I know  I haven't posted in like forever, but maybe now that we have wi-fi and I see how much easier this is, that will change : )  Just wanted to add some pic's of Bre's sweet sixteen b-day.  The big day was Tuesday, but we are really celebrating Sat.  We are taking a car load (and more) of girls to Hot Wheels in McMinn for skating.  Then back home for pizza, cake and ice cream : )

 

Here is Bre with Eli and Corgi, Marti, opening gifts

 

 

Here they again, doesn't she looked thrilled?

 

Here she is with the twins.

 

This is her baby pic, so happy!

 

Now at 16, so  serious ; p

 

 

I will try to be a bit better at this now and get some photo's from skating put up.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Pineapple party

Today is my twins 8th birthday, officially at 10:34 and 10:36 respectfully.  However, seeing as how today is also when Memorial day is celebrated, we had their party on Saturday.  At Elysha's request it was a Mexican Fiesta, chihuahua style ( we have no idea what that means either), and whatever Ely wants, Eli is fine with : )  Elysha also picked the menu.  One thing she was adamant about was grilled pineapple.  Thank goodness I found some on sale, and it went smashing with the teriyaki chicken satay I made - awesome!  I discovered not everyone has a pineapple core/slicer or even seen one.  So here is a few picks on how it is done:



This is the tool and what the empty shell w/ the core looks like.



It slices the pineapple in  one long continuous curly - cue as you twist the slicer.



Sorry I couldn't get this to rotate, but this is how it looks as your pulling it out.



I hated to toss the empty shells, so made them into table centerpieces : )  Next day they went into the compost.

The party was a smashing success and everyone had a good time, as was told by all the shrieking from the pool!  Good food, good friends, good times.  What else is there?
Blessings, Beth Ann

Lo-Carb Peanut Butter Cup Pie

OK, I received a few request for this recipe and after tasting it, I know they won't be disappointed!  This was awarded 5 out of 5 stars by my fam!

Peanut Butter Cup Pie

1 pkg. (4 servings) sugar - free chocolate pudding mix
2 TBS. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup water
3/4 cup natural peanut butter, creamy
1 simple Almond Crust (recipe to follow)

In a large bowl, combine the pudding mix and cocoa powder.  Pour in the heavy cream and water, and beat with an electric mixer to combine well (I just used my hand and a fork).  Then beat in the peanut butter until everything well combined.  Pour mixture into cooled crust, scraping it all out of the bowl with a rubber scarper.  Spread evenly in crust, and chill.

Serves 8   (This is REALLY thick.  You may want to cut into 16ths. like a cheese cake)




Simple Almond Crust

1 1/2 cups ground almonds or almond meal
1/4 cup vanilla whey protein powder (I only had natural, so added 1/3cup splenda)
1/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350

Combine almonds and whey protein powder, add butter and mix well.  Turn out into a pie plate you've sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, and press firmly and evenly into place, building up around sides.  Bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until edges are starting to brown lightly.  Remove from oven and cool.

Let it cool completely before filling with pie mixture.

I find almond meal in the healthy food section of my local Krogers.  If using plain almonds, just process in your food processor with the s blade until it forms a cornmeal consistency.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!  Blessings, Beth Ann

Marinated Veggie Salad

Today was shopping day, and I think I did good.  I only spent $115 and I was proud of what was in my cart.  I do go to more than one store though, and I do rely on mark-down items to help me meet my budget.  And if it weren't for mark-down meat I don't know if we could afford to eat lo-carb.  Those are the sad facts and I hope no one reading this looks down on reduced food items.  They are still fresh and delish if used right away or if frozen.  I have NEVER had a bad experience and I buy from several stores in two different locations.  I find if I go shopping around 8:30 - 9 a.m., that is my best time for finding the biggest reduced selection.  Believe it or not, but Wal- Mart participates and has excellent meat  that is mark down for quick sale.  They also reduce their bakery items, but I recommend walking right past those!  LOL  Kroger is good for mark down produce and check out local stores for dent/and no longer carrying no-perishables, as well as some dairy.  I also want to thank my egg lady.  Her farm fresh eggs are to die for.  She literally feeds her hens better than her fam!  LOL  They are local, organic, free-range, and cheaper than store brand!  I think I am getting the handle on eating this fresh/healthy way and I like how I feel.  I give all the glory to God for taking care of my family and me : )

I made this yummy salad a couple days ago to use up produce before shopping day.  It's flavor increases with marinating, but the veggies can get soggy.  Let sit 24 hours but eat within 3 days.

