Surviving Christmas with a Maine Coon Kitten

Surviving Christmas With A Maine Coon Kitten

See our Christmas tree?  

Oh, the garland, the lights, and handmade salt dough ornaments from years gone by.  How I wish I could tell you this is how our tree looks this year.

I could tell you that.  

But, it wouldn't be true.

You see, last year our Maine Coon kitten was only a few months old.  Patches was still fascinated with toys on the floor.  The laser pointer was a gift from heaven.

This year, it's a different story.

Can your see the gray and white blob jut under my husbands arm?  

Yeah, that's a 13 pound kitten in our tree!

(Wait!  But, didn't you say she was a kitten last year?

And, how can a kitten be 13 pounds?)

Well, you see Maine Coons stop growing around age 3.  And, since they are a very large breed of cat, you wind up with a rambunctious ball of  kitty energy with mass enough to do some real damage.  For. Three. Years.

Spray bottles do not deter them.

Maine Coon cats love water.  

Seriously.

This year we simply can't keep her out of the tree.  We gave up on the garland and lights a few weeks ago.  One by one it became evident that even the inexpensive ornaments didn't stand a chance of staying on the boughs.

We really couldn't imagine a Christmas without our salt dough ornaments so I dug out my Command Strip box.  (No, 3M isn't giving me a penny for this post.  And, yes, I really do have a box full of little plastic hooks of all shapes and sizes.)

I wanted the hooks or our faux tree to be somewhat even but I was too lazy to pull out a ruler.  So, I used a Post-It Note to space them out.  (Seriously, why are they not a sponsor of my blog?  Even our stocking are held up with Command Strip hooks.)

And, voila! We have a tree.  Don't you love that backwards letter E right above Rudolph?  And, check out that fireplace which has been hot glued together time after time.

Our Ornament Tree is truly the closest we can get this year and we're OK with that.  After all, Christmas isn't about the gifts, or even the tree or salt dough ornaments.  It's about being with those you love and appreciating the time you have with them.  And, sometimes...when she's napping...even appreciating a 13 pound Maine Coon kitten named Patches.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Southwest Roasted Corn Mini Muffins

Southwest Roasted Corn Mini Muffins 

Here's a quick little treat you don't see everyday. I love these mini corn muffins. They are light and super flavorful - what's not to love?

Roasted Southwest Corn Muffins
Makes 12 mini muffins

1/2 c. corn meal
2/3 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c. frozen (thawed) or fresh corn kernels
1/4 c. bell pepper, diced
2 T. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
2 T. vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 c. milk

Preheat the oven to 400 and place fresh or frozen corn on a sheet pan lined with a silpat. I usually dice up some bell pepper and toss that in, too. Roast until the corn and peppers get some color on them - about 15 to 20 minutes Meanwhile, assemble the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk them well. Combine the wet ingredients in a different bowl. Pour the wet into the dry stirring gently and leaving some lumps. (Do not overmix or your muffins will be hockey pucks.) Let the batter rest while the corn roasts.

When the roasted corn is toasty, move it to different pan to cool for about 10 minutes. Mix the corn and peppers into the batter with just a few strokes. (Unless you really love hockey.) Portion into mini muffins cups which have been greased only on the bottoms. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. 

Sometimes I add cheese to these. Yum. (And, for you Southerners, let's just pretend I called this recipe corn cake - considering it has sugar, right?)

So, tell me...
What is your favorite way to make corn muffins?
  

A Matter of Time - Making Big Change...in a Small Way.

A Matter of Time.

Today in Chicagoland it's a whopping -15 out. Practically everything is closed - even the Chicago Public Schools which never happens. My husband still had to take the hour plus trek into work. But, my office is closed so I'm snuggled on the couch watching the cats nap.

It's been a good day of ketchup..I mean, catch-up. And, I needed it.  We couldn't get out of our driveway yesterday before snowblowing the 3 foot drifts so we bundled up and got to work. Church was not meant to be for us. So, today I've been able to catch not only on yesterday's message, but also on a few others I missed and have been waiting to hear. (Yes, our messages are available online.)

