Veggies and Fruits

We received another local grown veggie/fruit delivery today. We received:

2 very large zucchini - local
1 container grape tomatoes - local
2 jumbo sweet onions - local
1 head romaine lettuce - local
8 gala apples
strawberries - local

8 d'anjou pears
5 bananas

I'm excited to try a recipe for Strawberry Bread that is in the Simply In Season (World Community Cookbook) that I received from a dear friend as a sweet surprise! Recently I read on her blog that SHE tried it and it was SO yummy, so I'm super excited to make it!! I have everything except the whole wheat flour, so I'm going to run out and get more of that this afternoon, since the strawberries we received need to be used within 1-2 days, as there is no fungicides sprayed on them to keep from molding.

Strawberry Bread from: Simply In Season (World Community Cookbook)

1 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 & 1/4 cups strawberries (mashed)
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together in a large bowl, stirring until just combined. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, appx. 1 hour. My friend said hers took around 45 min... so I guess it needs to be checked around 40 minutes in.... I'll re-post once I bake ours!

Here's another recipe I was offered up in my delivery today for Balsamic Strawberries with Whipped Marscapone Cheese ..... may have to try that soon too!!

Wordless Wednesday - April Blooms

Tuesday is Random

• My dad called me today, he's vacationing in Gatlinberg TN. He called to tell me that this morning they were visited by a very large black bear. It ripped up the hottub cover and decided to take a drink from the hottub. THEN, it came back LATER to finish ripping the cover off and proceeded to lay down in the hottub and get a bath - dad took pictures this time. My dad said this bear was a good bit taller then him and when it got out of the hottub it shook off much like a dog would after being wet, it stared at my dad and stepmom through the windows and then went away. They have 4 more days on vacation... they went to tell the property management company of the cabin they're staying in, and they told my dad that this has happened a few times already. Um, scary!!
• My SIL/BIL are one step closer to adopting that son of theirs!!! Go read all about it HERE.
• I had a photo for a friend to scan in, I had put it in my purse and couldn't find it!! I thought I lost it.... so I looked in my car SEVERAL (at least 6) times, in my house everywhere I'd have put it, then I went dumpster diving. Yeah, I said it - I dug thru my trash for her. She's a dear friend and I felt like total CRAP because I couldn't find the dang picture!!! Thankfully I separate my trash into recycle bins, so I had a TON of paper trash to go through. After sorting and sifting through that, I didn't find it! So, back to the drawing board.... I found it in my CAR in the dash compartment. WHY???? I never put stuff there!!! WILD. Anyway, I'm happy, she's happy - and the picture is sure to be a great WW. Check it out at http://www.momspective.com/ tomorrow.
• I keep scissors in my purse. You just never know when you're going to need scissors... like, when your 3yo is sitting in the back seat with a string on his sock and doesn't like the 'yucky sock'... I will whip my scissors out like Mrs. Gadget and snip that string off at a stoplight.... OR for clipping coupons in the carpool line... OR for when you are at a fast food place, and you order a SMALL drink and they give you this abnormally LARGE straw? WTF is that about????? SO..... for my kids (the toddler especially) sake, to keep them from poking his eyes out, I will snip a good bit of the straw off to make it easier for him. Well, I end up with these straw bits that are about 1-2 inches long.... the other day I started thinking... it'd be really bad for me if I get pulled over and a cop see's those. They're sure to assume I have a nose candy problem with 10 or 20 of those baby's mixed in my purse and my cup holder. HA.
• I broke my tooth and will likely end up with a root canal - and I'm scared of the dentist like I'm 2 years old. Honestly, I'd rather have full blown labor again without an epidural.... I'd rather go back into the operating room for a emergency c-section and FEEL it again. I'd rather have someone torture me by pulling my fingernails out..... do you get the picture? I'm a big sissy!!
• My husband went back to work this week after a 3 month temp. layoff. Thank goodness, because it's not like they're handing out jobs these days for artists.
• Last, and certainly not least.... on a very serious note. Please PLEASE PLEASE stop by Gorillabuns and show some love. Thalon was just under 4 months old and received his angel wings and left this world suddenly. His mommy, daddy and siblings need support, prayers, encouragement, and to just know that they're being thought of. Please be sure to take time to read her last 2 or 3 posts. "Slow Motion" REALLY blew me away, the raw heart she wrote with made me cry my eyes out. "time" is also a post that hit me hard emotionally. Anyway, they need the blog community to reach out... she has certainly laid her heart out there for us.... lets reach back and hug her.

