll have to find some more races to run! I couldn't be in Amarillo for it, but I got up at the start time of the race and walked here-thinking about her and Alex and Marcy the whole time.

Happy Birthday to my MONKEY MAN!!!!!! You know who you are! I can't believe how big you and your brother are getting. I know you are going to love going to the Rangers game! :) Looks like you had a good time eating and swimming yesterday, too!

Well. it's 'banquet season' here for Coy and I. We love seeing everyone get rewarded for their hard work. We have several next week, so that will keep us busy!


~Laurie

Monday, April 16, 2012

Salmon cakes--yummo!

I was experimenting again tonight with a recipe from pinterest.I have been wanting some  since I saw my mom making some. I researched some recipes...wouldn't be any fun if I didn't! :) After I found a suitable recipe that I could make my own, I read the reviews. That's when I discovered that I could bake them instead of frying them! I'm not a good fryer. (never have mastered that)...about the only thing I fry is squash....so anyway, I bought the ingredients up for this recipe and saved them for when I knew we were trying to stretch it to payday....so here's my adapted recipe. I adapted it from a kraft foods recipe. Oh and Coy ate them with ketchup; I ate it with mustard; JoGail ate it with tarter sauce and Grace ate them plain.
So, eat it with whatever you like!

Salmon cakes
adapted from kraftfoods.com

2 packages salmon in water ( I think mine were 5 ounces)
1 package stove top stuffing mix
3/4 c water
1 egg
1/3 cup lite mayo

Mix all ingredients together. Form into patties and bake at 350 for 15 mins. Flip patties then bake another 15 minutes.

I calculated it at 126 calories per pattie and I made 9 patties.

I would think you could  freeze them if you needed fewer. But there were none left here, so I don't even get to take one in my lunch!

Tuna could be used in place of the tuna.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Tuna Casserole with Fresh Spinach

Saw this on pinterest and thought my family might like it, since they love tuna and they love spinach! I modified it some to lower the calorie content. I've never really tried to make a tuna casserole before. Partly because Coy has always said his mom's was the best and I didn't have her recipe. And partly because I really don't remember my mom making this. It was easy to make and I suspect it will be made many times in our house! It's pretty low calorie and almost fat free, too!

Tuna casserole with fresh spinach

1 bag extra wide noodles ( I used  Ronzoni. )
2- 6.4 oz packages tuna in water
2 cans cream mushroom soup
2 handfuls washed and dried spinach
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 425. Cook noodles and drain. While noodles are cooking, mix tuna, soup and spinach. Add in noddles when drained well. Stir and pour into casserole pan. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake covered for about 30-40 minutes. Take foil/lid off and cook another 5-7 minutes.

Laurie

Sunday, April 08, 2012

Resurrection Rolls

Came across this on pinterest and made them this Easter morning! What a neat way to teach the story to kids!!! !

Ingredients
8 large marshmallows
1 package crescent rolls
cinnamon sugar
melted butter

Okay. Preheat the oven to 350 and read the Easter story from the oven while the oven is heating.
Take a large marshmallow-which represents Jesus, all white and pure and roll it in the melted butter. This represents the oils they put on his body. Then roll it in the cinnamon sugar (This is the spices.)
Place the marshmallow in the center of a crescent roll and cover. Pinch all the seams closed really good. This represents the tomb he was put in. Bake for 12 minutes and let cook. Jesus will not be in the center of the roll anymore! And the rolls are good!

LH

Saturday, March 17, 2012

5 more random things I am thankful for!!!!

1. I survived my whole family being on spring break while I got up to go to work! I did take off Thursday afternoon for the track meet, bu that doesn't count since I had to get up and go to work in the morning!

2. Saturdays where I get alot of housework done! Today was one of those days! Spring/Summer clothes are out in my closet--I had forgotten about some of them and it's like I have a whole new wardrobe! Plus I got the house pretty clean-washed clothes, etc. It feels good to get that done for another week. I try not to do too much house cleaning during the week-other than straightening or telling the girls to put their stuff away! Usually it's 95% JoGail's stuff and 5 % Grace's stuff!) I even got my lunches cooked and put away for next week!

3. A husband who's counting calories with me. It's soo much easier when he does it as well. He's lost almost 20 pounds, me 11. I just can't describe the good feeling of support when he's doing it with me. I'm still too chicken to try his 'Spartan' workout he does, though.

4.Water and lemons! I am trying ot get back in the habit of trying to drink more water. Last summer while on vacation we had some and I was hooked. You just take some water in a glass pitcher and slice some lemons and put in it. Then I like to put it in the refrigerator. It's very refreshing!

