We are going camping this weekend! Neal's boss is letting us use his 22 foot pull behind trailer. If we like it, we are going to end up buying it. We've decided to go to Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico. When we decided to do this a few weeks ago, I was thinking how relaxing it was going to be at the lake just chilling. Well that bubble has been burst!! Do you know how much work it is to go camping?? When we go on vacation we usually stay with family or stay in a hotel where everything is provided for you. All I have to worry about is our clothes and "stuff". Going camping means I have to get food, cooking/eating stuff, clothes, bedding/towels, and all kinds of other stuff together. We will be 15 miles from the nearest town or store so I need to make sure we take everything we need. I think I have enough snacks for 20 people...lol! I have packed myself a few things to read and I plan on just relaxing and enjoying being away from everything. There is a playground, swimming area, and hiking trails so we should all find something to do.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Comfort food
My little brother is going to college in a few weeks so he is up here visiting my sister and I. We have been making his favorite foods before he goes off and has to cook for himself or eat out. Tuesday my sister made his all time favorite meal--fried pork chops, white rice, and Ranch Style beans. Yesterday I made his 2nd favorite meal--roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and rolls.
While I was putting the roast in the crockpot Neal called and wanted me to make chicken and dumplings for dinner. He rarely requests anything so I hated to tell him I was already cooking for my brother but I promised to make chicken and dumplings tonight. I guess everyone has a favorite comfort food that takes them back. When we were growing up, we got to choose the meal for the night on our birthday. I always chose chicken and dumplings. My birthday being in October made it the perfect time of year for this meal. On a hot day I would usually not make chicken and dumplings but since we have had so much rain and it's been cool, I have it cooking on the stove right now. I can't wait to make me a plate and curl up in front of the TV to watch Big Brother.
Question--what is your comfort food? What meal takes you back home?
While I was putting the roast in the crockpot Neal called and wanted me to make chicken and dumplings for dinner. He rarely requests anything so I hated to tell him I was already cooking for my brother but I promised to make chicken and dumplings tonight. I guess everyone has a favorite comfort food that takes them back. When we were growing up, we got to choose the meal for the night on our birthday. I always chose chicken and dumplings. My birthday being in October made it the perfect time of year for this meal. On a hot day I would usually not make chicken and dumplings but since we have had so much rain and it's been cool, I have it cooking on the stove right now. I can't wait to make me a plate and curl up in front of the TV to watch Big Brother.
Question--what is your comfort food? What meal takes you back home?
Monday, July 31, 2006
We're kidless for a week! (and other thoughts)
Kinsey has gone to Grandma and Grandpa's for the week so we are without a kid. After dropping Kinsey off with Grandma we went to Roswell and went shopping at Sam's and Wal-Mart. It was so nice to shop and not have someone asking for a drink, the bathroom, or toys (Ok, Neal found a few toys but he knows he has to wait). Then we went to Red Lobster and had a very nice lunch. I didn't have to cut up anyone's food..yipppeee! When we got home we both took a long nap then had a nice little supper of tuna fish and chips.
Tonight we both have shows we want to watch so we'll be in separate rooms enjoying our evening. I do miss her but really enjoy this week we get every summer. It kind of recharges my batteries.
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School starts in 23 days.....only 23 days...wow! Where has the time gone? It just seems like yesterday that Kinsey was learning to walk and getting teeth in. Now she's starting school. I'm sure I'll be the Mom boo-hooing outside the school because yes, I'll miss her but wow! she's grown up so much!
Kinsey is so ready for school. She has learned so much and is ready to read. I was helping her on a website the other night ( www.starfall.com ) and she was just almost getting it. I think a few more times and she will "get" reading.
I'm excited to see how she is going to do in school. Her perception of what school is and what it actually is are pretty far apart. She went for a 2 hour trial day and thought it was wonderful but wait until she's there from 8am to 4pm (we are on a 4 day schedule). I'm sure the first few weeks she is going to be super tired but she'll get used to it.
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Don't ya hate trying to decide what to make for dinner?? If I was smart I would make a menu for a week or month and buy the things for that menu so I would just know what to make...but that would just be to easy. I usually buy meat to last a few days then hopefully pull something together about 5:30pm. By 6:30pm we are eating. During the summer we grill a lot so it's not so bad but man in the winter I just about die. I tend to go to my old stand-by's but that gets boring too.
tonight we are having grilled pork chops, chicken rice-a-roni, and a yet to be named veggie. Guess I had better get to dinner...............