One I've been meaning to listen to is from Shauna Niequiest called "The Power of the Living Room." She talks about how important Hospitality is as a spiritual practice.  Paul talked about it in Romans. How we need to worry less about performance and more about presence. How opening the door can be scary, but it's critical to building meaningful, transparent relationships. It's a message I've heard before, but she shares it with humor and charm - you should hear the story of Mary and Martha as she tells if from Martha's point of view!

My husband and I have been talking for the longest time about inviting a few people over for board games.  We've hemmed, we've hawed.  (Is that how you spell that?)  Our schedules have always been too busy, our home too small, too cluttered, our friends live too far away and they surely wouldn't want to travel out to us.  Basically, we've spent hours planning an event that has never happened because we've never even opened the door.  My husband was at church the day Shauna gave her message and now I know why he said it was important for me to make time to listen to it.

Oh, if anyone else wants catch it, you can listen to Shauna here, scroll down she's second on the list.

It was getting a bit cold with the -15 degrees and all, so I preheated the oven and tossed a bunch of chili fixin' in a big pot.  You know how we love our Dutch oven.  It makes the whole house smell so good.

Next, I turned to a fav blogger of mine and got a dose of when good mommies go bad.  Actually, she's a great mommy and Kristen's post is called, "What Our Kids Really Hear When We Yell." She explains the damage that is done when the method overtakes the message.  And, she really hit home.  She mentioned how yelling is frequently tied to feeling a loss of control of the curcumstances. 

She's so right.  For me, it's usually when a plan I had didn't work out the way I had decided it should work.  (Note how *I decided* the way it should be.)  Let's picture a trip out of state.  I had figured out in my head, "If we need to be there by _, and we want to stop at _ for dinner, we will need _ time on the road and should leave by_, be packed by_, have breakfast by_, be up by_. 

Then, it happens. 

We wake up late and I want to feed my family a hot breakfast so I toss the bacon in the pan and run to go get dressed.  The bacon burns but I think some can be salvaged, I'll just scramble it into some eggs.  Then I taste them and they taste all burnt-y and we're out of eggs now.  So it's cold cereal, why aren't you dressed yet?  Did you brush your teeth?  Really, those shoes?  Arrgh, my own pants are wrinkled!  You took the LAST of the milk? Were you planning on telling anyone?

Okay, there might be some exaggeration there.  (Not really.)  But, what I wanted wasn't simply to going church.  I wanted to go to church, make a hot breakfast for my family, and for us to arrive clean, pressed, and early to church.  Here's the thing.  No one else knew I wanted to make a hot breakfast.  There I am frazzed and freaked out...and LATE for church when....they were fine with cold cereal.  They would rather have cold cereal than have me all stressed out.

They hear, "You should have set your alarm."  ( I should have too, by the way.)  The stressed out comments, looks or just silent emotion sends messages of: You're not moving fast enough.  You're not doing enough.  You've dissappointed me. 

You should have known better.

You're not good enough.

We don't have to say it.  We're not saying those words.  We're talking about shoes or pants or bacon or toothpaste.  But, those are the messages they're hearing.

 

Patience isn't just a virtue.  It's a fruit of the spirit.  And, it's something we can pray for.
Oh, and as Kristen mentions, so is Self-Control!

This morning I thought I would catch up on a sermon or two and read through a few of my favorite blogs.  Instead I got a wake up call.

It reminds me of seeing the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon.  (The photo above is from our honeymoon.)  A little river with a big impact.  We can be quiet and steadfast and still help make big change.  We can point the way by first going there ourselves.  Quietly.

So, tell me. 

How is your family time going in your home?

You Know You're Off Your Game When...

You Know You're Off Your Game When...

So, while I haven't been here...at all recently...I have been getting back in the kitchen.  And, I've been taking pics which (hopefully) will become blog posts soon.  

On Thanksgiving I knew our dinner would be carb heavy, hello stuffing, baked sweet potatoes, mashed rutabaga with gravy, etc.  So, I prepared some spanikopita filling last week and froze it thinking we would have some quick spinach pies for lunch while the turkey was cooking.

And, it worked.  

Yes, I used frozen croissant dough, filled it, folded it over and forked the edges closed.  They were beautiful.. And, tasty.  And, I would absolutely do it again.

And, I probably should.  So, maybe I could get an "after" pic to go with the "before" one.

#1 Way you know you're off your game is when...
You drop the spinach pies all over the floor.  Yep.  *Splat*

Then today I thought I would start to decorate for Christmas.
 (I'm kinda bummed that we lose a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.  How about you?)

