MY HARD WORKING MAN!

We're finally getting a new porch ceiling! Our roof leaked during the hurricanes of 2004 and the drywall has been slowly falling down ever since! Our roof was replaced 2 years ago, but Gene just never found the time to tackle the ceiling....until now! We went to Home Depot Friday night and ordered the wood he is going to put up. That was another reason it has taken so long, he could never decide what he wanted to put up. He knew he didn't want drywall up again, and finally decided on tongue and groove cedar. We are planning on a working vacation in July, so he decided to go ahead and get a head start on it!

Getting started. Cutting through the drywall to tear it down.

It's coming down!

He's smiling! I think he's happy it's coming down too!

It's all down. What a mess! Now we have to get rid of all these drywall pieces! My job was picking up the pieces and carrying them to one end of the porch and holding the dust pan!

Now, if we can just keep going at it, we might not have to have a working vacation after all!

The Perfect Antidote for a Rainy Afternoon!

What better way to spend a rainy afternoon than baking a batch of Double Chocolate Chip Cookies and brewing a pot of French Vanilla Coffee!

Annie's Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

This is the recipe that Lydia requested. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it until it was half gone!

Annie's Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and diced

8 ounces raspberries, halved

16 ounces, strawberries, diced

2 tbsp white sugar

1 tbsp brown sugar

3 tbsp fruit preserves, any flavor (orange would be best)

In a large bowl thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, sugars and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

10 (10 inch) flour tortillas

1/2 stick butter or margarine, melted

1 1/2-2 cups sugar mixed with 2 tsp cinnamon

Spread melted butter onto tortilla with pastry brush and sprinkle with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Lay next tortilla on top of the one you just topped with butter and sugar and repeat. When all tortillas are covered cut the stack into wedges. I make 8 wedges. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

We had Fathers Day dinner at our house today. The menu was Chicken Fajita's, Chicken Enchilladas, Yellow Rice, a delicious salad that Vicki made, Fruit Salad made by Grandma and Fruit Salsa and home made Cinnamon Chips.

This is the Fathers that were there. Mr. G and Joey holding Taylor are sitting down. Standing is Dad, Josh, Ralph with Madison, and Gene

Gene with the Banana Pudding that I made.

Joey with the Key Lime Pie that Kim brought.

And Ralph getting ready to attack the Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake that Lydia made. Very, very delicious!! This is my new favorite chocolate cake.

We all had way too much to eat, and I think a good time was had by all!

A perfect way to honor the Dad's in our lives!

New Recipe

Angela had asked me to post some good recipes from my new chicken cookbook. This recipe isn't from that book, it's from the Kraft Food and Family Magazine, but we thought it was a good one. Amanda made it for dinner tonight and it was delicious! I never thought to take a picture of it before we ate it! Here is the recipe.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken in Cream Sauce

2 cups Minute Brown Rice, uncooked (or use white rice)

1 can (14oz) fat free chicken broth (or make your own using bullion)

6 Ritz Crackers, finely crushed

2 tbsp. 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1lb)

2 tsp. vegetable oil

1/3 cup Philadelphia Chive & Onion Light Cream Cheese Spread

3/4 lb (1 bunch) steamed asparagus spears

Cook rice as directed on package, using 1 1/4 cups of the broth and 1/2 cup water. (or use white rice.)

Meanwhile, mix cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese on plate. Rinse chicken with cold water, shake off excess water. Dip chicken in cracker mixture, turning to coat.

Heat oil in lare nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken, cook 5-6 minutes on each side or until chicken is golden brown and cooked throught. Place chicken on serving plate. Set aside, keep warm. Add remaining 1/2 cup broth and cream cheese spread to same skillet.. Cook on medium heat until mixture just comes to boil, stirring constantly. Simmer 3 minutes or until sauce thickens. Spoon sauce over chicken. Serve rice and asparagus with chicken.

Makes 4 servings.

420 calories per serving

Quick and very yummy!

A Little Shopping Trip

There's not much of anything going on around here so thought I would show you some of my little bargains I found this past weekend. I don't get to go shopping very often, so look forward to it when I do get to go.
The pictures got out of order when I downloaded them.
Found these sandals for Emily.

Bath and Body Works was having a sale on their soaps so I stocked up on them. And, if you spent $20, I had a coupon for $10 off, so I couldn't pass that up. The soaps were $20, and,

these are the things I got with the $10 coupon, so got them for free!

Found a sideways rosebush for $6 so decided to try growning roses again. I had 25 bushes at one time, but lost them all! So if this one doesn't make it, its no big loss!

A cookbook on the clearance rack I couldn't pass up. Especially since we eat a lot of chicken.

Couldn't pass this up either. Had never seen a cookbook for Splenda. And its all desserts!

A pair of Sketcher work shoes for Amanda.

I loved this recipe book, also on the clearance rack. Now I have to sit down and copy my favorite recipes into this book. It is made by Dayspring, and is really neat!

Woops, I think Emily's sandals showed up twice! Sorry, Emily, there is only one pair!

New Blog Layout!

OK, Emily, you inspired me to change my blog! I picked out a picture and Amanda made the header for me. She also changed my background color, but it was a bit lighter than I wanted so I finally was able to figure out how to change the colors and fonts myself! I think Amanda did a good job! She just would rather do it herself than show me how as it must take too long to teach an old dog!

The Dog Days of Summer are Here!

Looks like Summer is here to stay! This is what greeted me as I came home from work and looked out the kitchen window! Don't you just love the Farmer's Tan?

I will probably get killed when he sees this!