Roasted Cauliflower

Tasty veggie!

Cut up cauliflower into florets and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast in the oven at 450 degrees, stirring twice, until golden brown.  (You can place whole garlic cloves around the baking sheet before baking if you wish - for flavor - but remove before serving).

After the cauliflower is tender, stir in 1 1/2 T olive oil, 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley, 2 T lemon juice, a bit more salt, and 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts.  Toss together and serve.

It's so good!

Yummy Scones

These scones are so easy to make (you just add water!) and they taste great.  So before the winter is over, and between now and Valentine's Day, make your family these chocolate peppermint scones - you can order here - or maybe still find them at World Market!

Backpack purse

Today I stopped in at Ross - I had 10 minutes.  I have been looking for a black backpack purse - as I'm really into backpack purses lately - love having my hands free!  So I found a cute Tommy Hilfiger one for $24.99 - just the right size - and got it!  Here it is on Ebay for twice what I paid for it at Ross! (ignore the tissue paper on the latch).

Smooth Praise

I forgot we had this CD and I put it in today and really enjoyed.  It's just an instrumental, and very soothing in the background while you work....

Oatmeal Cookies Deluxe

I found this recipe in a college cookbook - they are absolutely the best oatmeal cookies I've ever eaten!

Supersized Oatmeal Cookiesby Rhonda Lauret Parkinson

• ½ cup shortening
• ¼ cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cream together the shortening, butter, and brown sugar well. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
2. Sift the baking soda and salt into the flour. Add the ground cinnamon and blend well. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.
3. Shape 3 to 4 tablespoons of the dough into a ball about 2 inches in diameter. Place on the baking sheet, set well apart (6 balls to a tray). Press down gently with a fork. Press in a few walnut pieces in the middle, if desired.
4. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until done. Let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Raclette

Today...I discovered the raclette.  One of my goals for the new year to is learn more about cheese, about the pairings of cheese with salami, grapes, jams & nuts, etc.  There's a whole world of cheese out there I've not tasted yet!  So today I bought a small raclette and I'm going to serve the raclette cheese with boiled new potatoes and green beans.  Check it out for yourself!  http://www.antonellischeese.com/other-goodies

Two Soups

I love to watch The Chew if I get a chance during my lunch hour.  Today Mario Batali shows how to make two soups.  Enjoy....

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew

Lemon Chicken Skewers

These skewers are easy to make and delicious with a dipping sauce, or save some later to chop and make chicken salad!

In a large Ziplock place 8 breast tenderloins with 1/2 squeezed lemon, 1 tsp dried oregano and salt and pepper.  Let it marinate for 15 minutes, while you heat the grill.  Thread the chicken on the skewers with another piece of lemon (cut a lemon in eighths).  Grill until chicken is charred and done all the way through.

The Kelly Bag

We saw a classic movie tonight, To Catch a Thief, starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.  As I looked up info on Kelly, I read about how when she became pregnant she "hid" her baby bump with her purse. That purse style then became the "Kelly bag."  It's still around today, see the one below available on Overstock.

Fondue for Dinner

Why not have chocolate fondue tonight for dinner, with strawberries and/or pound cake?

Mix one bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup heavy cream, and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla.  Heat in microwave, stirring, until chips start to melt. Stir well. Transfer to a small slow cooker or fondue pot.  Serve warm.

Country Drive

Today we were both off for half a day and for part of our afternoon fun, we took a drive outside the city, into the country.  It would have been much prettier in the spring when things are green, but driving in the winter was fun, too.  I highly recommend going outside the city and taking a drive, looking for little old churches.  Stop and pray for the congregations there.  Then observe the homes, the animals, the ponds, and the barns that are scattered around...and relax. Below is a photo of one of the churches we saw today...

L.A. Burrito

Tonight we ate a fun burrito that was so tasty.  Just grill four franks in a bit of EVOO and water until the skin is crisp, then char the large tortillas in the same pan.  Meanwhile, mix a can of black beans with a tsp cumin and a couple tsp hot sauce.  Chop an avacado, grate Monterrey Jack cheese, and open a jar of green salsa.  Place ingredients in the tortilla and roll up - and eat!  Delish! (This is from Rachael Ray's magazine.)

Carters

Did you know Carter's kids clothing is having a huge blowout sale?  Cute tops and bottoms for $7 and $8.  And lots of clearance for $5.99 and under.  This was one of my faves for Ayla Noelle...our new addition to our family coming in a few weeks...

Hitchcock

Hitchcock is a movie worth seeing - Anthony Hopkins plays Alfred Hitchcock - Helen Mirren plays his wife.  These both act superbly in their parts, and the way the movie is filmed, the story...the ending...and well...just all of it -  makes for a cinematic delight.  It may be out in video soon...

A Steal!

Found these cute, cute rain boots on clearance at Target - they're comfortable, stylish and will be great for those cold, wet days!

