Week 29 Thursday (7/31/14)

Recipe Review        

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Delicious Baked Fudge

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/02/sweets-for-your-sweetie-1-delicious-baked-fudge/

I figured out that there are 452 calories per serving, if 4 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

These are the small ones I made at first that were a soupy mess1

These two were the larger containers. 

This is the one I baked right on the shelf that
basically came out like a brownie.

       Talk about a quick dessert.  This went together in minutes, but the 45 minutes it took to bake is where all of the time went. I made this is a small ramekin, even though she said to use the large one, and put them in a water bath. They came out looking exactly like the picture – which always makes me happy.  It has a rich flavor and adding ice cream would be the secret ingredient to perfection, however I screwed up because I used a small ramekin rather than a large one and I didn’t beat the eggs in the mixer.  Now I have to redo this recipe.

       I redid the recipe and it pretty much came out the same way. It is too liquidy on the bottom, but we liked the crusty top.

         Nicole told me she wouldn’t serve these because the person eating it would think she screwed up the brownie recipe.  I totally agree with her. I tried something else new – I just cooked the ramekin on the shelf without thee water bath and I got a brownie-like dessert – much better.

Would I make this recipe again? – nope.



Here's a New Product!

*Do you know Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields? No? Well, let me ask you this – Have you heard of ProActiv? I bet you answered YES! ProActiv Solutions are #1 in the Global Acne market and Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields are the creators and owners! The good news…they are now branching out to tackle more than just teenage acne!

*Rodan and Fields have launched a line of skin care products that give you the results of a Dermatologist visit, without having the hassle and cost of going to the doctor.

*Anti-Aging, Acne Correction and Scarring/Pitting, Sun Damage, Eczema, Psoriasis…they have it ALL covered.

*Genetics are only responsible for 20% of how your skin will age…..YOU control 80% of YOUR skins DESTINY!

*Everybody loves to GOOGLE right…well google “Rodan + Fields before and after pictures” then contact me!  

*Are you READY for the BEST skin of your LIFE? What are you waiting for?

*Rodan + Fields Independent Consultant - Brandy Lehman RN

630-618-8915, b.lehman05@live.com, or Facebook

Random Reflections - The Glorious Garden

Geranium “striatum” Cranesbill

      

         Today’s flower of the week is the geranium “striatum” cranesbill. This is such a beautiful addition to my front (on the driveway) flower bed. The flowers are delicate and a pretty light pink color. I did plant them in full sun, which they can handle. They are also on an incline so the drainage is great.

This is an extreme close-up as you can see from the next pictures

You can see how they are a ground cover

The flowers are so little and pretty

         This plant is really easy to care for, as all I do is weed around it and make sure it gets water if we have a drought. The rabbits don’t eat this plant, but they have dug an indent under the foliage and use it as a safe haven. Many a rabbit have suddenly scared me to death as I walk down to get the paper, and they scamper under my feet.

         They can spread 18 to 24 inches and have a height of 6 to 8 inches tall. This is a great plant if you could use some beautiful ground cover or enjoy delicate flowers.

Irksome Ideas and Images

         I am about to bring up a truly important issue that most people feel quite strongly about when asked. Should toilet paper go under or over when placed on the dispenser?  Yes – this is a true issue for some of us. No it is not a world issue, but it is kinda fun to talk or write about.

         This girl is quite adamant that the toilet paper should always go over so it doesn’t unwrap when a child or pet grabs it, and runs out of the room. I must admit that I have even been known to change it on the dispenser in someone else’s home while visiting. Is that horrible?  Have you ever done that or am I the only toilet paper Nazi out there???  Come on, admit it. Please, admit it.

Week 29 Wednesday (7/30/14)

Recipe Review              

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Basic Breakfast Potatoes        

         Found in: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

         Pages: 48 - 50       Copyright:  2009  Harper Collins         OR

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/04/basic-breakfast-potatoes/

I figured out that there are 80 calories per serving, if 8 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

         These are the best breakfast potatoes I have ever had. I love that they have a little crunchy edge and the onion and bacon fat come through to make them amazing. There are two uses for these goodies.  You can just serve them with breakfast, or you can use them in her breakfast burritos.  These make such a difference. I once made the burritos with hash browns and then made them again with these taters and the overwhelming decision is that these potatoes win – hands down!