So, I headed off to my Chalkboard Pinterest Board and chose a design.  About an hour later when it was finished, I stood on a chair and lifted the really heavy really large board...

#2 Way you know you're off your game is when...
You realize that you only strung the picture wire so the really heavy vintage frame hangs horizontally and not vertically.  Ugh.  And, it's not like we could simply turn it over and drill new eye hooks in the vintage frame...without messing up the work.

Now, for the good news.

It doesn't matter.

The "5 Second Rule" was employed and my husband and I enjoyed the spinach pies.  (Yes, I know it's kinda gross.  Shrug.)  And, for a few days we'll keep the chalkboard standing up against the bookcase.  Then I'll draw a new one to hang horizontally...or wipe it and drill a vertical wire.

Ultimately, it's been a good couple of days.  Yeah, I'm a bit off my game.  But, we're well fed and my family feels loved.  And, that's really what matters.

Did you have any mishaps recently?

 

5 Ways We Are Spending Less (And, living on half the budget of last year.)

The View From Ground Level

I was making out the budget for November.  Then I realized that Christmas is right around the corner.  Once the New Year starts, bloggers everywhere will be doing their Year in Review posts
. 
Here it is, November, and I and started thinking back to last year.

Last November we just finished Financial Peace University and we just had our first successful month of budgeting.  It can take a few months to get the hang of it.  (Do you budget?  How long before you felt like you had a system that worked for you?)

I can see we were spending much more than we needed to back then.  - and we thought we were cutting back! We had always been creative.  Our "31 Days to a More Organized Life" series could have also been called 31 Ways to a More Frugal Life.

We have half the income we had a year ago, 

but we have better tools.

1. We save on groceries.

We intentionally watch for sales and stock up when we can.  (I've stopped using the term "stockpiling" because after the TLC couponing show people seem to think it means fill your garage to the rafters with stuff you'll never use in this lifetime.)  You've seen our pantry.  I only buy things our family will use.  And, I buy whatever amount I expect us to use between now and the next time it will go on sale.  You get a feel for whether that means a month or 3 months. Last week I bought Barilla pasta for 27 cents a pound.  (The store had it on sale for 77 cent and  there was an internet coupon for 50 cents off.  I do not clip more that 1 or 2 coupons a week - most of the time I do not use coupons at all.


2. We cook with inexpensive - and very flavorful - cuts.

Looking back to our budget amounts for food and restaurants - I'm amazed that we spent that much last year.  We were still very far below the national average. (In August of 2012, Gallup showed Americans spending $151 a week on food.  Higher incomes averaged $180 a week).  This year we are spending even less.  You know we are big fans of the wonders of slow cooking and how it saves us money while tasting great, too.  We use our slow cooker in the summer and now it's Dutch oven season.  This week we made a beef roast and an amazing veggie soup.  (I'll be sharing the soup soon.)



3. We save on utilities, too.

We've learned the power of friendly negotiation - where each party comes out feeling it was a win for them.  We don't burn bridges.  We keep business cards and write notes on the back for next time.  We decided we were paying to much for our garbage service - we were using the one the village had negotiated a contract with.  Hubby made it his mission to find something better.  First, he drove around town writing down the phone numbers on the dumpsters in the area.  Then he called each one.  He ended up cutting our bill down to one-third and he signed a 3 year contract locking in that rate.  As a bonus, it was a small local company and we like helping out both small and local.  They wanted our business and to know they would service us for a long time.  We wanted reliable service at a reasonable rate that wasn't going up.  Win-win.



4.   We understand the importance....
of customer retention and how costly it is for a company to acquire new customers.
More importantly, they understand it, too.

For example, last we we went took a trip to our local store and renegotiated our phone/movies/internet service and lowered it by $50/month for the next 12 months.  Yep - you really can do that.  Our phones and the rest were past their contracts so the ball was in our court.  Six months ago, when I knew I was going to be laid off, we went in a negotiated a lower rate - without signing a contract.  This time we negotiated for a larger rate and we signed a 1 year agreement to lock in those rates.


