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  • Mac 'n' Cheese Minis

    I got this out of the Nov. 8 issue of  the First for Women magazine. (which by the way, was the first time I have read this magazine, and am now a new fan!)

    I am not a cauliflower eater, yet I loved this!  I cut the recipe in 1/2 since it was just the 3 of us.  The recipe that I am sharing is the original version which serves 8.

    Mac 'n' Cheese Minis

    8 oz. Cavatappi twist pasta
    2 cups cauliflower florets, roughly chopped
    1 jar (15 oz) prepared garlic Alfredo pasta sauce
    1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
    1/2 cup seasoned whole-wheat bread crumbs

    Heat oven to 375 degrees F.  Lightly grease eight 4 oz. ramekins
    In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package directions, adding cauliflower during the last 6 minutes of cooking.
    Drain pasta and cauliflower; return to pot.
    Stir in Alfredo sauce and Cheddar cheese.
    Season with ground pepper, if desired.
    Divided pasta mixture evenly among ramekins. Lightly sprinkle with bread crumbs.
    Arrange ramekins on baking sheet.  Bake 10 minutes or until heated through.

  • Dinner in a Foil Packet (recipe)

    I scanned this that I had gotten from a magazine several years ago. This is so versatile, easy & quick....just pick on of the meats (protein) a flavor & a veggie...wrap it up in foil & bake...easy, quick dinner & clean-up!
    We just recently did the salmon with lemon dill flavor & zucchini.

  • Who knew?

    hmmm...so all of this time that I have been having problems here on Xanga, it has been Internet Explorer? Maybe...I have been getting so frustrated because I am still having problems seeing pictures on everyone's sites, including my own. I see that I now have IE 8 & either that is why, or it is a combination of the new xanga stuff & my IE. I don't know, but I am using Mozilla right now & I can see again!!!!

    Someone in our family has been sick for the past month & once we think we are over it, we get it right back again.  Daughter has it yet again. This time a very annoying cough & a fever on & off.  I don't know if we just keep passing it back & forth or it if just really never completely goes away.

    We got a deer to go in the freezer!!!! Hubby didn't get it, but a friend at work who somehow managed to get 8 tags on a controlled hunt or something like that...but he filled all 8 tags in one afternoon! wow!
    Hubby hunted this weekend, but didn't see anything. It's funny all that we get on our game camera during the middle of the night, but they all know to go & hide during the day! lol..

    I spent most of last week dealing with dental issues. I ended up at the Periodontist & have had x-rays, probing, scaling & root planing. Needless to say, my gums are swollen & irritated.
    I go back the first part of November to find out if this worked, or if I will have to have surgery. I am praying that this works.

    Daughter found out that she won 2 different spots in a photo contest that both her & I entered. Those of my regular readers may remember me winning an honorable mention last year in this same contest.
    She won FIRST place and also an honorable mention!!!!! I am so proud of her!  I will  post a copy of what is published when it is release next month in the magazine.

    A friend of ours asked if I would take some pictures of her family for them. So 2 weekends ago, I met them out at a park & we had a mini photo shoot. I had fun doing it & they are a very photogenic family so most of the pictures came out really well. We were all happy :)
    Here's a few that I will share with you...

    I quickly learned how hard it is to work with multiple kids...it seemed like 1 was usually looking away or blinking or something! lol..


    This one was one of my favorites!

    Fall has come & gone here color wise.  All of the leaves are now about down. It is amazing at how different our views are here now.  What once looked like such a vast forest area is now all opened up & not quite as large looking!
    I can't believe that October is almost over!

    Hubby & I have tickets to go & see Arlo Guthrie next week. Should be fun!

    I have a couple of recipes that I want to share, but am running out of time to do so right now, so will probably just do a separate post for them later on.
    Time for me to get this submitted & get busy.

  • Animals in the yard

    These are all from our game camera..

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    not a bad buck

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    the young ones..."headbangers"  :)

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    scrawny little lopsided rack...poor guy!

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    uh oh...there's those headbangers again!

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    It's a guy thing

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    Bottoms up!

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    see that fat raccoon butt!

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    there's a coon on both sides

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    Fox

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    another coon!

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    a cutie pie :)

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    Mr. Big Guy

  • Wausau, Wisconsin

    Several Sundays ago, daughter & I took a random road trip and ended up in Wausau, which is almost a 3 hour drive from here.

    Here's some photos that I took that afternoon....

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    I loved this meditating frog!

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    We heard water...or I should say "I" heard water! lol..I am a sucker for water....
    So we walked that way & sure enough...there was the river!
    There were a couple of guys putting in their kayaks..I think that's what they are...

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    It was a peaceful place to just sit & rest...and for me take pictures!

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    here they come....

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    down the rapids

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    this one spinning in the rapids...