Here is Rees blog recipe for the burritos:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/08/breakfast-burritos-to-go/

Gabbin’ About Gratitude

         I am so blessed and thankful for my neighbors. The people who live around me are really good people who have always made me feel welcome. Neighbors can be a blessing or a curse, so I am grateful that I live among the cream of the crop. A big thanks to the people of Savannah. Life in my neighborhood is wonderful.

Memory Musings

         When I was in late elementary or early middle school, I was fortunate enough to go on vacation with the Doughertys, our family friends. This was my first and only trip to Virginia Beach. Upon arrival, the five of us, kids, ran out of the car and directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand about tides at that point in my life. We were dressed in jeans and T-shirts and extremely anxious to get into the water.

         After awhile we tired, and I tried to get into the shore, but the tide was pulling me out to sea. The jeans were weighing me down and I was quickly becoming exhausted. I screamed for help and Bobbie Dougherty swam out and pulled me in. I was so exhausted that I easily could have drowned that evening. A big “thank you” to Bobbie Dougherty for possibly saving my life.

Week 29 Monday (7/28/14)

Week 29         MONDAY

Recipe Review              

Today’s Recipe and Location:  Hot Artichoke Dip        

         Found in: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

         Pages: 30 - 31       Copyright:  2009  Harper Collins

I figured out that there are 717 calories per cup, if 4 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

This is just plain old creamy goodness

The problem with this was that I ate more than a cup or two for dinner one night.
YIKES!  I really am the Queen of Bad Choices.

         This dip is a must for my next get together.  I love this dip so much that I actually had it for dinner. I served it with tortilla chips and had a ball. Of course, that is pretty sad, but I actually enjoyed every flipping minute.  Try this one out because it is down right yummy.

Random Reflections - Bucket List

         I am curious how to play the game of bridge. My Mom and Aunt Doris play bridge and really enjoy it. Personally, I prefer Euchre, but since I am getting older I thought I should learn to play this game. If bridge is a dying breed after my Mom’s generation, then I will just learn it for fun, if not I will know how to play a new game. It seems like a win-win to me.

Becky’s Bucket List #18

Learn to play bridge

Have an inground pool

Finish writing a book on the Scent Family

Save up enough money for a down payment on my Kentucky house

Research every town in Kentucky in hopes of relocating

Work on learning calligraphy and bettering daily penmanship

Begin making my own clothing using a mannequin

Volunteer at an animal rescue

Visit all 50 states

Photography courses

Complete all of Mom’s and my scrapbooks

Go skiing again in Colorado

Meet the Duggar family

Watch every nominee and winner for the Academy Awards to date

Remodel my kitchen

Take piano lessons

Write 2 books for my great-nephews

Travel to Wales

Travel to Scotland

Alaskan cruise

Why Weight?

         7/20                  Sunday                  1,730         calories         nothing                 

         7/21                  Monday                 1,751         calories         Curves                 

         7/22                  Tuesday                1,715         calories         Curves

         7/23                  Wednesday            1,795         calories         Curves

         7/24                  Thursday               1,766         calories         Curves

         7/25                  Friday                    1,777         calories         Curves

         7/26                  Saturday          est. 1,750         calories         nothing

Goal:             87.6 lbs.          (100 lb. loss between 6/1/14 – 6/1/15)

                  -    2.1 lbs.         this week’s loss

                     85.5 lbs. lbs to go

         I am thrilled I lost this week, but I was really hoping for more than 2.1 lbs. It was a good week, however as I stayed in the 1,700’s the entire week. I decided to add a new feature here and that is how many steps I took each day and the calories burned. My new FitBit tells me this information.

Sun. 7/20                  8,125 steps                  2,748 calories burned

Mon. 7/21                 8,377 steps                  2,789 calories burned

Tues. 7/22               10,180 steps                  2,926 calories burned

Wed. 7/23                10,052 steps                 3,017 calories burned

Thurs. 7/24               8,263 steps                  2,782 calories burned

Fri. 7/25                    8,328 steps                  2,823 calories burned

Sat. 7/26                   6,155 steps                  2,714 calories burned

         The FitBit is a wristband and it transmitting information to my computer. It can even keep track of your weight loss and your sleep habits. I love this bracelet because my new goal is to walk 10,000 or more steps each and every day. As you can see from last week’s info, I have a long way to go, but I find it inspiring somehow. 

