I Run Like a Girl!

Read my shirt...I finished!! (Barely.)

Happiness in a Handbag or 2...or 3

Here are my 3 new & fabulous handbags that I picked up at my jewelry show. Aren't you jealous?





Thank you to my gorgeous photographer. It was a long shoot to get it right, but she hung in there and did great!

Thanksgiving Favs Vol. 1

I absolutely love Thanksgiving. Fall is in full swing. The distractions of buying gifts, scheduling multiple parties every weekend, and kids yelling I want, I want aren't yet lurking. You just focus on how many blessings you have. And, you get all the fabulous cooking and traditions that other more hectic holidays offer. What could be better than that?

So, in the spirit of being grateful...I am sharing my favorite things of Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

Green Bean Bake Revisited


Ingredients

* 1 large sweet onion (white, yellow, or red), cut into 1-inch wedges, or 4 cups cipollini onions (wild onions), halved
* 1/4 cup cooking oil
* 3 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
* 2 lb. fresh or frozen whole green beans, trimmed
* 6 oz. baby portobello (cremini) or button mushrooms, halved
* 2 Tbsp. olive oil
* 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
* 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
* 6 oz. goat cheese (chevre), softened or cream cheese, softened
* 2 to 3 Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. In a large skillet cook onions, covered, in hot oil over medium-low heat for 13 to 15 minutes or until onions are tender. Uncover; add brown sugar. Cook and stir over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until onions are golden and caramelized. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large saucepan cook green beans, covered, in a small amount of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain. In a 3-quart au gratin or baking dish combine green beans and mushrooms. Combine olive oil, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Pour over vegetables, tossing to coat. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once, until crisp tender.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl beat together cheese and milk with an electric mixer on medium speed. Spoon cheese in lengthwise mounds along center of baking dish. Top with caramelized onions. Return to oven; heat 5 to 8 minutes or until cheese and onions are heated through. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

4. Test Kitchen Tip: To make ahead, prepare onions as directed in Step 1; refrigerate until ready to assemble. Prepare vegetables and mushrooms as directed in Step 2; refrigerate until ready to assemble. Remove onions and vegetables from refrigerator 30 minutes before using. To reheat, assemble dish as directed in Step 3, omitting cheese mixture. Heat in a 400 degree F. oven for 30 minutes. The last 5 minutes of baking time, spoon cheese mixture over onions.

Veggies, Please with some Bling on the Side

I know I'm starting off subject...but, I thought if I waited a full week to post it might allow for people to lerk and they would eventually comment. I was wrong. I seem to have several peepers who would rather remain silent. Admittedly, it's so silly but I tend to be hurt over a lack of commenting on my blog. I realize that's ridiculous. I'm over it. I've accepted that I have people that won't comment too much. I will try to be grateful people care to stop by at all.



On to the real post, I awoke yesterday morning to find my new box from Farm Fresh. This week we received sweet potatoes, collard greens, kale, leeks,broccoli,radishes, fennel, cranberries, pears & apples. This is so exciting for me. What do I do first?

I chopped leeks, collard greens & kale. Sauteed them for a bit. Boiled & chopped up a butternut squash from last time. Through in some lentils, diced tomatoes, chicken stock with course salt & pepper & oh, what a yummy soup did I have.

The kids weren't as convinced. Bruce, however, (he's my toughest critic) liked it. In fact, I think he really liked it. He happened to pass through the kitchen when I was cooking and saw the ingredients which was not good. I'm sure had he not seen them raw he never would have known and would have enjoyed it even more.

About my jewelry show, Holy Toleto, thanks to all my wonderful peeps that came. It was SO fun. I can't believe how great I did. My sister-in-law did a fabulous job setting the whole thing up. I'll be posting pics of my new loves shortly. I got so much stuff that I'll be cheery and positive for at least a full week!

P.S. I do give full credit to my couple of buddies that comment regularly. I can count on you to brighten my day!

P.S.S. (or is it P.P.S? I'm deliriously tired.) If any of you locals are interested in Farm Fresh to you. I have 3 $5 off a box coupons to hand out. You can order only 1 box to try it and see what you think. First come, first serve!

SOS!!!

In blogosphere, you see all of these happy families with their cute, clean kids, crafty talents, and so forth. Well, the truth is that we get to censor our lives here. Today, there are no frills from my home. To be honest, there are shrill sceams and angry words a-flying. I've been sick the last couple of days with this head cold. I woke up at 6am to the not so lovely this morning Taylor announcing she needed to get in bed with me. As, she climbs in I smell the foul odor that made me wish I were far away from here. She wet the bed. Only the bed wasn't her real bed that is covered in a plastic liner. Bruce let her sleep in the living room ON MY RUG!!! I soon after this find buried under the loads of laundry....no, not a dead animal...MARKERS WITH NO LIDS!! I let google help me and it sort of helped but the huge blue circle will forever be our turquoise spot. As I'm going into the bathroom I see a trail of brown liquid. At this point I'm thinking, "Holy SHI-SHI, it's #$&%!" (I'm sorry but I'm upset..we're lucky other unfriendly bombs are going off.) At this point, I thought for sure someone went down the hall to the toilet trailing diarrhea all the way. Turns out is was chocolate pudding that Taylor go into and decided to take with her to the toilet. That's disgusting. I feel like crap and to be honest I almost wish a natural disaster would hit only my house so that I could start anew! Or better, I wish I could sneak out the back door and head off to Mexico for little R&R and then sneak back in to find my house sparkly clean and my children exchanging words of endearment while Bruce takes over all the filthy jobs. Well, I gotta go...since we all know my house isn't going to suddenly catch fire, I better get moving on some work....UGHHH!

You're Invited

I'm having a Holiday Jewelry Party on next Wed, Nov. 12th. If you came to my last one, you'll know how much fun it is. My sister in law, Ashley, owns this business. It's so affordable you won't even believe it!! Come on over to my house anytime between 5pm & 8pm & do some holiday shopping. Highest price pieces are $14, most are under $10. Cash or check only. You can spread the word. Bring anyone you like. The more the merrier, right? See you Wed.

Produce Delivery!

Yummy Raw Kale Salad with Gouda, Pear & Walnuts

With our most recent Farm Fresh to You delivery, we received Kale. Kale was unheard of to me up until a few years ago. With 13 kids, my mom stuck to the very basics. Kale was not part of that. It is a power food. Really & truly, everyone should make it a point to try all of the leafy green varieties. Click here for the latest recipe I found using Kale...Doesn't it look delicious?

We also received a couple of sugar pie pumpkins..They are so cute. But, they won't last forever. I will be trying this pumpkin pie recipe from Martha Stewart. I'd really like to make it when I'm home alone and can curl up on the couch in my favorite PJ's(sorry no picture) and eat the whole thing while watching sappy chick flicks. Anyone want to join me?