Italian Marinade Fresh Veggie Salad

1/2 head cauliflower
1 bunch broccoli (usually 2 heads bound together)
1/2 bell pepper, diced
1/4 red onion sliced in half rings
1 Roma tomato, diced
1 16oz. bottle Italian salad dressing or make own ( I had a bottle of Kraft Roasted Red Pepper and Parmesan to us up)

Cut the cauliflower and broccoli into smaller size pieces and put in large container that has a lid.  Add the rest of the ingredients and cover with lid.  Shake well to combine.  Let sit in fridge overnight. 

Serves 6

Remember to make this your own by using what you have on had or what you enjoy.  I had some baby bella to use up, so I quartered them and tossed them in : ) Delish!


Blessings, Beth Ann

lo-carb cooking = yummy

We have been doing our best to eat mainly lo=carb food, no   white flour, sugar, or high glycymic veggies.  You get the pic.  As you can imagine that means cooking most things from scratch, which is right up my alley.   I have found some great recipes and ideas and am thrilled when they taste as good as they look - LOL

Two nights ago it was very warm outside so we took our seafood chowed out onto the deck and enjoyed our alfresco' dinner with nice cold lo-carb beer.  Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did:

Seafood Chowder

1/2 head cauliflower, shredded in the food processor
1 cup shredded cheddar
8 oz. crab meat (real if your staying lo=carb)or firm fish, I used cod and it was great!
16 oz. med. = small shrimp, cooked and cleaned
1 clove garlic
1/2 red bell pepper, minced
3 cups chicken stock
1 cup natural almond milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup dixi lo=carb instant potato flakes
1/4 cup green onions, including green part = sliced
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce or old bay seasoning (optional)

Combine the cauliflower, garlic, bell pepper,  salt, pepper, old bay if using and broth in slow cooker.  Cover and set to low, and let it cook 4 hours.

Turn the slow cooker to high and stir in the almond milk and cream.  Re=cover and let it cook for another 30 minutes. 

Stir in shrimp and crab, cheese and potato flakes.  Re-cover and cook another 10 - 15 minutes.  Stir in green onions.  Add hot sauce to individual bowls as desired : )

Serves 4

This is easy to double, which we have to do at our house.

For this meal we drank Millers light chiller w/lime.  It was fine, but I think I still prefer reg. old miller light.

Hospitality is a virtue and I am blessed to be able to share it with others, Beth Ann

Easy Peasy Lo=Carb Shrimp Alfredo

Shopping day today, joy.  Everything worked out fine food wise.  I always sweat having enough money to get through to the next week and getting everything on my list.  I just want to feel like I am being a good steward of our money for food and buying good food - not junk.  Making that coincide with staying on budget isn't as easy as it used to be.  People who tell you that healthy food is just as affordable as junk food are in denial, and I am not talking Egypt!  I am blessed to be able to make many healthy items from scratch (such as crackers and tortillas, lo-carb of course) to lower our cost and have found a local source for the BEST farm eggs ever!  Whew, got that off my chest.  It's pay/shopping day, thanks for letting me vent - LOL

Here is the recipe I mentioned last night.  I made this for a quick and delicious lunch yesterday.  It is quit flexible too.

Easy Peasy Lo-Carb Shrimp Alfredo

1 lb. bag frozen broccoli, steamed and drained
3 TBS. real butter
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cups small frozen shrimp, cooked and shelled
1/4 cup real cream
8 oz. grated Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in heavy skillet and stir in garlic.  Add broccoli and shrimp and sir to coat with garlic butter.  Stir in cream and Parmesan cheese.  Heat to a simmer and serve.

Serves 4

You can add heat to this as you please, red pepper flakes, curry, anything you please!

You can sub stir=fry veg. if you like or serve over 'cauli=rice'.  See, flexible!


Wow, blogger is working much better now!  You will be hearing more from me soon.
Blessings, Beth Ann

Crafty me: or man fabric glue is stickkkkk -yyy!

