How to Make Ice - The Video - Coming Soon

I posted Yiayia's recipe on how to make ice.  It's a little difficult to follow, but, with practice, anyone can be an ice master.

We have had numerous live demonstrations for our kids.  Stressing each step.  Even asking them if they want to try making ice (after we demonstrate on one tray).

I caught RT trying to make ice making a fun activity.  I think he gets frustrated that the kids haven't figured out how to make ice and feels that an ice making video for beginners will help out tremendously.

Stay tuned.

Vegetarian Diaries - Black Beans and Spanish Rice

I have been working a lot of weekends.  It's kind of a pain because I get home late and it's dinner time.  It's hard to come home after a long boring day at work and quickly think of something to make for dinner (that everyone wants to eat).  I think my kids could live on pizza and spaghetti every night.  I prefer a little variety.

One night, I came home, looked in the pantry and decided we were having Black Beans and Spanish Rice.  I have never made this dish.  I don't have a recipe.  And I used only three ingredients from my pantry.

I have to say, I was a little nervous about the outcome.  Would it taste good?  Would everyone like the dish?  Would I have to throw it all out and make peanut butter sandwiches?

I guess this is where I say that it was a success.  (I mean, why would I write about it if it wasn't?)  In fact, the pot was completely empty!  This meal got rave reviews from my family and it's super easy to make!  I thought I would share it in case you have a crazy day and need a quick meal to prepare for dinner.


Black Beans and Spanish Rice

1 cup rice
1 8oz can Spanish Tomato Sauce
1 15oz can Black Beans, drained, rinsed

Cook rice according to directions.

Once rice is cooked, add Spanish Tomato sauce and Black Beans and mix.

Warm up and Serve.



I served this with chopped up sweet peppers and shredded cheese.  You can add chopped green onions or cilantro.  Maybe a little sour cream (or plain yogurt).

You can substitute the rice with faro.


If you make Black Beans and Spanish Rice, let me know how it turned out.

Enjoy!

The Great Kindness Challenge - Community Day

Make a Valentine for a local senior in the community (or make several and drop them off at a local senior living facility.  They would love it!

Write a Thank You card to your postal carrier, fireman, police man, etc.

Bring in canned goods to a local food pantry.

Bring clothing, blankets to a homeless shelter.

Donate some items (food, toys, old towels or bedsheets) to a local animal shelter.


Have you been spreading kindness everywhere you go?

The week is almost over!  How many Random Acts of Kindness have you performed this week?  What good deeds have you done?

The Great Kindness Challenge: Thank You Day

Write a note to someone Thanking them for a gift they sent to you or kind words that they said to you.  Maybe something reminded you of them and you wanted to Thank them for being your friend.  Get out your pen and paper and start writing!  Don't worry if it's plain paper or if you have bad handwriting.  People love to get handwritten notes!

Car Dealer

Just in for my weekly car dealer visit.  Back in November, I came here for my side view mirror.  The mechanics broke the clip on the mirror and had to get another one and have it painted.  Well, they never called me back when it came back in (what kind of service is that?)

So, here I sit, once again, waiting patiently for them to install my new side view mirror.  At least golf isn't playing on the television.  Instead, a bad soap opera.

I'm happy to say that the installation was a success!  My new side view mirror was installed with no problems and my time hanging out at the car dealer has come to an end.

Until the next problem.....

The Great Kindness Challenge - Family

Be extra kind to those you love the most today, your family.  Bring your parent a cup of juice, write a short kindness note to your parent or sibling (or spouse), and offer to do an extra chore.  Compliment your family members and catch them doing something great!

Oh, and don't forget your weekly challenges.  How many kind deeds have you performed this week?

The Great Kindness Challenge - Bring in the Sunshine!

Wear a bright colored shirt today and bring in the sunshine!  Be sure to smile at someone new today!  Oh, and remember to be kind to yourself today as well.

Have a great day!

The Great Kindness Challenge

It's The Great Kindness Challenge week.  Maybe you remember this from last year.  This is one school week that is dedicated to performing as many random acts of kindness as possible.  This is a campaign by KidsforpeaceGlobal.org .  Hundreds of school across the country are participating in the challenge, including Bella's school.

If you haven't made a New Year's Resolution, maybe this is it?  Random Acts of Kindness!   This would also be a great challenge for your girl scout troop!  I'm sure there is a fun patch that the girls can earn.

Here is a list of kind deeds that you can perform.