5. Alka Seltzer nighttime cold formula! I'm not sure what it's in that not in other stuff, but that works good for me right now!Yes, you put the two little tablets in water and it fizzes and then you drink it. Then in about 30 minutes I go night, night and generally sleep all night. So far it's kept the cold from getting into my lungs, which is good since I have asthma.

Well, I have two more weeks before my spring break. I have a todo list to accomplish that week, so I should be busy.  Before then the girls and have to go Easter dress shopping. That's always fun! They are so different to shop with.-but both have good taste.
Looking forward to meeting my 'little' brother Mike and Amanda tomorrow for lunch! Can't wait to see them. First time to see them since they got married!!!!

Laurie

Saturday, March 03, 2012

Faboulous Five!

I'm going to try and (only) list five random  fabulous things in my life at this moment!

1. Pot Roast....I finally broke down and bought one (those things are expensive only to be wiped out in one meal around here)....It smelled absolutely wonderful cooking and tasted even better. I actually cooked it in the oven this morning. The family gets it tomorrow for lunch after I cook the veggies in it. I (being the mom) got to taste it tonight and it is wonderful!

2. Clean floors. These are fabulous because I look at all this tile and its clean and I think "I don't have to clean them!"  OF course, that won't last for about 12 hours, but it's nice when it happens.

3.Clean sheets!!!! There is absolutely nothing better than working around the house all day, taking a warm bath then climbing in between 2 clean sheets!

4. Diet Coke...I might not like it, but it sure keeps Coy happy! Seems like everything else he really likes they quit making or stocking around here, so it's nice to know I can always find him a diet coke!

5. Benadryl...I've been self medicating with that and singulair this week hoping I could get through the track meet without getting sick and it seems to have worked! Guess I'll keep doing that since we have several more weeks of meets! But it was nice to get outside and not 'pay the price'  for it. I'm beginning to itch as I speak, so pray I don't break out in hives tonight! (I did get outside and do some yard work today....)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

It's a beautiful day!

It's a beautiful day here in East Texas! Lots of sunshine to dry out the ground from the recent rains. House cleaning this morning. (Then I found on the Internet (where you can find ANYTHING) that my housecleaning efforts got me about 200 calories 'back'!) JoGail was home and helped. She is a good helper. No griping, just needed a couple of breaks every now and then. Grace was at UIL competition, so she got out of it this week. Laundry's almost done, so I just need to iron for the week and make sure it's all put away.

I have so much to be thankful for...a husband who loves me and makes me laugh, friends who are also coworkers, people who help with the girls, my girls.....so much that can't even list. No, we're not living a perfect life-JoGail's grades are dropping (she isn't paying attention to what she should be doing), Grace is struggling with living in a 'fish bowl'....but we love each other and have each other. That's enough for me.

I have been purposely reading the Psalms. It's so eye opening when He shows me the ones who are hurting around me. I pray fervently that He will cover my friends and acquaintances with His love. I get excited thinking about how HE will provide for them and solve their dilemmas. It may not be the way I think (probably won't be) or they way I want Him to solve the situations, but He will and it will be exciting to see how He chooses to do this!

The calorie counting app is still working. Coy is feeling better than he has in awhile (I think he's lost almost 15 pounds) and I am still chugging along (I have most almost 9 pounds). I have been trying to incorporate afternoon walks into my routine. I am up to about 20 minutes. I have to watch the weather though and my allergies. I am planning on restarting the Couch to 5k app in about a week. While I hope the weather holds so I can get outside more, I am nervous about allergies/sinus problems starting up! I just beat a cold/allergies..I know allergies are going to be bad this spring since we didn't really get enough cold weather to kill everything. But I determined to be in decent shape when we hit the track during summer workouts this summer!!!! ( I can't believe BOTH of my girls will be doing that this summer!!!)

Laurie

Saturday, February 11, 2012

My new (old) flexibility.....

Awwww....flexibility.....that implies changes.....changes to my routine, changes to my plans.....it was the keyword when I was on mission trips in high school; it was the keyword when I was working a camps in the summer; it was the keyword when I was in ElPaso by myself; it was the keyword when the girls were much younger; and it's still the keyword!

Our duct taped together washing machine started leaking water form the bottom. So, we went and found one today. But it means my weekend schedule is all messed up. And I know some of you have heard me talk about Coy and his routines and Grace and her routines and JoGail's lack of routines, but I am just as guilty as Grace and Coy! I guess Grace comes by it doubly naturally! And yet as I sit here typing this I realize that laundry getting done on a certain really isn't a big deal. But it is to me!  It means I will think it's Saturday tomorrow afternoon when I am doing it!  