Random Tuesday Thoughts - bears, trashcans, and straws

• My dad called me today, he's vacationing in Gatlinberg TN. He called to tell me that this morning they were visited by a very large black bear. It ripped up the hottub cover and decided to take a drink from the hottub. THEN, it came back LATER to finish ripping the cover off and proceeded to lay down in the hottub and get a bath - dad took pictures this time. My dad said this bear was a good bit taller then him and when it got out of the hottub it shook off much like a dog would after being wet, it stared at my dad and stepmom through the windows and then went away. They have 4 more days on vacation... they went to tell the property management company of the cabin they're staying in, and they told my dad that this has happened a few times already. Um, scary!!
• I had a photo for a friend to scan in, I had put it in my purse and couldn't find it!! I thought I lost it.... so I looked in my car SEVERAL (at least 6) times, in my house everywhere I'd have put it, then I went dumpster diving. Yeah, I said it - I dug thru my trash for her. She's a dear friend and I felt like total CRAP because I couldn't find the dang picture!!! Thankfully I separate my trash into recycle bins, so I had a TON of paper trash to go through. After sorting and sifting through that, I didn't find it! So, back to the drawing board.... I found it in my CAR in the dash compartment. WHY???? I never put stuff there!!! WILD. Anyway, I'm happy, she's happy - and the picture is sure to be a great WW. Check it out at http://www.momspective.com/ tomorrow.
• I keep scissors in my purse. You just never know when you're going to need scissors... like, when your 3yo is sitting in the back seat with a string on his sock and doesn't like the 'yucky sock'... I will whip my scissors out like Mrs. Gadget and snip that string off at a stoplight.... OR for clipping coupons in the carpool line... OR for when you are at a fast food place, and you order a SMALL drink and they give you this abnormally LARGE straw? WTF is that about????? SO..... for my kids (the toddler especially) sake, to keep them from poking his eyes out, I will snip a good bit of the straw off to make it easier for him. Well, I end up with these straw bits that are about 1-2 inches long.... the other day I started thinking... it'd be really bad for me if I get pulled over and a cop see's those. They're sure to assume I have a nose candy problem with 10 or 20 of those baby's mixed in my purse and my cup holder. HA.
• I broke my tooth and will likely end up with a root canal - and I'm scared of the dentist like I'm 2 years old. Honestly, I'd rather have full blown labor again without an epidural.... I'd rather go back into the operating room for a emergency c-section and FEEL it again. I'd rather have someone torture me by pulling my fingernails out..... do you get the picture? I'm a big sissy!!
• My husband went back to work this week after a 3 month temp. layoff. Thank goodness, because it's not like they're handing out jobs these days for artists.
• Last, and certainly not least.... on a very serious note. Please PLEASE PLEASE stop by Gorillabuns and show some love. Thalon was just under 4 months old and received his angel wings and left this world suddenly. His mommy, daddy and siblings need support, prayers, encouragement, and to just know that they're being thought of. Please be sure to take time to read her last 2 or 3 posts. "Slow Motion" REALLY blew me away, the raw heart she wrote with made me cry my eyes out. "time" is also a post that hit me hard emotionally. Anyway, they need the blog community to reach out... she has certainly laid her heart out there for us.... lets reach back and hug her.

Go visit Keely for more Random Tuesday !

waterfront

Peaceful moments with my family. I wouldn't change a thing about our time spent at the lake today... it was much needed and GORGEOUS weather to boot!

The gentle calm and sounds of the lakefront always has a way of making everything about life seem to flow so smoothly and easily, just like the water rolling over the rocks up onto the shore.

In 5 Minutes or Less...

Haven't been much on blogging lately, here or my other blog for that matter... spring is sprung and that has kicked my butt in gear with outdoor activities, library activities, crafts, flower projects, spring cleaning - and in general some changes. So... short and brief...