5. We build relationships.
We are proponents of small businesses so we frequent the same local businesses over and over.  They know us when we visit.   We also understand the importance of cash - especially when working with a sole proprietor - not only in terms of negotiation, but also that it's nice to help them cut down on their expenses by avoiding costly transaction fees. Recently I pulled out a debit card at the local Mexican place and our teenager reminded me it would be nicer to use cash for that family-owned business.  Smart kid.

The future.
I have no idea what the next year will look like.  This year tore us up emotionally and financially.  We lost a loved one and later a job.  We've found our footing but usually we were on our knees.  God gave us provision through friends, unexpected checks in the mail, and lots of patience and grace.  I found a new job and it's better than I ever could have imagined.  But, our bottom line stayed very low.  It's okay - we're kind used to that now.  One things is for certain, even with half the income, we're at a better place financially than we were a year ago.  We'll see what next year holds.  I'll be keeping my eyes on the horizon.

How are you doing in this economy?  

Are you seeing an upturn?  

What are you doing to help keep costs down?

 

The Other Shoe Dropped (again.)

INTRODUCTION & DISCLAIMER:
This post was originally written and posted on Aug 25, 2012.
Shortly after posting it, I took it down.

You see, I was feeling all sorts of things - new ideas.  Preconceptions were getting questioned and I was beginning to think perhaps I didn't have all the answers.  (Gosh, is that true.)  I decided that sharing what I wrote was just a little too much information.  Too mushy.  (Okay, let's be truthful here, I was also afraid you would just hate what I wrote and there would be all sorts of finger-pointing in the comments.)

Here's why I'm re-posting it today.
On that day, Aug 25, 2012, my world was very different.

My husband had just been laid off, again, but other than that things were pretty normal.  Then things got a little more rocky. Since that time my job of  9 years became less secure.  And, then my husband lost his son - my step-son.  Then I was laid-off.  And, then the cat died.  Seriously.  

(Well, actually not in that order, but ending with "the cat died" just tops off the grief sundae with a cherry, doesn't it? Somehow you have to keep your sense of humor - even if it's just gallows humor...)

I look back at this post and think, "Man, I had just scratched the surface."  And, now I wonder if a year from now I will think, "Wow, you've grown a lot in twelve months."  I hope so.  But, if I'm being honest, I really hope none of my learning comes from more jobs lost, illness, or death.   I've been volunteering at the local food pantry and my paperwork and background check has been submitted so I can start doing things like help refugees from countries like Congo and Bhutan where the lucky ones are literally fleeing for their lives. I'll be keeping my eyes, ears and heart open.  I think I'll learn a lot.

The following was originally posted on Aug 25, 2012:

I just came from a great Justice & Compassion seminar at my local church. (Actually I just came from the library, but more on that later.) At the seminar the vision was cast for the new food center as well as the other related centers, e.g. clothing, education, legal, vision and dental assistance, in way that would hopefully be sustainable and lead to lasting change. 

Last week when I signed up for the seminar I had no idea that today my husband would get laid off . Again. (Yeah, it’s the second time this year. Is there a punch card I should carry in my wallet or something? Got your card? Punch) 

 It was a great seminar. One of the speakers, Dr. Robert Lupton, spoke about the role of dignity and empowerment in building community. I could have listened to him all day. (And, this is why I just ordered his book from the library - Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor.) 

 He spoke of various acts of service or charity, e.g. donations, angel trees, etc. and he showed a different side – that of the receiver. The giver, usually, feels good about what they’ve done. Maybe they get the joy of seeing a child’s eyes light up upon receiving a new toy, for example. But, there’s another part, too. For the mom or dad this act of kindness can be “dignity depleting” and an unwelcome reminder that they are not able to provide for their family in a way they wish – or in a way that society expects of them. 

(I'm not a writer...nor do I play one on TV, so while I'm doing my best to paraphrase him, well, you get the idea.)

 Dr. Lupton and his church have put their hearts into finding ways to help, build and empower rather than creating expectancy and dependency. While he gave a few (really cool) examples, they only whet my whistle for his book. 

I’ve been on both the giving
and the receiving ends of such scenarios.  

Perhaps you have been, too.

After Dr. Lupton’s session our table had some really nice table discussion. People seemed to really feel free to share what they thought and the authenticity was refreshing. One of the topics brought to light was the (fill in your own emotion... sadness, frustration, disappointment) of sometimes seeing the same person receiving food over and over again – and not seeming to be actively looking for a job.