Greetings.  First I want to address the fact that I haven't blogged much this year.  There are some obvious personal reasons, but there is also the fact that I was getting nowhere fast with the new blogger interface.  I have (somehow) managed to return my blog to it's old interface, but like FB and the dreaded "timeline", blogger is inferring I will not have a choice in the not to distant future!

Second, I am sorely lacking behind in posting crafts and recipes.  I will take care of the first tonight, but be warned that these photo's aren't great.



Here is the top of the quilt I am redoing for Elle.



This is the bag and cell case I made for my oldest daughter.  I already made the hat and got that to her on one our trips up north.

This is a blurry pic of  the hat and cell case to go to my sis, I still need to make the matching bag (people seem to love these sets).  This will match her wolf fleece she wears as a coat.

Here is the 'diva' hat I made for Bre.  I love how light weight the yarn is.

Here is the matching case for Bre.  She now wants me to add a long strap to it, then she can sling it messenger bag style over her head and either carry her phone or MP3 in it.

Last but not least, this is the sweat of Eli's that  I remade into a pillow.  I did something similar with the twins bumper pads from their cribs when they out grew them.  It's nice to keep reminders around of when they were little.  Sigh, can't believe they will be 8 in 3 weeks!

There you have it,  a quick look at what is getting finished.  Now if you could just see what isn't done yet or as we crafters call them UFO's, un-finished objects, that list is muchhhhh longer!  LOL  I am working on more bag sets, more with diva yarn, several cross stitch, and a redone quilt for Eli.  I am real excited about a Halloween bag I am making with counted cross stitch and an old Halloween vest, love to reuse things around the house!  Can't wait to show you the finished item.

Now that this working again I hope to  have more for you soon.  Maybe the recipe for easy peasy lo=carb shrimp Alfredo that I had for lunch today?  Yummy!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Hot Stuff Hamburger Casserole

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
10 oz. box frozen spinach, thawed and water squeezed out
8 oz. block cream cheese, softened
1 can rotel ( I used home made from my tomatoed and peppers in last years garden)
Shredded cheddar cheese


Pre heat oven to 350

Brown the burger and onion in large skillet.  Drain grease.

Add the spinach to the meat and cook a few more minutes.  Stir in the drained tomatoes and cream cheese.

Spray a 2 = quart casserole sidh qith nonstick spray .
Dump meat mixture in and top with shredded cheese.  Bake 20 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings


Blessings, Beth Ann

Sea Shell City

Once again I am still battling Blogger and can not get my pic's to load in the order I want.  So bear with me as I share these pic's of us taking the kids to a well known northern MI spot under the bridge.

This is my big bro Jim, have no idea who his friend is : )  I hadn't seen him in 14 years before the funeral.  It was very special to get to see him again.



This is my sis, Bonnie, with B and Captain Morgan?



This is my big guy, our wed. anny is in two days and it will be 9 years.

They have a pirate ship outside to play on, here our my little buccaneers, that is my grandson Jack on the end with the cool hat : )

You know you have arrived!

Jack, Eli and Ely in front of the worlds largest clam!.  Now that is entertainment.

Here is my lovely Bre, humoring me, with a new friend.

Not sure the next time we will make it up north but many memories were made.  In many ways it was an emotional catharsis's and a time of reform.

:As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." ~ Psalm 103:12

"Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit." ~ Romans 5:5

Blessings, Beth Ann

MI and back, again



Ok, so blogger has gone postal on me and for the life of me I can't figure out how to make it do what I want it to do : ( But I did want to share some pic's from MI whenwe were up for my mothers funeral.



One of her favorite places was in Indian River (where she and my grandfather ran some cabins/motorcourt), call the Cross in the Woods.




Ok, so blogger has gone postal on me and for the life of me I can't figure out how to make it do what I want it to do : ( But I did want to share some pic's from MI when we were up for my mothers funeral.



One of her favorite places was in Indian River (where she and my grandfather ran some cabins/motorcourt), call the Cross in the Woods.




Ok, so blogger has gone postal on me and for the life of me I can't figure out how to make it do what I want it to do : ( But I did want to share some pic's from MI when we were up for my mothers funeral.



