#43

L.O.V.E.D. it...

Makes me want to improve our eating habits OH SO BADLY!! One step at a time I am sure going to try!!

#89

Tonight my palate was wanting spaghetti w/ meatballs. So I decided to make my own since every time I have ever bought them (VERY RARE) I have thought they tasted too fatty and basically melt in my mouth (which in my opinion meat SHOULD NOT do that). So Brynn and I were at Trader Joe's and I decided to buy ground turkey. When we got home, I took out my handy dandy recipe finder aka google and searched for baked turkey meatballs and this is the easy recipe I found.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey

1 egg lightly beaten

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp basil

1 1/2 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. garlic powder

cooking spray

foil

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2.) Combine all ingredients in bowl (besides cooking spray & foil) :) Mix well.

3.) Line baking sheet with foil and spray w/ cooking spray

4.) Shape and roll meatballs into about 1 1/2" balls and bake 20-25 minutes or until down in the middle.

Katy's Alterations:

Of Course I NEVER have everything a recipe calls for because I never look at the recipe before deciding to go to the store to make it. So I didn't have all the individual spices so I used an italian seasoning mix instead. I also didn't having garlic powder, but had garlic salt so I used that instead of the garlic powder and reg. salt.

I would def. make these again. It is kinda gross seeing the fat that comes out of them when they cook...however, I guess it's better that way :)

Here they are all ready to go in the oven...the BEST part was the recommendation to cover the pan w/ foil. This made for SUCH easy clean up :)

One little meatball :)

Here they are after about 25 minutes in the oven...see what I mean about a little gross...they tasty delicious though!

Plated w/ the rest of dinner...

Brynn and mommy having a little dinner date cause Daddy wasn't home from work yet...

<3 this girl food in teeth and all!

#97

Kale

From Trader Joe's

Sauted in a tad of olive oil & water w/ salt & pepper to taste.

I wasn't real sure how long to cook it...I steamed it for a bit then the package said to let it cook w/o the lid, so I did. I thought it was okay. I didn't think Jer would like it but I made him try it anyways and he said it was alright. I was pumping him w/ how good it is for you :) (probably before I cook it) Maybe next time I can hide it in a smoothy or something...:) Brynn even had some...she had to before having dessert :)

#94

I am VERY embarrassed to even be posting this however it is part of my journey I guess....

Here is my candle cupboard when I opened it to begin my organizing....the sad part is, it used to be very organized. Then one day I needed something out of there that was near the bottom and a pile crashed over and at the time I didn't have time to clean it up...and it was a DOWN HILL spiral from there!!

So this is where I start...EEEEK!

My first task...to take everything out. (and of course I had a helper). I just realized I didn't take a pic of it completely empty. Oh well. It has carpet in the inside so I vacuumed it out cause there were little dirt pieces near the edge.

Here is the remaining stuff that came out...

In the process of cleaning out, I realized I needed storage containers so it didn't end up a jumble again. So Brynn and I took a walk to the Dollar Tree and bought 3 new small baskets.

Here is how it ended up. Yes I know, I still have a candle holder filled with odds 'n' ends votives and tealights...however, I figured at least they are all in one place since none of them have boxes :)

Near the back are some larger hurricanes and such that get brought out sometimes...My most favorite part is the way I have organized the boxes of tealights...now I can see what the names are and just pull out the box without all the others tumbling down around it :)

Here is the pile of stuff i am getting rid of! YEAH! I was able to PURGE!!!!

What I have realized is...I need to throw another Partylite Party in order to renew my supply :) He he

#89

Tonight on my drive home from work I was thinking about what I was going to make for dinner. I knew we had pork chops in the freezer and a box of scallop potatoes in the cupboard...and that seemed to be okay. Then I remembered last night I had made homemade baked french fries and had peeled 2 potatoes too many so I had put them in the fridge to use later. So instead of pulling out the box of scallop potatoes I decided to make my own! Just like anytime I need a recipe, I pulled out my computer and google search scalloped potato recipes and this is what I found...

A basic scalloped potatoes recipe baked in the oven.

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

• 4 cups thinly sliced potatoes, about 6 to 8 medium potatoes
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups scalded milk
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

In a buttered 2-quart baking dish, place a layer of about 1/3 of the potatoes. In a cup or small bowl, combine flour with salt and pepper. Sprinkle about half of the flour mixture over the potatoes; repeat with another layer of potatoes and the flour mixture and top with remaining potato slices. Dot with butter then pour hot milk over potatoes. Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes, or until scalloped potatoes are tender and cheese has melted. Scalloped potatoes serves 6 to 8.

Here is the link: http://southernfood.about.com/od/scallopedpotatoes/r/bl30129v.htm

I wasn't real sure how big a 2 quart pan was so I just used my 8x8 glass dish. And just like always, I didn't measure the amount of potatoes I used. I think I used 6 or so small/med. ones peeled. Here it is ready to go into the oven (minus the foil)

I set the timer and off to prep the pork chops I went. When I put the pork chops in, the oven was beginning to smell delicious, but once the timer went off after 45 min. I realized the milk had boiled over and made a complete burnt mess inside the oven and all over the edge of the pan...bummer. But I kept going. I added the cheese and stuck it back in the oven for 15 additional minutes.

(I forgot to take a pic before putting it back in the oven)

Here it is after 15 more minutes:

(notice the burnt edges)

Overall I think these were a hit. I thought they were delicious! I think next time I will add some garlic though!!! P.S. it was SUPER easy...besides the 2 year old I was having to walk around while cooking...here are a few pics of her "cooking" like mommy :)

#2

13 weeks

Due April 6th, 2012

Lines through my items

For some reason near the end of my 101 list I realized there are slashes through a lot of items that I have not completed...I am afraid to get rid of it cause I don't want them to disappear. I think I have blogged about all items I have completed so I guess that is how I can really see what is done and what I still need to do :)

#12

Giving up Facebook for 45 days straight. Day I decided to do it...October 2nd. So my official first day will be October 3rd. :) I am hoping to be more productive...maybe read some of the books on my list and maybe get my house back in shape. I find FB takes over my down time sometimes. I am always so curious what others are up to, that I get lost in FB looking at pictures and such. I am excited to do this...and yes I will want to get on and see what people are doing, but know it is an addiction I need to get rid of :) Maybe after the 45 days I will realize I don't really need it anyways :) I am sure now that I won't be posting on FB. I will write more on my blogs...I do have 2...this one and then my regular blog...anyhoo...here goes nothing. Now what am I going to do with myself today?!?! It is rainy out, Brynn is still sleeping and Jerret is working.....