Back to work

First day on the new job. It was a typical Monday and not a good start to a new job. First, I made it there just in time. Every light I hit was red, which is pretty sad because there are only 7 traffic lights in the town we live in. I go through 5 out of the 7 on my way to work and this morning they all turned red just as I got to them. LOL Then the monitor to my new computer was not ordered. So, my first day on the job consisted of filling out new employee paperwork, watching a sexual harrassment video, cleaning and organizing. At least I have a job and I got paid for it. But it was still boring. Tomorrow will be better. My monitor will be in and I can actually do the work they are paying me to do. :)

Yep I know, I'm falling behind on my recipe blogging. I've made several really good recipes and one not so good one. I promise I'll post the good ones this week along with some pictures.

Stuffed Mexi-Peppers

Things have been pretty busy lately. I've picked up extra work, the oldest is moving back home while she goes back to college, and it's back to school time for the younger ones. So, I haven't posted much of anything. I also figured it's past time to post a new recipe. I mean afterall that's what I had planned to do with this blog.

So here's one of our favorite dinners. We normally only have it in the summertime when we can grow our own peppers and know that they aren't covered in pesticides. I know I can buy organic at the grocery but for as many peppers as these guys can put down, I'd spend a small fortune. Winter meals using peppers consist of recipes that I can add other ingredients to, like stir fry or fajitas. So this is a summertime treat.

This is a pretty big recipe but my crew loves to eat these and will have them the next day for lunch, after school or again for dinner. You can scale this down to whatever size works for your family

Stuffed Bells in the oven

Had some Pablanos so I used them too

Stuffed Mexi-Peppers

10-12 Medium to large Bell peppers (any color) or Pablanos
2 lb ground beef or turkey or half meat and half black beans
2 cups salsa
1 box spanish rice mix
2 cups fresh or frozen corn (optional)
1 quart jar or large can of tomato sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Wash, and remove tops and core of peppers. Mix together meat, salsa, rice mix, and corn. Stuff into peppers. Place peppers in bakin dish and cover with tomato sauce. You can use more salsa in place of the tomato sauce or mix 50/50. Bake until meat is cooked through about 45 minutes - 1 hour. Sprinkle with cheese if desired, place back in oven until melted.

You can pretty much add anything you want. Sometimes I cut the meat in half and add black beans or diced green chiles. It's really good with some mexican cornbread on the side or a salad.

What ingredients do you use in your stuffed pepper recipes?

Enjoy,
Missy

Summer fun on the water

Canyone Lake,
http://www.wildtexas.com/parks/canyon.php

My earliest memories of being on the water were when I was around 9 or 10. We lived in San Antonio and in the summer would camp and go water skiing at Canyon Lake. I remember how much fun we would have swimming, camping, and of course being out on the boat. The summer of 1981 I moved back to Northern Ky. We didn't water ski anymore but we lived right next to the pool and the Ohio river. Every waking moment was spent with my friends swimming at the pool or running around on the shores of the river having mud fights and campfires. I met my very best friend when we lived there and to this day she is still my best friend. Those were the best summers of my life.

As I got older the opportunities to hang by the pool or on the lake have become fewer and fewer, now time spent on the water is limited to a week's vacation at the beach or some place with a pool. So, when I get the chance I jump on it. This week I've had two of those chances. Saturday I went kayaking for the first time. If you've never been, I highly recommend it. I can totally see myself getting addicted to kayaking. It's just so peaceful to glide across the water with little effort. You can push the world out of your head and focus on nothing but the sound of the water, birds in the nearby trees and the occasional dragonfly that buzzes by you. That experience alone was enough to pump me up for the week but on Monday I was invited to come along on a tubing/campout with my daughter's Young Women's youth group.

Some friends of ours offered to let them camp on their property which is bordered by a small river that is popular for canoeing and tubing. Yesterday, there were too many canoers out. So, we ended up at their lake. It is a beautiful place. Completely private and surrounded by trees, we had the run of the place. We floated around on rafts, swam, and watched the girls have mudball fights. It was like being transported back in time and I was 14 again. I love those rare days when everything is perfect and dreamlike. Time almost stands still and you wish the day would never end. This was definitely one of those days.

While I've often wish I could go back to the perfect carefree fun filled days of my youth, the adult world pulls me back in and reminds me that that's no longer an option. There's a house to take care of, bills to pay, errands to run and a family that needs me. Even though I can't go back, the mom in me is happy that I can provide opportunities for my children to have memories that they can happily look back upon.  And that my friends is perfect enough for me.