Birds on a Wire

I recently purchased birds on a wire artwork and put it atop my piano.  I was going to post it here (I got it at Garden Ridge) but as I was looking for it on line, I ran across this very cute necklace of birds on a wire for just $30!  Check it out!

Baked - Not Fried

Next time you're craving French Fries, instead of frying them in a pot of grease - bake them.  Leave on the peeling for nutrition, and slice the fries, then toss them in olive oil with S&P.  Spread out in a single layer and bake at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or so, turning once.  They'll come out crispy and delicious.  Add other seasonings too, or minced garlic, before baking.

Hoppin John

Have you ever eaten Hoppin John?  There are various recipe versions of it, but it can be as simple as this:  Use your rice cooker, or cook on the stove, and make some steamed rice.  While it's cooking, cut up a link of sausage into small pieces and stir fry until browned a bit, adding in a can of black-eyed peas.  Mix the rice, butter, sausage and peas for a meal that's sure to please!  (A bit of chopped avacado seasoned with s & p, and a little lime juice, tastes good on the side.)

Gangster Squad

Saw the movie Gangster Squad and I REALLY liked it.  There's a lot of gore and violence, but for some reason I found the movie, the story, and the acting thoroughly entertaining.  And I like any story that has a small group standing up against evil.  If you don't like blood, don't go see it... 

Cute Gift

Isn't this a cute dish towel?  I attended a wedding shower today and someone gave it to the bride - what a novel idea!  Cute, from Crate and Barrel.

Burlington

When's the last time you shopped at a Burlington Coat Factory?  We stopped by today and got my husband a coat at 70% off retail - a very nice one!  I often forget that this store has so much more too - lots of kitchen pots/pans - and a vast array of shoes. You can shop on line, too.  Check it out here!.

Cute jacket

If there's a Maurice's near you, stop in for their 75% off clearance sale.  I got this cute jacket today for $10.00.  Here it is on line, in a different color and not on sale.  I got it in a burnt orange!  Check out the back view...

Good Movie

Saw the movie Hyde Park on Hudson - thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's one story about FDR and a visit from the king and queen of England, as well as his own affairs at home.  I liked the movie and thought Bill Murray and Laura Linney did a great job.

Designer Bags

Target has some "designer" items on clearance right now from Christmas.   This set of three bags is pretty, nice and big, and looks like they're made very well.  A great treat for yourself for travel...

It's Gourmet!

Have you tried Gourmet Texas Pasta?  Tonight we had the artichoke linguine - with chicken cooked in garlic, lemon juice and dusted with oregano.  Delish!

Skip these Two

I saw a couple of movies this weekend and I wouldn't really recommend either.  The Impossible, starring Naomi Watts, is a tale of the true story of a family who survived the 2004 tsunami.  It was just that - the tsunami that tore a family apart - then they found each other.  Just one destructive scene after another.  The other was Promised Land, starring Matt Damon - about the oil business Global coming in and taking over a city and its residents through deceit.  Sort of boring and slow.  One small twist made it somewhat interesting towards the end.

Here's to hoping for better movies next weekend! 

Box it Up

This has been said a million times, but it's worth repeating.  If you go out to dinner a lot on the weekends, you don't have to eat your entire meal.  Some portions are just way too big for one sitting.  Box up half of it before you start eating.  Such a great idea. And at home?  Eat your dinner on smaller plates.  You'll be fooled into thinking you ate a hug plate of food...at least it's supposed to work that way. One more tip - put your salad dressing on the side instead of pouring it all over your salad.

That's the three golden rules to follow to help yourself cut back after the holidays!

Pantry Pride

If your pantry is a mess, try dumping all the stuff that comes in bag (rice, beans, candy, chips, etc.) into glass or clear acrylic containers, with lids.  This is a good way to start the new year.  The bags are slouchy and messy, and the containers stack neatly and look great.  An organized pantry is a good thing!

Tasty Chips

My son says these new chips are tasty, so here you go:

Fish Bowl

We played this fun family game over the holidays called Fish Bowl.  Everyone basically writes 3 nouns on 3 separate pieces of paper, and all the papers go in a bowl.  Then there are four rounds. Round 1 - everyone takes turn fishing out the nouns and getting others to guess using any phrases (but not the actual word).   They keep the ones their team gets correct.  All go back in the bowl for Round 2 - this time charades are used. Round 3 - one word clues.  Round 4 - only a sound.

Imagine the hilarity that ensues by the time you get to the sounds. One of our nouns was "finger!"

Make a family night soon and play the game!  Here's an online description (without round 4):

http://www.youthgroupgames.org/game/fishbowl

Panini

I've heard a lot about Pioneer Woman and only recently watched her show. Today I made her chicken bacon panini.  It was very tasty!

Book Bag

Great after Christmas sales can be found at Barnes and Noble - Check out this sturdy canvas bookbag  with leather straps - only $4.97!  There are several clearance tables full of goodies for kids and yourself!