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    uh oh...he is now IN the rapids!

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    We walked a bit along the trail.

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    It was just a beautiful day

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    look at that big sky!

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    loved the big balls : D

     

    I think that Xanga must still be working on or tweaking their equipment. It is still hit & miss for me to get on here  & I still don't always get everyones photos. Many I have to hit the red x & push show picture.
    I am sure that my site is a nightmare for many of you since that is mostly what my posts are...pictures!  I really hope that all gets up & running smoothly very quickly.

  • International Fall Festival

    This was from the International Fall Festival that we went to in Eau Claire.

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    These were human statues...

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    VERY good at remaining so still!
    I could never do that! lol..

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    these guys were awesome!

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    Parade time!

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    Eau Claire's Roller Derby chicks!

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    I was a bit shocked that they were in the parade. There were so many kids here and these guys were really creepy looking!

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  • Xanga still down?

    I have been trying to get my pictures uploaded & get a post here now for several days. I did read that Xanga is upgrading their servers, but see many of you are posting now.

    I still get red x's on all of my pictures & also yours when I try to see your posts.  Is anyone else having this problem or is is just me & my computer?

    It is very frustrating. I don't even enjoy trying to read my subs as I also enjoy seeing  the pictures that go with them. So now I am getting so far behind.

    I am having Xanga withdrawals!!!!

  • Oktoberfest

    Yeah...I know...we went to Oktoberfest  2 weeks ago.  If it hasn't been one thing, it has been another around here recently.
    I was down sick for a week. Then had to catch up from that.
    Then twice when I tried to blog, Xanga was messed up.
    My router went out yesterday. The internet was down this morning.
    I think the blogging gods are trying to keep me off of here for some reason!  Well, they may delay me, but they won't stop me!

    Let me share some of our local festival with you.
    If the pictures are of people & not marked as my family, then they are just random ...it was so fun seeing those dressed up in different German clothing or costumes!

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    hubby & daughter

     

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    Daughter looks giddy over that HUGE pretzel! I have to be honest though...we were all disappointed in it...

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    oh my! lol...

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    Yes, we did eat a lot! we always get one of something that any of us are interested in & all 3 share it though.

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    I honestly don't remember what this was called, but hubby wanted it...it was like a dumpling with gravy on it.
    It was bland.

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    I know a few of you who would get a kick out of this! lol... it is a beer radish

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    hubby & daughter being good sports

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    daughter & me!

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    Lori eating on a potato pancake.


    gottal love the dancing!

     

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    hubby with fried beer radish & kraut wickle? I think that is what it was called.  It was delicious!

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    hmmm

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    there are those things again!

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    the head meister & meistress or whatever they are called! lol..

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    this one was actually cute & posed with Lori

     

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    look at that stein!

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    Inside the shopping tent

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    daughter actually looks cute in this hat!

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    hubby checking out these really heavy leather pants

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    Wouldn't I be sexy cooking in that apron! lol...

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    hubby bought Lori a pretty flowered headband

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    the chicken dance puppet show!

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    now that's a BIG pumpkin!

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    The Spooner

    Hope you enjoyed :)
    Have a great weekend.

  • Recipes

    Here's a few recipes of what has been cooking at my house recently that have been voted "keepers" by our family...

    This first one is great for serving during a ballgame or when you have a crowd around.

    Mini Burger  Bites

    2 lbs. lean ground beef
    1 1/2 oz. pkg. onion soup mix
    2 eggs, beaten
    1/2 c. dry bread crumbs
    3 T. water
    1/2 t. garlic salt
    1 t. pepper
    24 dinner rolls, split
    6 slices American cheese, quartered
    Garnish:  catsup, mustard, shredded lettuce, thinly sliced onion, dill pickles

    Mix first 7 ingredients in a bowl; refrigerate for an hour.
    Spread meat mixture over a large, greased baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and roll out evenly with a rolling pin.
    Discard plastic wrap; bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
    Slice into 24 squares with a pizza cutter.
    Top each roll with a burger square, a quarter cheese slice and garnish as desired.
    Make 24 mini sandwiches.


    This next one is oh my goodness..SO delicious!

    Veal and Sage Meatballs and Pasta with Gorgonzola-Walnut Sauce
    serves 4 generously

    1 pound gemelli pasta or other short cut pasta
    Salt
    1 pound ground veal
    1 egg
    2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
    6 to 8 sage leaves, finely chopped
    1/2 cup bread crumbs
    1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
    1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
    ground black pepper
    Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
    3/4 cup chopped walnuts, divided
    2 tablespoons butter
    2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    1//2 cup dry white wine
    1 cup chicken stock
    1 cup cream
    1 cup Gorgonzola, crumbled
    3 cups arugula or baby spinach, cleaned & trimmed

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

    Place water on to boil for pasta.  When it comes to a boil, salt the water & cook pasta to al dente. Drain.