Hugs,
Missy  

Brush your teeth

I don't get it. I love to brush my teeth. I love going to the dentist and getting my teeth cleaned. But my children, now that's another story. They are teenagers and I still have to remind them to brush their teeth. Even then, they don't always do it. You would think after being told every morning and every night for most of their lives that they would get it. Nope, not mine. Apparently, summer vacation also means you don't have to brush your teeth. How do I know they haven't been brushing their teeth? I took the toothpaste out of their bathroom almost a week ago.

This morning I asked them when they had brushed their teeth last, each of them told me, "Mom, we brush our teeth every day." To which I replied, "How are you brushing your teeth without toothpaste." My daughter had a tube of her own hidden from her brothers. So she was off the hook. But both of the boys just stared at me with that deer in the headlights look, trying to figure out how they were going to explain their way out of this one. Which of course prompted the reply from the oldest, "We've just been brushing them with water." To which the youngest son nods his head and replies, "Yeah, with water." I can see in his eyes, that at that moment his older brother has just reached another level of genius. Exhausted at the thought of the debate that was about to ensue, I went into my bathroom and retrieved the confiscated tube of toothpaste.

Let's get this straight my children are no dummies. I can guarantee that if I promised to give them each $10 a month from today and never said another word about it, on August 21st each of them would approach me requesting their $10. My oldest son would be the first to ask. (He's our banker, barterer, and self appointed attorney for his siblings.) Knowing him as soon as he woke up that morning he would mention it or even give me a reminder the night before. He is also my worst tooth brushing offender.

The thing that puzzles me the most is how does this happen? Why is it the most basic of responsibilities they forget? But every non-important thing is forever burned in their brains. When they grow up, will I have to call them every morning and evening to remind them to brush their teeth and make sure they are brushing the teeth of my grandchildren? What woman will want to marry either of my boys if they have yuck mouth? In my mind, I see family photos of my toothless boys, with their toothless wives and toothless children. You know the photos of random people that get passed around in joke emails, those old Olan Mills family pics with everyone wearing matching primary colored geometric patterned sweaters, acid washed jeans, big hair and yes, the mullet.

I have to do something. I know! I'll revive the "star" chart. I'll give them each a star sticker every time they brush their teeth. LOL Or maybe that clicker used to train dogs, or a bell perhaps. Just like Pavlov's dogs. Only when they hear a bell it will cause them to brush their teeth.

An old pic of the genius (left) and his minion

Well, I guess in the end it will all work out. Somehow they must be doing OK, beacause the dentist always says, "No cavities." :)

Mmmmm, granola

Lately, I've been craving granola. Sweet, slightly salty, crunchy goodness atop a mound of yogurt and topped with fresh sweet berries. Yum!
This is one of my all time favorite breakfasts. Since we recently moved, I haven't quite found everything yet. One of those things happens to be my recipes including my granola recipe. So, I hit the web and found a great recipe at Homesick Texan. If you like granola you have to try Uncle Austin's Granola recipe posted on her site. It's delicious and makes a ton! I made two different batches one with craisins and one without. Both had cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and almonds.

Thursday, I canned peaches and last night I discovered a great new snack. Inspired by apple crisp, I took some of the granola and sprinkled it on a few peaches. It was amazingly tasty. Home canned peaches are nothing like store bought canned peaches, but if that's all you've got, give it a try. Fresh peaches would probably taste good too.

Got a favorite granola recipe? How do you like to eat your granola? Please share. :)

I've got a blog. So, what do I do now?

Well, hmmm... I've been wanting to blog for some time now, but what do I blog about now that I've got one.
Guess the best way to start is a little about me. I live in the beautiful midwest, have a great husband and four kids (3 biological and 1 from my husband's first marraige), 21, 16, 15, just turned 14. We just moved into our 100 year old cottage style farmhouse that we completely gutted and remodeled (before and after pics will be added later). I'm currently unemployed which turned out to be a blessing as we finished up the house and moved. My hobbies are cooking, gardening, reading, hiking/camping, art, and my family. My idea for the blog is to just talk, share experiences with gardening, cooking and whatever else crosses my path. Pretty much like any other blog out there. Now you know a little about me. If you happen to stumble across my blog. Drop me a note, say hi, tell me a little bit about you. It would be nice to know who my readers are and if they extend beyond my mother, and 2 daughters. :)
So, here's to happy blogging!
Missy