One of her favorite places was in Indian River (where she and my grandfather ran some cabins/motorcourt), call the Cross in the Woods.







Ok, so blogger has gone postal on me and for the life of me I can't figure out how to make it do what I want it to do : ( But I did want to share some pic's from MI when we were up for my mothers funeral.



One of her favorite places was in Indian River (where she and my grandfather ran some cabins/motorcourt), call the Cross in the Woods.








Here is Bre next to the sign for the Holy Stairs, which are marble.  You may walk up up to the cross, but not on the holy stairs.







The cross stands 55ft. tall and is made of a solid redwood tree.




Here is the explanation of the Holy Stairs, but none in our group wanted to go up on our knees.



The crucifix is made of bronze/

Thanks for letting me share.  Blessings, Beth Ann





Ok, so blogger has gone postal on me and for the life of me I can't figure out how to make it do what I want it to do : (  But I did want to share some pic's from MI when we were up for my mothers funeral. 
One of her favorite places was in Indian River (where she and my grandfather ran some cabins/motorcourt), call the Cross in the Woods. 







crafty

Been a while since I last blogged but nothing exciting going on here.  After our rush trip to MI and back, life has been blessedly calm.  We had a few scary storms, but the calm after is sunny and 80 degree weather for almost the last two weeks!  It is wonderful but makes me fearful of the heat summer will bring.  We bought a new pool, slightly smaller than our last but and port in a storm or should I say heat wave?    I have been plugging away at many different hand crafts and trying to finish some outstanding ones.  Here is just a couple I completed:

This is a small Halloween novelty, stuffed like some Christmas ones I made about ten years ago.  I couldn't get this pic to rotate to save my life, but you get the idea.

Here is a closer shot of the web and as you can see I used gold metallic thread to accent the piece.  As Bre said, 'wicked cool' ; )

I finished this hat for my oldest daughter and will make her a matching bag to go with.  She picked out this yard while we were up there (who would have thought that Gaylord would get a Hobby Lobby?) and now she has to come down here to get them : )  The plan is for her to come on their spring Break up there, around the first of April, I can't wait!

I also have a bag to sew up, it goes with a hat for Bre's best friend.  I made it for Her b-day, but we were in MI at the time and I only had the hat finished.  It is The Harry Potter motif again, Griffindor House.  I had made her the scarf for her last b-day.  Then I just finished another hat and am starting the matching bag, for yet another friend of Bre's (man that girl has friends!).  As for cross - stitch: I have a quilt sampler 3/4 done,  Working on an x-large Christmas sampler and starting another Halloween novelty, not to mention two book bags I need to finish personalizing ~ geesh!  That list doesn't even include the crocheted blanket I work on at night when I need to un=stress and use up my leftover yarn  ends.  LOL   

Blessings, Beth Ann

Feb., Fri., and Food

February got off with a bang and an emergency  trip up to Michigan for some family dealings.  A little over a week latter we are back and I am trying to get back on schedule.    I don't care if I ever eat fast - food or in a restaurant again any time soon!  I am the best cook I know and I missed my kitchen, my domain if you will.  So I worked up some new menu's, hit the stores and am back cooking.  Today I did double duty and cooked a quick gourmet lunch (3 kid thumbs up) and a nice change on stir-fry for dinner.  It was mentioned that I am always bragging on my food, but short on recipes.  I am going to try and remedy that, starting now with these two awesome meals:

Apple, Cheese and Arugula Panini

8 slices whole grain bread
2 TBS. real butter
1/2lb. taleggio cheese (or other favorite) sliced
1 apple cored and thinly sliced
1 cup baby arugula

Heat griddle or large skillet over med. heat.  Use half the butter and cover 1 side of 4 slices of bread and lay butter side down on griddle.  Layer each slice with cheese slices, apples and arugula.  Butter remaining bread slices with last of butter and top off sandwiches with butter side up.   Cook on both sides until golden and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

Serves 4





Pork and Brussels Sprouts Sir - Fry

2 Tbs. real butter and pan spray
1 lb. boneless thick cut pork chops, cut into thin slices
1 lb. Brussels sprouts, halved
4 green onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 TBS. brown sugar

Give a large skillet or wok a good coating of pan spray and heat over med. heat.  Add pork and brown for about 5 minutes and remove to a plate.  Toss the butter into the pan and add Brussels sprouts (I steam mine for 5 minutes first to help soften them) and cook about 5 - 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add garlic and onion, cook another minute.  Add soy sauce, brown sugar and 1/4 cup water; cook until sauce is slightly thickened.  Return pork to pan and toss to coat.  Heat together another minute.  Serve over your favorite rice and add crushed red pepper flakes for a kick!