We end up buying a huge machine. It was weird to hear Coy say," You know it's big, but we have to think about when the girls are gone."  I don't even want to think about that! 

Sidenote.....We pulled the old machines out and I pleased to only see dust back there--I was expecting socks, etc that had fallen behind the machines! At that moment I felt like I had won the lottery!

Back to flexibility, we just found out when JoGail's post season basketball tournament is and it is, of course, when we had planned a trip to Lubbock to see both of Coy's sisters. So we are trying to reschedule a long overdue trip. We are hoping it will work out. (There's that word flexibility again coming to mind.)

So I guess I stretch my mind and try to be flexible without griping.....

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Fiesta Chicken Bowl

Fiesta Chicken Bowl


1 package chicken meat (can be breast, tenders or thighs)

1 package taco seasoning

2 can rotel

1 can corn

1 can black beans

Brown rice, cooked



Combine all (don’t drain anything) in crock pot and cook on high 4 hours or until chicken juices run clear. Serve over brown rice.

New twist on an old recipe

I saw a recipe on pinterest and decided to try it out. We were already having salsa chicken for lunch, so I decided to try my idea out. I made the regular salsa chicken and added some corn and black beans to the crockpot. Then I cooked some brown rice and we ate the crockpot mixture over the rice. It wasn't bad! The girls like it plain, so  I left some for them. Next time maybe I will have some cilantro to throw in it! I didn't have any and didn't want to make a trip to the store just for that (because I knew I would buy other stuff, too!)
We've been busy! Coy's back from his Midwinter conference. He said it was one of the best he's been to in a while. Basketball is winding down for Grace and track is getting started. JoGail's basketball team isn't doing too bad. They are fun to watch. Those girls have improved so much.

We're still waiting on winter weather. Not sure if we are going to have any this year or not. We need it! The bugs and allergies will be horrible if we don't. After the rain last week everything looks green and springy.

We're still counting calories. Both Coy think our clothes are fitting better, so that's all the at matters! We are both more aware of what we eat now. I"m boycotting counting calories today...I think I just need a break !!!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Chocolate Oreo Dessert

I got this recipe off pinterest, but didn't follow the directions. So I guess it's a Laurie original! Definitely an awesome dessert!

Chocolate Oreo Dessert
1 large box instant pudding, prepared
1 package oreos (I used the store brand)
1/2 c butter , melted
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
8 ounces cool whip

Crush oreo cookies and spread in the bottom on a 9x13 pan. Save a few for topping. Pour melted butter over oreo layer and mix to make a crust. Mix cream cheese and prepared pudding together. Fold in cool whip. Top with reserved crushed oreos. Refrigerate until ready to serve!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Crash Sweet potatoes

Now these take a while to put together, but it is sooo worht the effort! This would be great to make on the weekends to take in a lunch! In fact, if I had more fresh sweet potatoes, I would be making them to take this week!

You put 2 quarts of salted water on to boil. Peel 2 sweet potatoes and cut into about 1 inch widths. Drop in the hot water. Start the timer for12 mins. after 12 mins drain and let potatoes cool about 15 minutes.

Get out a cookie sheet and cover with foil. Then spray with pam. Place each piece of cut sweet potatoe on the sheet -leaving room around.. Get out a glass or bowl and mash (hence the name 'crash') the sweet potato-it may go everywhere, just put it all back in a circular shape. Spray with low calorie butter spray. In another bowl mix 1 1/2 T brown sugar, some cumin, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well then put on top of each sweet potatoe that has 'crashed'. Bake sweet potatoes another 15-20 minutes or until tender.

This was pretty low calorie and was really good. They were devoured around here with our ham sandwiches and kale chips.

WOW~~ It's Saturday! Ramblings that go on and on and on

Yeah! We made it! It's always a tough week in this house when there's no school on a Monday! Seems like the week just drags on out and out and out! But we made it---all in one piece (barely) but we made it!

For those who have asked and are owndeirwo, my sinuses continue to be a bother. I have an appointment Tuesday in Dallas with my specialist. They are better, but I know from experience that it has to be completely cleared up or it will just keep reinfecting and growing. I 'm betting I have that lovely fungus again, but we'll see. At least the fungus is treatable!

Today is going to be pretty relaxing. JoGail has 2 basketball games later this afternoon, but other than that we're good to stay home and just chill. Trying some new recipes and making some kale chips later on! One I am trying is a lemon chicken! I hope it turns out great, I love that stuff! Thanks to pinterest, I have a whole new batch of recipes to try~~!!