Tonight we both have shows we want to watch so we'll be in separate rooms enjoying our evening. I do miss her but really enjoy this week we get every summer. It kind of recharges my batteries.
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School starts in 23 days.....only 23 days...wow! Where has the time gone? It just seems like yesterday that Kinsey was learning to walk and getting teeth in. Now she's starting school. I'm sure I'll be the Mom boo-hooing outside the school because yes, I'll miss her but wow! she's grown up so much!
Kinsey is so ready for school. She has learned so much and is ready to read. I was helping her on a website the other night ( www.starfall.com ) and she was just almost getting it. I think a few more times and she will "get" reading.
I'm excited to see how she is going to do in school. Her perception of what school is and what it actually is are pretty far apart. She went for a 2 hour trial day and thought it was wonderful but wait until she's there from 8am to 4pm (we are on a 4 day schedule). I'm sure the first few weeks she is going to be super tired but she'll get used to it.
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Don't ya hate trying to decide what to make for dinner?? If I was smart I would make a menu for a week or month and buy the things for that menu so I would just know what to make...but that would just be to easy. I usually buy meat to last a few days then hopefully pull something together about 5:30pm. By 6:30pm we are eating. During the summer we grill a lot so it's not so bad but man in the winter I just about die. I tend to go to my old stand-by's but that gets boring too.
tonight we are having grilled pork chops, chicken rice-a-roni, and a yet to be named veggie. Guess I had better get to dinner...............
Friday, July 28, 2006
Playing around with templates
You may notice a different look to my blog. I have been playing around with templates. I'm not sure if this is the look I want so it may change again. I really want one with a food theme but am having a hard time finding one I like so for now I'm under construction!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Garden delights!
After picking the garden yesterday I did have enough sugar snap peas for dinner. I washed them, snapped off the ends and boiled them for about 5 minutes. Wow! They were so good. Even Kinsey liked them. Neal grilled some little steaks and corn on the cob and I made the peas...it was a good meal.
Tonight I made chicken tenders and oven roasted veggies. I had zucchini, potatoes, onions, and bell pepper to use up today. You preheat your oven to 450 degrees and line a cake pan with foil. Spray with non-stick spray. Cut the potatoes in to small cubes, the zucchini into thick slices, onion into wedges, and bell pepper into cubes. Put the veggies in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with citrus grill seasoning (or any seasoning of your choice). Give it all a good stir then pour into your pan. Put it in the oven for about 30 minutes then enjoy! I use whatever veggies I have on hand for this so it may also include squash, carrots, or tomatoes.
Occasionaly we will also make veggies in a foil packet to put on the grill. It's basically the same but you use heavy duty foil and make a packet. I like to put 1/2 stick margarine in the packet to keep it from burning. Neal cooks it for 20 minutes over medium heat on the lower rack then moves it to the top rack while the meat cooks. The veggies have an entirely different texture than when you roast them. Roasting them gives everything a bit of a crust but packet grilling makes them soft all over.
Tonight I made chicken tenders and oven roasted veggies. I had zucchini, potatoes, onions, and bell pepper to use up today. You preheat your oven to 450 degrees and line a cake pan with foil. Spray with non-stick spray. Cut the potatoes in to small cubes, the zucchini into thick slices, onion into wedges, and bell pepper into cubes. Put the veggies in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with citrus grill seasoning (or any seasoning of your choice). Give it all a good stir then pour into your pan. Put it in the oven for about 30 minutes then enjoy! I use whatever veggies I have on hand for this so it may also include squash, carrots, or tomatoes.
Occasionaly we will also make veggies in a foil packet to put on the grill. It's basically the same but you use heavy duty foil and make a packet. I like to put 1/2 stick margarine in the packet to keep it from burning. Neal cooks it for 20 minutes over medium heat on the lower rack then moves it to the top rack while the meat cooks. The veggies have an entirely different texture than when you roast them. Roasting them gives everything a bit of a crust but packet grilling makes them soft all over.
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