Serves 4

These were great and I hope you enjoy, blessings; Beth Ann

It was a Gr-sk8- t day!

January is a very busy birthday month for us.  Between family and friends we acknowledge around a dozen birthdays.  K and I have jokingly  told the kids that starting this year we are going to only do one group birthday on an ambiguous day, like March 1st., and celebrate all six of our immediate b-days together then.  We will also do gifts on a six year rotation.  Since Z already had his b-day this year  he will have to wait another 6 years to get gifts.  Next year will be B's turn and so forth - LOL  The kids didn't appreciate this attempt at humor on our part : )

Anyway, this past Saturday we took all 4 kids, Z's girlfriend and best friend skating to celebrate Z's and C's birthdays; which are a week apart.  We only go skating about 4 times a year but the kids dig it, if we did it more they probably wouldn't and it is still affordable (especially w/the Volvo).  Here is a few pic's of the happy kids : )

Eli is trying to tell us the music is LOUD!

Ely is dreaming of being a skating disco queen!

Zach showing us how much he loves his sister, whom looks deeply concerned : )

The birthday couple, Zach and Colleen, whom have just turned 19.

Bre, thinking she is the only sane person in her family!  LOL

Dear hubby's b-day was last week as well.  We usually celebrate by attending the Nashville RV show and a trip to camping world with dinner after at Bob Evans.  However this year the RV show is the second week of Feb., so we are waiting until then to celebrate.  Since we only head over that way once a year, it is worth the wait : )

My family is my biggest blessing and I thank God for them, the good and the bad, every day.  And now there is a rumor that my oldest daughter an my grandson's are coming for a visit soon!  I feel unworthy of all this happiness.  Thank you Lord, in your son's name, AMEN.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Dog day

We have many pets and they do many funny things.  Sometimes I just feel the need to share.  This is one of those times : )  We have a green bench in our dinning room that the animals love to lay on while I'm at the computer, aka/ to busy to pet them.  It pour yesterday, this how two of them spent their morning. . .

My new preloved doxie, Smokey, and our wacky tuxedo tom, Chester.

Chester sleeps like this every chance he gets, and everywhere he can.

Look, even Smokey can't believe that crazy cat doesn't fall off!  LOL

Well it is raining again, wonder what the animals are up to today?

Blessings, Beth Ann

Amazing Asian Pepper Steak for the slow cooker

Happy New Year all!  Hope it is off to a great start ; )  I have made a couple changes to my format to make reading easier, I hope - LOL  Believe it or not I don't read my own blog and didn't know there were issues with pulling up my full story page until yesterday when a friend mentioned it over coffee.  So, hope this helps.  Now on to the recipe, I had a FB friend request this last week.


Amazing Asian Pepper Steak for the slow cooker

2 lb. beef round steak
3 stop=light peppers (red, yellow,green)
2 onions, halved and sliced
1 can rotel tomatoes
2 tsp. minced garlic
10 oz. can beef broth
1/4 c. tamari or light soy sauce
2 Tbs. rice  wine vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
2 1/2 Tbs. cornstarch
8 oz. can bamboo shoots, drained

                   Cut round steak into serving size pieces or strips and place in sprayed large slow cooker.  Top with bell peppers, onions. tomatoes and garlic.

Wisk beef broth, soy sauce, vinegar, cornstarch and sugar in bowl and pour over steak and vegetables.  Sprinkly bamboo shoots over the top.

 Cover and cook on High for  4 hours or on low  for 7 hours.  Serve over your favorite rice!

                              Serves 6 - 8


This was great and I sprinkled a little crushed red pepper flakes over the top - yummy!  I hope you enjoy adding some spice to your night - LOL

Blessings, Beth Ann