It got me thinking.

 Perhaps you know of someone, I do, who has been on unemployment for years and while they continue to apply for jobs “in their career,” it would never occur to them that they could be asking “would you like fries with that.” So, I can see how seeing the same person time and time again appearing at a food pantry or shelter and seeming to be “okay with it” might be jarring. 

(I am blessed with a husband who will to anything to provide for his family. And, while we hope that someday he will once again be employed in his passion area, we will take it day by day and see what God has in store.) 

After Dr. Lupton’s message, I think I can try to put words to a possible other side to that the scenario. Remember the “dignity depletion?” That phrase echoed in my mind when he said it. I have felt that. Well, not quite dignity…but emotional fatigue. I thought back to times when I might have put on a good face to a well meaning person making an inquiry about the job search. 

You see, I think sometimes I quickly, sub-consciously did a cost- benefit assessment when people asked how I've been. How's the search going, etc. When you or your loved one is unemployed or under-employed you can find yourself engaging with well meaning people a lot. These are people who have really good intentions. They want to help. But, the reality is that the first 10 or 20 suggestions they will offer are likely the same 10-20 that the previous person offered. And, the person before them.

Now, you might think, yeah but what if they know that 1 lead that no one else knew?! You’re right! That could be awesome. But, that’s what I was referring to about the cost-benefit assessment. If it was a good day, rather than getting emotionally drained by even entering into the conversation, sometimes it’s easier to just put on the happy face. And, ask about them. You know?

 Of course this brush-off could be because you felt they were just making conversation. Or perhaps, they were going to get all feeling good for asking and that really seemed to be the reason for their inquiry… 

But, here’s the truth. 
“It’s not you, it’s me.”

Today might be a really good day. Emotional high. Getting things accomplished. And entering into the conversation that day will leave me feeling drier than an Arizona landscape. So, the smile? It’s protecting the good day. 

So, I wonder how many times I might have inquired about a person and interpreted complacency and it really wasn't that at all. 

 I wonder how many people we pass that “seem to not even be trying” are just “protecting the good day.” 

Shifting gears.

From the World Health Organization: The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences.

 I can identify with the second part of that. The preferences part. There have been days where cereal was the meal, love it or leave it. And, while according to the box, all the nutritional percentages would be met…the taste buds filed an appeal. 

I wonder… 
Have you or “a friend” ever been food insecure...
 to the extent that you truly didn’t know from where your next meal would come? 

If you want to express yourself on any of these topics,
you can press the blue button and comment below.
Please be respectful of each other.
  

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Garage Sale...

The Potential Curse

"I wish I had your eye for things."

"That's so creative - I never would have thought of that!"

"You see so much potential in stuff."

Wanna know the truth?
It's actually a curse to be able to see potential in EVERYTHING.

I was reading The Nester today and she spoke to how even if she didn't want to display something in her home anymore, she didn't want to just junk it or donate it - until she knew someone else vlaued it as much as she did.

I know that feeling.  I've had it.
It's strangely...paralyzing.

You see something at Goowill - it's only a buck - but it has SO much potential.  If you just added this, or that - heck, a cute specialty store could sell this for $40 in a snap!  Wrap a little tissue paper around it with a pretty ribbon and it's an adorable gift!

That cute imaginary shop.
Do you know it?

Maybe you've even opened your shop on Ebay or Etsy.
I did.  I actually have 2 Etsy shops on permanent vacation.

Now for some gals, shops can be a cold popcicle on a hot summer day.  They are just the breath of fresh air they need.  It's a great outlet.  It's a fun way to spend your time. maybe make a few bucks.

Not so for me.

It's like staging a garage sale that never ends.  

Really cool stuff, lovely vintage items, WAY too many of them, just sitting around.  And, this is stuff that needs to be in the same condition all the time - because when it sells (can we be real..."if" it sells) it needs to be "just as described" and look just like it did in the pictures.

So, it ends up in limbo.
It's all my stuff...
Yet it's held hostage...
By the buyer..who might never buy it..

I came to a conclusion a few months ago.  The clutter needed to end.
I wasn't going to bring anything else into our home - no matter how cute - unless I had an immediate place for it.

Even better, there should be an actual need for it.
Cute, just wasn't gonna cut it.