    While pasta is cooking, place veal in a mixing bowl and add to it the egg, garlic, sage, bread crumbs, cheese, nutmeg and salt & pepper to taste.
    Drizzle a little olive oil into the bowl, mix and roll small 1-inch balls.
    Arrange balls in a single layer on a nonstick cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes or until meat is golden and firm.

    Toast the walnuts and place them into a food processor. Grind the walnuts and reserve.

    In a deep skillet over medium heat melt butter.  Whisk flour into butter and cook a minute then whisk in wine and reduce by half.
    Whisk in stock, when it bubbles and begins to reduce, stir in the cream and reduce heat to medium low.
    Simmer to thicken the sauce a bit, 2 to 3 minutes, melt in the Gorgonzola and stir in the ground walnuts then season the sauce with salt & pepper to taste.

    Shred the greens into thin strips

    Toss the pasta with the sauce. Serve pasta garnished and topped with a generous mound of greens to mix in as you are eating.

     

    Eastern Spice Chicken Bake
    6 servings
    prep  time: 15 minutes  Cooking time: 1 1/2 hours
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    6- 8 bone-in skinless chicken thighs
    3 medium onions, cut into 2-inch wedges
    4 large potatoes, cut into 2 -inch pieces
    1/4 teaspoon allspice
    1/4 t. cinnamon
    1 t. salt
    1/2 t. crushed red peppers
    4 medium peeled and quartered tomatoes
    1 tablespoon olive oil

    Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Place chicken, onions and potatoes in a 4 quart ovenproof pan.  Sprinkle with allspice, cinnamon, salt & red peppers; stir to coat well.
    Arrange chicken on top; add tomatoes around chicken. Coat chicken with cooking spray. Drizzle oil over all. Cover and bake 30 minutes.  Remove cover, reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking 1 hour.
    Serve immediately.
    This is a meal in one...just serve with a crusty bread.

     

    Pork Carnitas
    Prep: 10 min. Cook: 6 hours 10 minutes.
    serves 6

    1 onion, sliced
    2 Tbsp. chopped chipotles in adobo or 2 fresh jalapeno chiles, seeded & sliced
    2 - 3 lb. boned pork butt or shoulder
    4 cloves garlic, slivered
    salt & pepper
    1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
    1 package 6 inch corn tortillas

    Place onion, chipotles and 1/4 cup water in slow cooker. Stir to combine.
    Using a knife, make incisions all over pork and insert garlic.
    Season roast with salt & pepper.
    Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add oil. Put roast in pan and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes.
    Transfer roast to slow cooker. Pour 1/2 cup water into pan and stir over low heat, using a wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits.
    Pour liquid into slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours.
    Remove roast from slow cooker and let cool..  Shred pork, using two forks to pull meat apart.
    Return pulled pork to slow cooker and stir to combine with onions, chipotles and juices.
    Serve pork with warm tortillas and topping of your choice.

     

  • My baby turned 21!

    This past Saturday, my one & only turned 21! Amazing at how quickly they grow up on us.

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    We had a fun day. She requested off of work for the weekend.
     She had started coming down with a cold on Thursday, which kind of stunk, but didn't slow her down too much. 
    Her dad took her car in on Thursday to get it serviced & a good mechanical going over...good thing too, as her battery was about shot & so were her brakes...so she got all new there...then he took it over to get a complete detail job done on it for her. I have never seen that car look so clean! lol... That made for a very nice gift. 
    Daddy got a nice hug out of it ...

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    I had made an appointment with a Psychic for her. We took her over there that afternoon. Before that though, we gave her the rest of her gifts...

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    Mostly clothes...some jewelry...some fragrances from Demeter (a new favorite for both of us!)

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    this tapestery of the tree of life...

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    Also ordered her some birthday berries...

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    I had ordered from Shari's Berries before, but for my parents. We had never had them, but they had bragged on how delicious they were.
    So I figured that would be a nice treat for Lori too.
    OMG....are they ever delicious! The berries are the BEST ever! I highly recommend them if you are in need of sending a gift...or even to treat yourself :)

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    Lori agrees too!

    The Psychic was a fun experience for her. I won't go into any details about her reading as that is private for her, but she really enjoyed it & we enjoyed hearing about it afterwards!

    I also got a big hug from her...

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    After the Psychic, we headed over to Oktoberfest, then on to the International Festival & then later that evening to Olive Garden for dinner. 
    Then even later that night, she went out with a bunch of her friends for yet even more celebrating!  She had a very nice day.
    I will post pics from the other festivals at another time.  I unfortunately have caught the cootie bug that daughter had & am just not feeling very well today.