The Challenges:

Smile at 25 people
Slip a nice note in your friends' backpack (or kids lunch or spouse's briefcase/purse)
Compliment 5 people
Pick up 10 pieces of garbage on a walk 
Make a new friend
Tell a joke and make someone laugh
Be kind to yourself and eat a healthy snack
learn something new about your friend, co-worker, spouse
Draw a picture and give it to someone
recycle your trash
hug your friend
Cut out 10 hearts and give them to friends
Entertain someone with a  happy dance
Make a kind poster for cafeteria helpers
Say "Good Morning" to 5 people
Make a wish for a child in another country
Say "Thank You" to a crossing guard
Invite a new friend to hang out with you
Send a Thank you to your Superintendent
Offer to help your custodian
Sit with a new group of people at lunch
Read a book to a younger child
Give an Apple or a Note to your Teacher
Step up for Someone in need
Make and Display a "Kindness Matters" sign
Carry your friends books
Make a bookmark for a friend
Hold the door open for someone
Thank a bus driver or car pool driver
Write a "Thank You" on a Band Aid for the Nurse
Whisper "Thank You" to the Librarian
Help Someone up if they fall down
Learn to say "Hello" in a different language
Bring a flower to the office staff
Say "Thank You" to a volunteer
Make a friendship gift for someone new to you
Create your own kind deed


Add some kind deeds of your own.  I challenge you to perform as many kind deeds as you can this week.  Check off your kind acts as you go.

What a great way to start the week!

How many kind deeds will you do this week?

Home made Lotion

It's been a really dry winter.  Of course, as I'm posting this, the weather here is in the 57F.

I've been using this lotion a lot this winter.  Working with paper at work (wrapping presents) and the dry air has taken a toll on my hands.  I have taken to bringing lotion bars with me to work (see recipe HERE)

My lips became really chapped, so I decided to put a little of this lotion on them before bed.  I woke up and my lips were much better.  (Need a lip balm recipe?  Click HERE)

I thought I would repost this Homemade Lotion recipe so you can be prepared when the temperature drops again.  To see the original post, click HERE.

Homemade Lotion

1 cup Raw shea butter
1/2 cup almond oil
1/2 cup coconut oil

1.  Melt shea butter and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes. 
2.  Stir in almond oil and essential oils of your choosing.*
3.  Place oil mixture in freezer or outside to chill.
4.  Wait until oils start to partially solidify (see photo) then whip until a butter-like consistency is achieved. 
5.  Place in clean, glass jar and enjoy! A little goes a long way.

*Not all essential oils are skin friendly or child friendly. Please do your research before adding.
*I add lavender oil and love it.
*I use the flat ball canning jars to put my lotion in after I make a batch.  It looks pretty on the bathroom counter.


If you make it, let me know how you like it.

**Update:  I made this lotion using Cocoa Butter and found it to be less greasy.  I love using it and will continue using the cocoa butter.  Hope this helps!

The Case of the Missing Walkman

Yea, I wrote walkman in 2017.

Alex has been using a CD walkman at night to listen to music before bed.  As Nick put it, "It's 2017, don't you have an app on your phone for music?"

The CD Walkman was purchased in the '90's, I think.  Nick used it for awhile, and now Alex has been using it.

Until it went missing.......

Alex did an investigation.  Nick said he hasn't seen it since he used it back in Junior High.  Bella said she doesn't have it.  Nick said that RT probably took it.

This investigation is taking place at 9:45pm, while RT and I are watching a movie.  We are towards the end of the movie when Alex walks in and tells us about the stolen missing walkman.   RT told him to listen to music off his phone.  Alex wants the CD player because he's listening to a CD (that I'm sure can be found in it's entirety on any music app).  I think it came down to, "Who stole it?"

I went upstairs to launch an investigation look for the walkman.  If you saw the state of the plaintiffs room, you would understand why I started my search in that location.  The plaintiff Alex said he already searched his entire room for the walkman.  Of course, "searching" in our house is the equivalent of a quick scan of the room.  I started to move things and was told to stop.  He said it didn't matter.  I said, if it was that important to interrupt the last 10 minutes of a movie, it must be pretty serious.

The one suspect person of interest I interrogated questioned stated that she did not take the walkman. This same suspect person of interest, has been begging to get a CD player (Welcome back, '90's!).  I'm not sure what the excitement about CD's is all about, since (I thought) all of us listened to a music app.  This suspect person was getting quite upset and appeared guilty, but, I stopped my line of questioning so she could consult her lawyer before the tears started rolling in.

I'm not sure if my family is going retro and listening to CD's only?  What's next?  Vinyl records?  8 tracks?

I think this story also tells you about the valuables that we have in our house.  Who else can say that they have a CD Walkman and that they actually use it?  It's an antique!  So,  it very well could have been stolen!

Someone walked into our house, straight upstairs to the plaintiff's Alex's room and went through all of his dirty clothes on his floor and picked out this CD Walkman.

The plaintiff Alex decided to let it go (for now).  I will have to launch a thorough investigation when all parties are off location.

To be continued.....

Dolmades

I enjoy cooking.

Well, let me rephrase that...