I decided if the item wasn't gonna add to the goal of making our home more useable, fun and welcoming...well, it wasn't coming in.  (Unemployment and under-employment can also reduce the buying of unnecessary knick-knacks.)

And, no more holiday kitsch.  You know the stuff.  You put it out for 2 weeks - maybe 4, then the other 48 weeks of the year it sits in a container marked Easter.

Last year I stopped buying holiday stuff and started focusing on seasonal stuff.
What's the difference, you ask?
By season I mean, "Things relating to the outdoor seasons."
(In Chicagoland we have 4...unless you count Construction Season.)

So, rather than pastel decorations for bunny time, I went with branches with buds and greenery.

Fall and Winter became less about green and red and more about acorns, and harvest with more candles and less clutter.

I got a rude awakening the other day which really helped put things into focus.  You know all that stuff that had so much potential?  There were so many things I could do with it!  Things I wanted someone else to value it as much as I did?

Well, a friend was in a bind, so a bunch of us gathered all our stuff and had the world's biggest rummage sale. (Slight exaggeration, but not by much.)  All proceeds would go to our friend.

It took NO TIME at all for me to bag up all those (no so) valuables and hand them off to be sold for a buck or two each. I filled a box with stuff that I never would have parted with for a dollar.  Until that day.  I knew that volume mattered - and woo-hoo, I was the gal!  At the rummage sale, every item that sold for a buck was another dollar that went to my friend.  Honestly, I would have been happy - ecstatic - if every item in that box sold for a dollar.

Interesting.
So, really I must have known deep down that those items didn't have that much value.

Irony - it's what's for dinner.

Do you struggle with clutter?
Do you see the potential in everything?
What is something you really should get rid of?

I'm in Awe

I'm in awe.

Today I was reminded of the power and majesty of our Lord.

Without going into details...

Early in 2012 I was invited to a dinner by someone who I had never met - who received my name from someone I had never met.

At the prompting of my husband, I went.

God had a plan for the young woman who invited me but it wouldn't be revealed until much later.

Then parts of my story happened. Hard parts.

And, I met another young woman and heard her story.

Later the unique stories of those two women became somewhat similar.
They shared a heart connection from across the globe.

All of this to say that there is a plan.
A mighty one.

Sometimes if we listen to whispers and say YES, 

the unbelievable complexity of our Creator's direction can become- 

for just the blink of an eye - 

awe-inspiringly clear. 

Having that clarity - for a fleeting moment - was a blessing today.

 

When God's Focused on the Long Run - And, I'm Wanting a Sprint.

What's Next?

I learned a couple of things this weekend.

First, thank goodness for women like Shannan at Flower Patch Farmgirl.  She keeps things in perspective for me. As I read her adventures I see how quiet and ordinary can be boring. (Her life could never be considered Q&O!)

Full disclosure.  I'm really longing for some quiet and ordinary in life right now - maybe a bit too much.  Have you seen the new addition to the Footprints story?

Yeah, that's me.
Those who follow me on Facebook or twitter have likely seen some changes.  Our family has been through a lot this year.  Grief.  Job loss.  Health stuff.

I was about to type, "Our family has had it's fair share of ...."  But, that phrase really doesn't have any meaning, does it?

The second thing I learned this week is how influential a good book can be.  (Especially the conversations in can evoke.)    I've been reading "The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God and Having the Guts to Respond" by Bill Hybels.     Saturday,  I grabbed the book to read in the car while I waited for my step-son to finish his violin lesson.   When he jumped back in, he saw what I was reading and asked if it was any good.    I told him I was really enjoying it and how Bill has an easy-going way of writing - and a very self-deprecating sense of humor.  I mentioned a certain story about whispers.  (I honestly can't remember if it's in this book or not - could have been one of the other times I've heard him talk.)

Anyway, Bill speaks of picking up milk (or something) from the grocery store and he was getting into the car to head home.  He heard a whisper, "Turn around."  He resisted.     He was tired.  It was snowy.
"Turn around," it repeated. 
As the story goes, he eventually listened to the prompting and saw an elderly woman walking from her car holding groceries - so he offered his help.  Little did he know this would require walking back and forth from her car to her apartment a couple of times... in the wet snow - up hill, both ways.     You get the idea.