Wants and Wishes

         I want to increase my weekly weight loss, so I need to walk 10,000 steps every day. I will begin by setting the goal for a week, and after I accomplish that one, I’ll up it to two weeks, and so on. This is a big commitment for a self-professsed couch potato, but I will reach my 100 lb. goal this time around. The last time I set this goal, I only lost 75 pounds, not that it wasn’t a great accomplishment, but I usually meet every goal I set my mind on.

Week 29 Tuesday (7/29/14)

Recipe Review              

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Pico De Gallo

         Found in: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

         Pages 16 - 17      Copyright:  2009  Harper Collins

I figured out that there are 171 calories per serving, if 6 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

I loved the way everything I cut up looked on the plate.

It really is a pretty dish to put on the table!
The colors are so vibrant.

         This is a beautiful additional to all Mexican food such as tacos, burritos, and even just served with chips. I was thinking that this would be good with freshly grilled fish, too. Use this recipe with 3 avocados and you have instant guacamole, a personal favorite of mine. This is quick because all it entails is chopping a few items up and you are good to go.

      

Craft Corner

  

         Since I am not currently crafting, I thought I would share pictures of my sewing room. This room is overwhelming even to me. I really need to go through each shelf and purge the things I am no longer interested in creating. In my next house I need a sewing room that is at least double the size of this one! Oh well Scarlett, tomorrow is another day to clean, straighten, and purge.

This section has gift pails and all of the scrapbooking materials

Here we have gift wrapping materials, styrofoam and dog toys
and an old lamp shade

This is a mish mash of items

This section is quilting supplies, glitter and painting items,
and finished sweaters, mittens, and hats

The horrible curtains are to keep the room dark so the fabrics do
not fade. Cute ironing board, don't ya think?

This is the 9 foot bookshelf and stamp rack created
 by my wonderful nephew, WESLEY

My Gorgeous Girls

       Last week, I looked out the window and saw Nicole’s dog, Bandit, reclining in the yard and truly enjoying the warm day. She is so sweet and is in the twilight of her life. She walks slower, takes awhile to rise, and sees and hears most things. OMG – she sounds like me on some days.

She can always find the shadiest place in
the yard to watch the world go by.

Marisa couldn't resist hopping in this picture. Two beautiful girls!

Week 28 Sunday (7/27/14)

Recipe Review       

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Itty Bitty Nutella Cakes

         Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/10/itty-bitty-nutella-cakes/

I figured out that there are 689 calories per serving, if you eat ¼ of the family size pound cake. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

You can half the calories by just cutting the fourth section in half and then the calories are manageable.  I had to do this even though I wanted the whole darn thing.

This is the cake pre-walnuts

Walnuts are amazing and really added to the
overall flavor of the cake

         This is one of the quickest desserts I have ever made. I created it in about five minutes. I really love Nutella and Cool Whip so what more is there to say?  I also sprinkled some walnuts on top, the second time I ate it, and that was even better.  Kids would love this one!

      

Trivial Triffles

         I have spent a lot of time on the road this summer and had time to notice and really pay attention to construction work and speed limits. I watched what I would call a lot of close calls. They were really just speeders and bad drivers too close to the workers. I totally respect the reduced speed limits and feel for the families who lost a member due to impatient and thoughtless motorists. Are we really so important that we must risk someone’s life because we are late? The next time you near a construction site – slow down.

Memory Musings

         Bikes were not the only thing we rode in good ole’ Rainbow Hilles. Brian Stopka had a homemade go-cart. Now this was nothing like the ones that you see today. Brian’s go-cart was loud, but it ran great and looked like so much fun. Brian’s older brother, Tom, also loved loud vehicles. Tom had a very loud Camero that we could hear driving down Rt. 64 from our homes. I thought it was fabulous, as would any kid at that time. I guess you could say that the Stopka boys loved their vehicles loud and fast.