Yesterday at  work we had a meeting so of course we all brought food. Traci brought these things called taco crescents (as soon as I get he recipe I'll share). It was basically taco meat, refried beans and cheese in a crescent roll. They were good! Gina made 'topless brownies'--brownies and then she had sundae toppings. I had a skinny piece of brownie and then put some sugar free carmel sauce on top. It was AWESOME! I need to try that around here!

Coy has downloaded an app that tracks his calorie input, etc. He think he needs to lose some weight.....So after he's done it about a week he's all over me to do try it. So today is the first day! One thing I can say about it is that I am more conscious about what I am eating. We'll see how long I can keep it up! A new favorite in our family right now is pistachio nuts. Rachel (I call her Mother Earth) from work gave me a big bag for a birthday present and we have all enjoyed them! Anyway, Coy's basic premise id thay if you eat fewer calories than you will lose weight. I know from experience that it doesn't work that way with me, in particular, but we'll see. It is always interesting to log what's being eaten and look at patterns, etc. IT just occurred to me that counting calories is sort of like weight watchers,  you just count calories instead of points. I am also going to try and up my water drinking. Personally, I think I consume too much sodium. But that' s just a guess on my part. I need to watch that. I count carbs in my head pretty much all day long. I try to get about 40-45 per meal to help keep my blood sugar in check. Yesterday was a wild blood sugar day. For some reason, mine was low several times. That's kind of unusual for me. During the morning was I was eating all the carbs I could get my hands on....it was still wild last night when I went to bed. I know I probably should, but I don't keep high carb snacks around for when it goes low. Typically mine goes haywire as in too much blood sugar, so this was new. My morning readings have been a little lower than usual, but I still want them lower. I know all my sinus meds play into the blood sugar picture, so I'm not getting too worried. Usually the meds make it go too high. It's all a balancing act and sometimes I can do it, but sometimes I can't! Getting it low after it's high can be very hard. Usually I try walking, but that doesn't always help. I am anxious for winter to really be over. I want to get back into the couch to 5k program. I still want to fly out to Amarillo and do the 5k out there with my sister. We'll see.....

Told you'll I was rambling on and on this morning!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Star Awards

Well, let me catch you up!  I have a major sinus infection-going on about a week and a half. Because of my health history, these things always make me nervous. Now I love my doctor, but when I went in with headaches and I got a diagnosis of strep, I knew it was going to be trouble. My currect doctor (of about 5 years) doesn't know or remember me when I had all my sinus problems. He doesn't remember the hospital stays and PIC line for sinus infections. It's been about 6 years since I have had them, so they are even dissolving away from my memory! (Thank you, Lord)  But anyways, I have been back on prednisone, budesinide and 2 antibiotics. To say I am jittery and even mor random than usual would be a major understatement. As in the past I know I get more done correctly in teh morning thatn at night, so I try to front load my days ight now. Which brings me to another point. We are missing Grace's game tonight. Coy has board meeting and I just don't feel right driving the backroads to Buffalo in the dark. Last year I tried it and it took us forever because I was going slow , missed a road, had to turn around and go back...I think we beat the school bus back by maybe 5 minutes. But anyways, I get nervous missing. I don't think she minds at all. She told us when we were talking about it that she played her best volleyball game ever when we weren't there, so we'll see. I don't doubt she'll be loved and taken care of. Between her coach, his mom, and Mak and Carley's mom someone will take care of her. She kind of breaks my heart that I'm not 100% to try and go. Anyways, I'll  be nervous all day about that. Plus they need to win to stay in the running for 1st place. And I guess if she thinks she plays better without us there once then she had better. She plays really well most of the time anyways. She's getting consistent and really is a joy to watch. JoGail is a hoot to watch. She is becoming a beast for rebounds. And she aint' letting letting go of the ball, either. It's kind of surprising if you know her. But she knows what to do and she does it.  I am just amazed at how grown up these two are getting. But on to the Star Awards....

Being on prednisone, I often have weird dreams and this morning was no exception. I woke up at 3:23 and haven't been back to sleep yet. Every year of office (I work in Mabank) has a theme for the school year. One year 5-6 years ago, our theme was 'SuperStars'. This year, its about getting up when you are knocked down and carrying on.....kind of like this. I guess you would call it resilience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEBLt6Kd9EY


So anyways, I was dreaming that I was chosen y Eustace ISD to give out STAR AWARDS to people that have impacted my life-not Coy's, not the girls. Mrs. McKee (from Mabank ) had charged me with doing this. So, I started going through the list-
JW-for always putting up with Coy no matter what the mood
Mr. Sowers-for always being there for Coy
Coach Brown-for connecting with Grace
Mrs. Abbott-for ALWAYS feeding the girls and Coy
Coach Herman-for challenging the athletes and making the fact that we go to so many sporting events fun
All of the girls' teachers......I think I dreamt of everyone they have had here in Eustace. If my girls make the top ten banquet as seniors they are going to have a HARD time deciding which teacher to honor....
I though of Mrs. Beasley, but in this dream she has actually retired from EISD with 50 years of service.
Then I remembered it was about who had impacted MY life. And I came up with two people.