At the end of the adventure, she stops him, grabs his elbow and tells him,  "You were an answer to a prayer."

At the end of the story I was saying to my step-son how God doesn't always show us the whole plan - he just asks us to listen and follow.  As most teenagers listening to a adult who is trying to be all wise and knowing (facepalm) - he was already ahead of me.  "Turn around."  Yep.  Turn around.

So, I'm in a "turn around" point in my life.  I'm trying hard to listen and respond.  I know all too well how it can hurt when I don't listen.

I know what happens when God wants something  to be easier in the long run...   but I explain to him how a nice short sprint is what I had in mind.

I've been feeling for a long while like a change in career was coming.  But, what I didn't have was the clarity of what it might look like. I was also too afraid and maybe a bit too lazy to make that happen.  Hello, layoff.  I see you.
Recently some whispers have been falling into place.  (Actually, some whispers that probably should have been heeded a while ago are now showing themselves as how they could have been possibilities for NOW, but since I neglected them, they might be possibilities for the future.)
This old dog can learn new tricks.   But, sometimes you have to prod her before she'll get moving.

Looking at the photo above,  I'm not focusing on the huge canyon before me.   I'll choose to focus on the magnificent colors of that horizon.
Have you been hearing any whispers lately? Share.  

Tasty Leftovers - Eggs Forentine...With a Secret Ingredient You'll NEVER Guess!

Eggs Florentine - With a Secret Ingredient!

You'll never guess what's in these eggs.

I took a chance and boy did it payoff.

Pizza. 

No really!

Leftover deep dish spinach pizza.

Things are a little hectic in our house right now.

 CA-RRAZY schedules...  

He has to leave at 4 a.m. one day and the next day is out till 11...

and I'm gone or back at all hours, too.

That can wreak havoc to a family budget!

Stopping for fast food is just not an option for us. 

So, it means packing lots of lunches and dinners for grab and go. 

It also means that if you were to peek inside my fridge you would see a pretty strange collection of leftovers. Enter creativity, stage left.

Today's "find" was leftover pizza. It's one of our favorite frozen kinds and it was juicy and flavorful when it came out of the oven. Now? Well it's perfectly safe but it's past its pretty date - ifyouknowwhatimean.

I'm sure this would work with thin crust, too. I can see trying it with cheese and Italian sausage pizza, or how about veggie? Yum.

I warmed up the pizza in the microwave while I scrambled up a few eggs. Tossed a little butter into a warm skillet and added the eggs. Next came the pizza topping - a little of the crust came with it which was perfectly fine. I added some freshly grated nutmeg and a handful of shredded cheddar cheese. Then, just before serving I topped it with grated Parmesan.

Seriously, this is my new favorite was to make eggs!

What's yours?

I'm looking for new recipes for my new Pinterest Egg Board :)

Tasty Leftovers - Quick 3 Cheese BBQ Pork Pizza

 Quick 3 Cheese BBQ Pork Pizza

Sometimes you just need an easy and quick dinner.

In our family, pizza is always a hit.

I used to work in a commercial kitchen and pizza was my focus.  

I loved creating specialty pizzas using just a handful of proteins and some fresh veggies.

This pizza uses some leftovers from our Pulled Pork.  

When I make something from our Low, Slow and So Worth It! Series, I try to freeze some.

 I'm still super thankful for the day...

 I organized our food storage containers!

This recipe is a cheat.  I used some Pillsbury Pizza Dough.  If you have the time and desire, homemade dough would be great here.  Our family was completely satisfied having a pizza dinner in 30 minutes - less time than it would have take to call for delivery.

Three Cheese BBQ Pork Pizza
From Cooking at Cafe D
Serves 3-4

1 cup of leftover pork, shredded
1 yellow onion, sliced thinly
1 can of can (13.8 oz) refrigerated classic pizza crust
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons Romano cheese, grated
1 cup of mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded
 
Heat oven to 400°F. In a cast-iron skillet, fry the onions medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes till brown and a even a bit crispy. Lightly oil or spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray. While the onions cook, unroll dough on the sheet and press into a rectangle - form a slight rim on edge. Bake 8 minutes.

Spread the BBQ sauce just to rim of the crust; sprinkle with Romano cheese. Top with pork and onions. Top with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes until cheeses are melted and browned.

What's your favorite pizza?  

