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