My travels have taken me all over the place....my latest adventure...

A trip down the Coast, shanty towns, delicious food, great company - friends, family,  old and new.

We found a pirate! We are in Black Beard country now!

Cape Hatteras lighthouse in the distance. It was a lot of steps to the top of that baby.

The view above is from the top of Cape Hatteras light house.

This lighthouse was moved from it's original spot to where it sits now. They literally drug it a few feet at a time.

 

The photo above is from Oregon Inlet, a little place to get fishing bait. There was a small marina with lots of charter fishing boats tied up.

 

 

This is Bodie lighthouse.

You can peek inside, but it is not open to climb for the public.

 

 

                                                                  This is a goat range.
                           Goats run free on this little island off of Murrell's Inlet in Myrtle Beach.

Adventures of Another Kind


I have traveled quite a bit this year already. My travels began in January with a professional trip to Austin, TX. That trip brought a nice break from the cold northeast weather.

                                     To be able to see Willie Nelson on stage.

 

                                      I was fortunate enough to also see Magic Mike himself....

 

The Austin Skyline is beautiful.

 

 

I have been quite busy these days. Boy time does fly. I have set a goal to post at least once a week beginning today.

What have I been up to? Well, I have been traveling. Just returned from Austin, TX where they can turn every dish into a taco. Yep, a taco. Tacos for breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime snack.
I did manage to have some garlic parmesan wings and some yummy BBQ while I was there.

Since the new year, I have been canning more. I just made another batch of bone broth, it will be ready to can by this weekend. AND I have a new dehydrator that I can't wait to try out. First up will be bananas and pineapples.

Stay tuned for some photos.

S

The F Friday

It seems that everyone has a name for Friday - Flex Friday, Fast Food Friday, Freaking Friday, Fireball Friday....for me it is just Friday.

Welcome! I haven't been around for a while. I just recently returned from a trip to sunny Orlando.
Palm trees, blue skies and beautiful pools. Unfortunately, I was there for work, not play.

Our hopes and prayers are with the tornado victims of this past Tuesday and Wednesday. We are very lucky to have those go around us here. I flew home in that weather. Shew! Glad it doesn't happen that often here.

If you are ever in Orlando, stop by Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar for some really yummy tacos. We went on a Tuesday which happened to be Taco Tuesday, all you can eat for $15.99.  Since I am watching my waistline, I did not part take but the few tacos I had were incredible. They made this guacamole table side, yum!

A Peek: Wednesday's Recipe Box

This recipe works very well for parties and since the Super Bowl is just days away:

Boursin Cheese
- Not sure where the original recipe came from, mine came from my old friend Annie.

8 oz. softened cream cheese
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/2 tsp each of these dry seasonings: garlic powder, basil, dill weed, parsley and celery salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Method:
Mix until very well blended.
Serve with Triscuit crackers

Menu Planning Monday - Jan 20 to Feb 5, 2012

We are still trying to eat from the Pantry and Freezer this week. Lots of yummy stuff still to be eaten from there.

Our menu plan for this week looks like this at the moment:

Monday:
Sloppy Joes on a whole wheat,snowflake roll
Tater tots
Brussel sprouts

Tuesday (Salad Day):
Southwest Salad with Nacho Chips

Wednesday:
Baked Chicken
Brown Rice
Asparagus

Thursday:
Leftovers, cooks  day off

Friday:
Spaghettie Night
Salad
Bread Sticks (using the copycat recipe from OG)

Saturday:
Mini meatloaves
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Corn
Green Beans

Sunday (superbowl):
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Broccoli Casserole
Cheese Dip on Crostini
Potato Salad

Exercise and Workouts with the Family

In addtion to making sure we are organized and eating healthy meals everyday. I also feel I need to make sure we are also getting fit and staying healthy physically.

As hard as I try, scheduling workouts with the family can be hectic.
Hubby has to work late at times - without notice, Solo Son has homework- quanities that can't be predicted until he comes out of school with it.
How do we fit it all in?

