Pay It Forward!

My friend Tina over at My Own Party of Five, got this idea from Robyn (GREAT name BTW! Even spelled right!) at An Alaskan Family to Pay it Forward in the blog world! What does this consist of you might ask, well it is just a simple deed or act of kindness done without expecting anything in return, simply passing it on in hopes of that person passing it on as well. So, what I will be doing is for the first 3 people that post a comment on this post, I will send you a little somethin' somethin' from me to you! Simply for reading my blog and letting me know you care! The only thing you have to do is do the same thing on your blog! Pay it forward people, who couldn't use a little pick me up right now considering all the we have going on! The treat you send doesn't have to be expensive or even cost anything, you can make something, send a recipe, write a note, whatever floats your boat! Let's spread a little love around the blog world! And now you all most join me in a rousing rendition of I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing! (I promise your gift will not be a cd of me singing this song although I did toy with the idea!)

I Am So EXCITED!

Why you ask?!? Because I just ordered my WICKED tickets!! Now I just have to wait until August to watch! I have wanted to see this musical FOREVER! I read the book a long time ago and have wanted to see it ever since! And living where I do you don't get many opportunities to see Broadway musicals, but their is a touring production coming to Tulsa and I got tickets! WOO HOO! I can't wait!!

Book Review- The 5th Horseman

I finished this James Patterson book a week or so ago. I really love his books! His writing style is great for me because he writes short chapters, and I have this thing where I can't stop reading a book in the middle of a chapter. I have to finish the chapter before I can quit. I know I have issues! Anyway this book did not disappoint, it was full of twists and turns and really bad guys and bad ass women! Fun read! I am a hard core Women's Murder Club fan, and it makes me wish I would have watched the tv show!

A Recipe A Week

Dessert First This Week

My first one is for a Dream Pineapple Upside Down cake, this cake was the moistest cake I have ever eaten so yummy, especially if you love pineapple, or even if you don't cause Bruce hates them and he just picked them off and ate the cake. Here's what you need.

3 cans (8oz each) pineapple slices

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup butter or margarine melted

6 maraschino cherries, halved

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1 envelope Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix

4 eggs

1 cup cold water

Preheat oven to 350* F. Drain pineapple, reserving 2 TBSP of the juice; set aside. Mix brown sugar and butter in 13x9 inch baking pan. Arrange pineapple slices in pan, cutting slices if necessary to evenly fit onto bottom of pan. Place cherry half, cut side up, in center of each slice. Sprinkle with the reserved pineapple juice and pecans.

Beat dry cake mix, dry whipped topping mix, eggs, and water in large bowl with mixer on low speed 2 mins. Beat on medium speed for 4 mins. Carefully spoon into prepared pan.

Bake 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed. Let stand 10 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Let stand 1 minute; remove pan. Serve warm or cooled.

Creamy Chicken and Pasta Bake

1 1/2 cups multi-grain rotini pasta, uncooked

1 small bunch of broccoli, cut into florets

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup fat free chicken broth

2 oz cream cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375*. Cook pasta in large sauce pan as directed adding broccoli for last 3 mins. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook 3 mins or until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Stir in broth, simmer for 3 mins or until chicken is done.  Add cream cheese, cook on low heat until melted. Stir in a half cup of mozzerella.

Drain pasta and broccoli and mix with chicken mixture. Spoon into an 8 inch square baking dish, and cover.

Bake 15 mins or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses, bake uncovered until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 mins and serve.

I am so TIRED!

I am so exhausted! I have subbed the last two days, and they wanted me to sub tomorrow and were pissed when I said no. I don't have a job for a reason people this was only supposed to be a part time deal! Not an EVERY FREAKING day thing! Anyway, if they are rude to me again about it, I am going to the principal and asking her to remove my name, and tell her why! 

We are getting ready for our big Day out with Thomas weekend! We are leaving Friday around noon. As a surprise for the girls, I made reservations for the three of us to go to the American Girl Bistro Friday night. I think I am even more excited than they are, LOL! Bummer of the weekend though it supposed to cool! I am praying the weather changes between now and then! One can hope, LOL!

I have to get my house in order before we go. I hate coming home to a dirty house! I have my work cut out for me though, cause my house is a wreck! I may do a daily list on things to get done, but when I do those I always feel like a failure if I don't get it done, nothing like failure glaring at you from a computer screen! 

Here's hoping to a productive couple of days, and a nice weather weekend! 

A Recipe a Week

Okay these are two that I made tonight. Both were very yummy.

Cheese Olive Loaf

1 loaf french bread

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 tbs of mayo

1/2 cup pimento stuffed sliced green olives

Don't let the mayo scare you off you can't even taste it.

Mix cheese, mayo, and olives together. Spread onto the french bread. Wrap the bread in foil and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup Zesty Italian dressin

1 lb lean ground beef

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 Tbsp cream cheese

12 oz spaghetti, uncooked

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cook onions and dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Increase heat to medium high, add meat and cook stirring frequently until browned. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese.

While sauce is simmering cook pasta as directed on package.

Pour sauce on spaghetti and top with parmesan. 

Last one a quick and simple dessert.

Chocolate Plunge

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 package 8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate

Microwave corn syrup and whipping cream until mixture comes to a boil. Add chocolate stir until melted. 

I serve with strawberries, marshmallows, pound cake, graham crackers, or other things that are chocolate dippable! My kids LOVE this!

Spring Break

Spring Break is almost over and we haven't done squat. I always have these grand plans and we end up hanging at the house and not doing anything. I did go shopping with my friend Kyla one day but other than that we have just hung out here at the house. I wanted to take the kids to do something outside since the weather has been so nice, but of course it started raining today and is supposed to continue. BLAH! The kids are going tonight to spend the night at Bruce's parents. I think we will go out to dinner and hope for nice weather tomorrow so we can actually go and do something. I knew this break would be low key since we are going next weekend to Day Out With Thomas in Dallas, but still I would like to do something before they have to go back to school!