Now, these two people are behind the scenes people. One keeps the district straight financially and the other keeps us in line with TEA. These two ladies have helped raise my girls and have helped watch over the love of my life. They have watched them grow. JoGail could barely walk when we moved here and now she's twelve. These two are my lifesavers when Coy is at a conference or something and I have to get from Mabank to Eustace to pick the girls up. And yes, there have been a couple of times that I forgot to do that and I think it was because I knew they were taken care of! It's not uncommon for Coy to be in a meeting and JoGail to to go to the admin building and Coy find her drinking a soda and a handful of chocolate candy when he comes out. They have been known in the past to sneak candy to the girls, as well. These ladies most definately put up with Coy on a daily basis.   They f cook for him. listen to him and accept him. They have taught my JoGail to eat tomatoes for breakfast and pickled okra on whatever they have at that time.  I'm giving my two Star Awards to Karen Thompson and Carol Warren. They have withstood many tests and are greatly appreciated!

Then (and I kid you not) in my dream Carol had to put on her shoes to come forward to get the award because she was running around in he socks!

Thank you, Karen and Carol for always helping to take care of my family.


So there you have my random ramblings and my dream........

Thursday, January 12, 2012

TacoChili

Taco Chili-Holcombe Style!




We got a package mix of this for Christmas from someone who isn’t supposed to get us a gift (ahem, Karen Thompson), and it was great. SO I googled it this was my first attempt at it and it wasn’t too bad! I decided to change it up a bit with the beef broth and of course, here in Texas, we don’t have beans in our chili! 

So here’s my version………

1 pound hamburger, ground and kind of minced….I have a special tool that chops it up really good!

2 cans Rotel tomato sauce (this is a new favorite find of mine)

1 can chili fixin’s Rotel

1 can diced tomatoes

1 32oz. container beef broth

1 teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon cumin

1 package taco seasoning

1 packet ranch seasoning mix



Mix together and simmer as long as you can, stirring when you walk by.



You can add water, ketchup, etc but wait until close to time to serve because it will absorb some of the liquids in it.



I serve this with a pan of cornbread and some fritos because Grace likes to make frito pie.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

What a week! Seems we were all on track to getting back into a routine and wham, here comes the strep throat again. I think it affects me more everytime I have it. I am still not sure I am over it, but I am getting better! Of course, me being almost a year older wouldn't have anything to do with me taking longer to get over it!

Both girls played extrememly well in their ball games. JoGail managed to accumulate 4 fouls in about 5 minutes of playing time. But, hey, she was aggressive! My coach had me stay back on the offensive end when he thought he realized what was going on. Sure enough the next two fouls were on me and I was all alone at the offensive end.

We have two birthdays this week, then we are finished with that for a while! It's hard for me to believe my baby girl will be 12. She was just so tiny when she was born.....but more on that next time I post.

I am trying a new recipe for lunch. I am going to go ahead and post it, though. I also made some peanut butter cornflake candy to take to Sunday School this morning. I can remember Nanny Hyatt and the cafeteria ladies making that in the cafeteria when we lived in Evant. They would make HUGE batches of it and they always made sure I got some! I'm sure that if they made it now it would be illegal with all the sugar in it!

Cornflake Candy

6 cups cornflakes
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

Cook sugar and corn syrup over medium heat stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Add peanut butter and continue cooking till it is well combined to the mix. Remove from heat and add cornflakes, stirring rapidly to coat the cereal with the penaut butter syrup. You can either drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper to cool or press the mixture into a pan (I used a 9x13 pan) then cut into squares once cool.


Hints:
Fresh cornflakes work best.
Spray measuting cups and bowls and pans with pam for easier cleanup and to get the syrup and peanut butter to slide right out of the measuring cups.

Italian Chicken --We are trying this for lunch today...It sounds delicious!


2 cans cream of chicken soup
8 ounces cream cheese
4 chicken breasts
1 package zesty Italian seasoning


Put all in crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours. Then serve over cooked noodles.

~Laurie