 

Tasty Leftovers - Creamy Pork Baked Taquitos

Creamy Pork Baked Taquitos
(Leave the pork out for a super Meatless Monday supper.)

I'm big on Mexican food.
It can be real Mexican food made lovingly by experienced hands.  We are blessed to have a lot of family-owned places where each dinner plate is made my the same person who took your order. The orders are taken with broken English and broken Spanish...and the food is made with love.

I'm also not above faking a little Mexican food at home.

But, when it come to taquitos, well I'm not huge on frying.  Yes, I've done some frying in the past.  Yet, I'm hesitant.  Oil takes time to warm up, you have to keep an eye on safety, and when you are done you have a choice to discard or re-use the oil.  And, I'm not thrilled with any of that, to be honest.

I'm looking for quick, tasty, inexpensive...with little cleanup.

And, I found it.

I had some leftovers from our Braised Pulled Pork from the Low, Slow and So Worth It! series.  So, I popped over to Pinterest, where I knew I had tucked away a method for baked taquitos. I was inspired by a recipe from Seeded at the Table.  I used some of my favorite spices and my family really enjoyed dinner.

Creamy Pork Baked Taquitos
from Cooking at Cafe D
Makes 5-7 large taquitos

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
10 oz. Rotel Original Tomatoes and Chilies, drained
2 c. cooked pork, shredded 
1 c. of mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 tsp. ancho powder, cumin, or smoked paprika
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1 package of 10 inch burrito sized flour tortillas
olive oil
salt

Preheat the oven to 425 and line with a Silpat, parchment paper or foil.

Mix the chicken, cheeses and spices with the drained can of tomatoes.  Taste and add additional spices or salt, as you like.

Warm 2 to 3 tortillas in the microwave for about 20 seconds to make them easier to roll.  Spread 3-4 tablespoons of the pork mixture on the lower 1/3 of a tortilla.  Roll tightly.  Place the tortilla seam down on the pan - leaving space between each.  Repeat with remaining tortillas.  

Brush tops and sides lightly with olive oil.

Bake for 14-18 minutes - until the taquitos are golden.

Bonus - You can freeze these!  Follow the same recipe, but instead of baking them, place the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes.  Then remove them and place in a freezer bag.  To reheat, take them straight from the bag and place in an oven at 425 and bake for 14 - 18 minutes till golden.

Grilled Cheese with Pulled Pork - Tasty Leftovers

Grilled Cheese with Pulled Pork

We love tasty leftovers at our house - mainly because we shake things up a bit. 

So, when we make something "Low, Slow and So Worth It", 

for example some pulled pork, 

we try to be creative so it's not the same pulled pork sandwich every day. 

 (Actually we like pulled pork so much that'd be okay, too.)

This time it's an easy one.

Basically, it's your standard grilled cheese sandwich.

Grab a heavy pan - cast iron would work great here.

Take whatever your favorite bread is.

Here ours is a Brownberry Italian sliced bread.

(Ironic, after my recent post, no?)

Butter up two sides and place them butter side down.

Place some shredded cheese on one side of the bread.

I used a 4 cheese mix because that's what I had.

My fav for grilled cheese is cheddar and provolone.

On the other side, place some of the leftover pork.

After the bottoms toast and the cheese is melty, slap em together.

This will work great for leftover corned beef and cabbage, too!

I would used swiss, and smear a little brown mustard or horseradish under the meat.

What's YOUR favorite grilled cheese sammy?

Sharing with Natasha in Oz

Cart Buster Savings - Round 2!

 Saving Money on Groceries

Have you heard about the Kroger Cart Buster Sales Event?

From Pampers to Pantene, Tropicana to Tostitos - there's so much on sale.

Wanna save some money?

Here's the deal.  (Pardon the pun.)

Friday, March 15th, click HERE to get random digital coupons for even more in-store savings.  Everyone will be shown 3 deals and you can choose the one YOU want to use.  They will be delivered via load-to-card coupons onto your Kroger shopper card.  (You must have a Kroger.com account - then sign in to get the coupons.)

What kind of deals will be offered?

Well, the deals may include products such as Crest 3D White toothpaste, Tropicana orange juice, DiGiorno pizza, Secret deodorant, Pantene and more!

So, tell us...

Which deals did YOU get?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, 

and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.