Super Salad{s}

If you're like me you are trying to eat healthy-er.  I've been trying to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables.  Here's 2 of my favorite salads and they're a great way to increase your veggie intake.

I'll share the base salad then give you some add-in options.

Broccoli Salad

Chop 1 bunch broccoli or about 4 cups

 1 cup chopped celery

1 cup craisins or raisins

Optional add ins:

1/2 cup chopped onion, white, red, or green

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/4 cup salted sunflower seeds

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts

1 1/2 cup green grapes, halved

Dressing:

1/3 cup light mayonaise

1/4 cup plain fat free yogurt or greek style

3 Tbsp Sugar

1 Tbsp white vinegar

Mix the dressing well and pour over broccoli salad.  Stir to coat and Chill for about 1 hour then serve.

Cabbage Salad

Chop 1/2 head cabbage

2-4 green onions diced

2 Tbsp sesame seed 

(toasted is optional but yummy)

Optional add-ins:

1 pkg ramen noodles dry and broken up

2 Tbsp slivered almonds

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts or honey roasted (either are great!)

1/2 cup chopped celery

Dressing:

2 Tbsp sugar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp seasoning blend like Lowrys

1 flavor packet from Ramen if using

Mix well to blend oil and vinegar.  Pour over salad and stir to coat. Serve immediately.

I actually craved the Cabbage salad when I was pregnant with my 3rd child.  I seriously made it like 2-3 times a week.

Kido #5 is 4 years old now and 

I still love it.

A Dang Good Quesadilla!

It's time to share my all time favorite way to use my Homemade Tortillas.  

I discovered them years ago at a local restaurant.  At the time they weren't even on the menu.  You just had to know what to ask for.  I promise they are amazing!

Shrimp Mango Quesadillas

Dice up the mango.  If you've neer cut a mango, it's kind of tricky.  The pit is large wide and flat. See the un-diced part.  That's pretty much all the pit.  You can feel it as you cut.  I usually turn the mango sideways and cut on either side of the stem. It's about 1/4-1/3 inches across.  Then peel the rest and dice.
Mangoes should be slightly soft to the touch.  If they are hard, they aren't ready yet.
You can also use Champaign Mangoes.  They are heavenly!

Get some small uncooked shrimp.  Sautee in 1 Tbsp butter  until bright pink.  Remove from pan and drain any juices.  Combine 2 Tbsp butter and 2 Tbsp honey and cook 2 min to thicken.  Then add the shrimp and toss to coat.  Squeeze juice from one lime over shrimp. Remove from heat.

I sauted some green peppers, button mushrooms, and onions too.  It's optional.


Get 6 10 inch flour tortillas, and 1 1/2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese.


Layer the ingredients and cook slightly to melt chese, brown the tortillas, and meld the flavors together.

Remove from heat, cut and serve with sour cream (optional).

So Delish!

Silverware Drapery Hooks

 Did you know you can use Silverware to make drapery hooks?  Yep.  here's my Bathroom.  It seriously needed some color and I found a bag of silverware at Goodwill for $4.  I didn't even come close to using it all.  Score!

 First you'll need to choose the pieces you want, then using a metal drill bit, drill holes that will fit your screws in the blade of the knife, or the handle of the spoon or fork. Bend them to make the hooks.  Sorry there isn't any pictures of the drilling part.  Kinda hard to take pictures and drill at the same time.

 Mark the corners to make sure they are placed evenly.  Drill in place.

I had some super long sheers and used them to drape on my hooks.

Here's some close-up pics.

Simple and easy.  I love it!
I have some more windows to do.  Can't wait to share!

Eggs a la Goldenrod - A family Tradition

This is a much requested family favorite.  I don't make it very often because it takes some time, but if you have the time, this is a must!

Eggs a la Goldenrod

For the Sauce combine:

1 lb butter melted

2 1/2-3/4 cups flour

Mix well till it looks like this.

After the rue is made, put in large stock pot with 1 gallon of milk.  

Add in 2-3 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp salt

2 tsp seasoning salt

Cook on low/medium heat stirring constantly til it thickens to desired consistency.  It takes about 20 minutes.

Boil 2 dozen eggs and cut up.  

Reserve about 1/3 to 1/2 of the yolks in a separate bowl.

Using a fork, shred the yolks to look like this.Cook 1 lb of sausage and add to the sauce. 

 Add eggs and stir to combine.

I only use this bread.  I've tried using a more whole grain bread and get vetoed every time.  It must be a thick homemade bread.  Store bought doesn't even come close to cutting it.

Toast the bread and break up into bite size pieces.

Pour egg gravy over the top, a spoonful of yolks, and a light dusting of paprika.

OOOhhh...  its heaven. 

 I promise!

Homemade Flour Tortillas

I got this recipe from my cousin a few years ago and I've never turned back.  Homemade tortillas are the only way to go.  Seriously!  But since I'm not an old Mexican Abuela, here's my gringo way.  Still so good and way better than store bought.

Flour Tortillas

Mix together:

4 cups flour 

(you can do a combination of white and wheat and still get excellent results.)

1 1/2 tsp salt

Cut in:

1/2 cup shortening

Mix together then add cold water 2-3 Tbsp at a time, enough to make a pilable dough.  It's about 1 cup.

Knead 8 minutes or until 

soft and stretchy.

Form dough into golfball sized balls. Place on well floured surface and cover with a dishtowel.  Let rest 30 minutes. This will make rolling them out easier.

 Now shape each ball into little discs. This helps the tortillas come out round.

Make sure the surface is well floured so they don't stick.  Turn the tortilla as needed to keep it round. Also roll from the middle out.

Cook either in a large fry pan, or your electric griddle til lightly browned.

There you go.
Homemade tortillas.
We do burritos, enchiladas, & quesadillas.
Check these out.  They are amazing!
What will you do with yours?

Gift of Self Coupon Freebie

My family decided to do a gift of self this year as we drew names.  I designed these coupons in Photoshop and they are free to download and print.  

Just hand write what you are giving in the stamp circle.  

You can also create a scratch off space by combining silver paint and dishwashing soap, paint it on to contact paper, let dry and cut to fit the space.  So fun.

Happy Christmas to all!

DIY Jammies Anyone?

I wanted to do PJ's for Christmas for my kids this year and thought I'd try doing them myself.  Here's what I did.

I found some long sleeve t-shirts at Wal-Mart for a few dollars so I got one for each of the kiddos. I also made PJ pants out of flannel using this technique.

Then I used some craft paint and some foam stamps I got from Creating Keepsakes years ago.

 This one is for my girl.  Of course Pink is a necessity.

 Each sleeve got stamped with the year.

Boy #1 got this.  

He's a big Firefly fan 

and this is Jayne's mantra.

 Boy #2's shirt.  He's my super active one. This fit him to a T.

Boy #3's shirt.  He's such a ham.  This was perfect for him.

 My baby boy is getting this one.  The circle says Origional.  Perfect.