Well, it's not always easy. I find that we usually can work everything in if we are flexible and plan ahead. Like right now, Solo Son is still working on his pile of homework. Hubby worked late and we had a friend visit.

But we still found time to get our workouts in today. Solo Son and I worked out right after school and Hubby worked out earlier today. Tomorrow I hope we can all workout together.

It is much nicer to workout with Hubby then without him.
Did I mention Solo Son is playing indoor soccer? Here is a picture of him in action - Go Leopards!!:

Menu Plan For this Week

Better late than never I guess. Here is my menu plan for this week 1/23- 1/28.

Monday - Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad, garlic bread

Tuesday (Salad Night)- we had a chopped salad using a variety of lettuces Artisan and regular, pasta, tomatoes, onions..you get the picture, right?

Wednesday - Grilled Salmon, baby red potatoes, fresh broccoli

Thursday - Leftover night or Cooks Night Off

Friday - Salisbury Steak, mash potatoes, gravy, corn off the cob and green beans

Blueberry Zucchini Bread - a healthier way

Recipe for Blueberry Zucchini Bread

Original recipe from Ruth Vontz, thanks Ruth!

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup applesauce

3 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups sugar (or, 1 cup organic maple sugar and 1 cup honey)

2 cups shredded zucchini (fresh or use the zucchini from your freezer, drain well)

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 TBSP cinnamon

2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1 cup crushed nuts (I use walnuts, pecans or almonds, whatever I have on hand a the time)

Method:

In a bowl, combine the egg, oil, applsauce, vanilla, sugar

Fold in the zucchini

In a second bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda and powder

cinnamon and nuts

Combine bowls, mix well.

Fold in blueberries

Batter will be thick.

For 1 loaf, Bake 350 degrees for 55 minutes, test middle for doneness.

For 8 miniloaves, Bake 350 degrees for 50 minutes, test for doneness.

To add protein powder to this recipe, I mix in 1/2 cup protein powder with 1/2 cup additional honey.

Enjoy!

I'm Back!

Just returned from beautiful San Diego. Weather a balmy 70 degrees and sunny. Oh, how I am missing spring right now.

I have been visiting so many bloggers who are determined to eat from the pantry and freezer this month. Why not give it a try? Here is what I came up with for this week:

Meal Plan for this week 1/16/2012

Monday: Pork Chops, grilled, then finished in a red wine reduction Garlic Mashed Potatoes Steamed Broccoli

Tuesday: I am enjoying Salad Tuesdays so much that I plan to continue this time honored tradition. What's not to like about a salad?

Chopped Salad featuring Kalamata Olives and Roasted Red Peppers

Wednesday: 100% Lean Beef Burgers on a homemade snowflake roll with melted Harvarti Cheese Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, with a side of Tater Tots (I haven't had these in forever!) Green Beans

Thursday: Leftover Thursday - clean out the fridge

Friday: Tequila Lime Marinated Grilled Chicken Brown Rice Sauteed Spinach

Other: Homemade Blueberry Zucchini Bread

Homemade tomato and spinach pizza on whole wheat crust

August harvest time

This month I have put up the following:

4 bushels of tomatoes (spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce)

Peppers - yellow, orange and green peppers - all diced and ready to go

Corn - chicken corn chowder, corn off the cob shaved off the cob and nestled right now in the freezer

New things to make:

Zucchini brownies
Zucchini cakes - I hear these taste like crab cakes

Last Bulldogs Game of this Season

Wish us luck for a win today!

Menu Plan Monday

I know it's Tuesday. I am a day behind with the holiday.

Monday - Grilled Salmon with Sesame Ginger, asparagus, cole slaw
Tuesday - Turkey Burgers on onion roll with fixins, pasta salad, fresh strawberries with whipped cream (yum)
Wednesday - Crockpot recipe - whole seasoned chicken, fingerling potatoes, spinach
Thursday - leftover buffet
Friday - Southern hotdogs (using up that coleslaw)
Saturday - Chicken Quesadillas with Havarti cheese and salsa
Sunday - Turkey sausage with pasta