I enjoy cooking when the recipients of my masterpieces are grateful.  There usually aren't any complaints when I cook.  There is one child who will complain no matter what I make....we won't mention the name here, tho.

One of my masterpieces that I enjoy making is Dolmades (or stuffed grape leaves).  I'm pretty good at making them.  I can't say I'm great or the best, because  my Yiayia earned that title.  I can't compete with her Dolmades.

Dolmades are grape leaves that are stuffed with meat and rice.  With the addition of lemon and egg, it's actually pretty tasty.

Here is the recipe:

Dolmades

Ingredients:
1 jar grapevine leaves
1 lb beef, uncooked
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1 large onion, finely chopped
salt/pepper to taste
Whites of 2 eggs

Sauce: 
2 egg yolks
2 tsp cornstarch
1 lemon, juiced
2 beef bouillon cubes

Mix together all ingredients (except grape leaves).  (see Grape Leaf Preparation)

Grape Leaf Preparation:

Prepare grape leaves.  Remove from jar, unroll and separate.  Rinse with water to remove the brine.  Drop leaves in pot of boiling water for two minutes.  If using fresh grape leaves, they must be boiled for a couple of minutes.

Remove leaves from boiling water, drain and remove stems from leaves.  Place grape leaf with shiny side down.

Place a teaspoonful of filling about 1 inch from stem end of leaf.  Fold one side in, then the other and continue rolling to end.  The roll will be about 1 1/2" -2" long, depending on size of leaf.  Stuffed grape leaves should fit snugly together in pan. When bottom layer is complete, start a second layer on top.  Pace a heavy, heat resistant plate on top of do lathes to prevent unrolling during cooking.

Now to prepare a liquid to put over grape leaves as the cook.  Juice of one lemon, 2 beef bouillon cubes, dissolved in one cup hot water.

Place heat resistant plate over grape leaves to hold them down as they cook.  Pour enough boiling water to cover the plate.    Cover the pan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer and allow them to cook slowly for 45 minutes.

Remove from heat.  Hold a plate tightly against the leaves to pour excess liquid into a saucepan.  Dissolve 2 tsp cornstarch in 1/4 cup cold water and add to liquid in saucepan.  Whisk and bring to a boil.  Beat the egg yolks, stirring constantly.  Add the thickened liquid very gradually to the yolks.  Stir well.

To serve, place the stuffed grape leaves on a platter and spoon the sauce over them.  These may be frozen and reheated.



Let me know if you try making Dolmades.  I would love to hear how they come out!

Enjoy!

*Look for the Vegetarian version - coming soon!

School's back in session

My kids just had a three and a half day weekend.  And, yes, they just went back last Monday.

When they start arguing with each other, you know it's time for them to be in school.  Yesterday morning, it was Nick and Bella.  I'm not sure what they were arguing about, because once it starts, I tune out and run and hide walk away.

I took Bella out to run some errands. Another big mistake.  She started complaining.  I told her I didn't want to hear it and continued with my errands.  I probably could have done them in half the time on my own (lesson learned).

We got back home and Bella and Alex got into it.  Again, I honestly don't know what it was about because  I had other things to do around the house.

Of course, they are in school today and I have to work, so, I don't get to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Bored?

It's funny how my kids will congregate in the kitchen.  Sometimes they look in need of something to do (in other words, bored).  I have gotten into the habit of asking, "Looking for something to do?"  If they say, "yes," I rattle off some chores that need to be completed.

Today, as both boys were hanging in the kitchen while I was preparing dinner, I asked that ever loved question, "Looking for something to do?"

Their immediate response was, "No."  They then disappeared from the kitchen.

I think they are on to me...

Clean up and clear out

I like to think of January as a big time to clean up, organize and clear out the clutter.  These first couple of weeks I've been going through various cabinets and closets and getting rid of things we don't need anymore.  Most things can be donated or recycled.  It's great with everyone out of the house.  I don't have "helpers," trying to talk me into keeping everything.

So far, I have attacked the kitchen cabinets and pantry, the bathroom cabinets and the linen closet.  Looking forward to moving throughout the rest of the house.

Have you done any decluttering this month?  Find any odd items while decluttering?

I took a little break (in case you didn't notice).

It got a little crazy around here.  Working retail everyday, visiting my mom, running kids around and trying to keep up with things at home.

I survived the holidays.  I have to say it was a little too crazy for me this year.  The kids had a later break, which I'm glad, because I got to hang around them for most of the time.  It was just one day too long and I was ready to drive them back to school on Sunday.

It might take me a bit to get back to my usual three day a week posts, but, I'm sure I will get there.  Be patient.

And, they're off!

Winter break is finally over.

The kids (well, two of them) went back today.  It's probably a good thing.  Those two got into a fight last night and I almost dropped them off at school a little early.

I don't have to work today and am planning on enjoying some peace and quiet.