• The husband is on the mend from being sick. He's also headed back to work on Monday after a temporary layoff for 3 months, I never blogged about it - didn't want comments about it, there's plenty of people worse off... we've been super fortunate and had many opened doors with freelance offers. He's extremely talented, and evidently that's still a valued trait in today's failing economy... seriously, I/we figured that ART would be the last thing on demand in the consumer world these days!!
• Little J is sick again with another yucky cold + really really yucky allergies. The doctor prescribed 2 Rx for allergies, and then has suggested us to alternate 2 OTC allergy meds daily. For now, we're doing ok with alternating the two OTC's that are tried, true and trusted. The doc. suggested the other 2 as back ups in case these seem to stop working... for now, we're going to stick with the tried and true... it seems to be working.
• We visited Tiger World this weekend and had a BLAST with the kids. They both learned alot about the animals there, most importantly, they had fun doing it!
• I had my hair cut off, and went shopping for me. I haven't went shopping for ME in over 3 years!! I'm tired of staring at the same old clothes in the closet, so I decided that it was time for me to realize that I needed to make a few changes...
• Big E got glasses, and looks pretty snazzy in them!! We were concerned that he may feel like the odd man out wearing them in class, but he really loves his new specs!! He's also the proud owner of a yellow belt in TaiKwon Do. He's worked hard for it, and we're proud for him, and of him.
• This past week was full of funerals for my extended family, I couldn't get to any of them and found out about one of them on the day OF the funeral!! Seemed like every day my dad called me to tell me, or I read about it on FB from my family... when it rains it pours, right?
• A friend of mine from highschool married the principle of our highschool's daughter... they're both finishing their fellowships in cardiology... and they welcomed TRIPLETS into this world this week. We've not kept in touch, and we found each other on facebook. I'm so happy for them!! And from what I read, they were super surprised to find out they were carrying triples! She carried them up to 33 weeks!!
• Another friend of mine wrote me this week to tell me about an earthquake that just happened at her house. While another friend was posting messages about HER friend being locked in Target during a Tornado in a completely different state. And yet another friend writes me to pray for HER friend who's 4yo son was accidentally ran over by a lawnmower by his GRANDFATHER. The boy is in pretty rough shape, and the grandpa is not doing so well - as expected. Things like this make me realize more then anything, that there are bigger problems in the world then my own, and we're very fortunate.
• We're leaving for the lake now!! LATER TATERS~

sick days

---time off for sick days---

be back next week!

Wordless Wednesday - contented

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Spring, Allergies, Oranges and stuff

• Went to the mall today, I'm usually not a big mall go'er but today I went so the boy could ride the train. We rode the train (mini version, but big enough for parents/kids to ride together) through the mall once, visited the bookstore, and had lunch! It was a nice day to do something different!
• I'm praying for Stellan, are you?
• I just finished talking to a good friend, and she was telling me how she wished she could cook better... I shared with her that I was prepping the chicken now for our dinner and that it smelled good. Only to find that when I walked downstairs - it was burnt!!! HA! So much for that meal!! Boston Market here we come.
• It's really windy here, and my allergies are in high gear.
• I'm glad that the weather is finally warming up, but I wish it was consistant. I have to turn the heat on at night because it's in the low 40's and then the a/c during the day (or open windows - my favorite) because of mid-high 70's.
• My husband is no longer laid off!! His employer asked him to come back tomorrow, but he has some freelance work to finish up that he's committed too. He officially goes back Monday of next week, after his temp. layoff of 3 months. We've been VERY fortunate and been able to pay our mortgage and other debts without a worry. Honestly, it was divine intervention - without a doubt.
• I've been stuck on Lifetime Movies late at night, like around 11pm nightly... I keep watching the 'behind the headlines" stories lately of true stories. I watched the Green River Killer, Natalie Holloway, and a few others in the past 2 weeks. I'm a latenight Lifetime junkie - sue me.
• We're going to get new furniture, and it couldn't be soon enough. I've had the same sofa/loveseat set since I moved out on my own and purchased them myself... when we married and moved to this house we decided to wait to get new furniture. Well, now that the youngest is 3, and the oldest is 10 - I think it's time to kick the old stuff to the curb. It's still in acceptable shape, but gosh it's just become like a eye sore to me after 13 years - yes - 13 years. I'm not one of these 'keep up with the Jones's' people who has to have the perfect Martha Stewart house... but a girl can dream, right??
• Next week, my SIL/BIL will officially adopt one of the 3 children they foster too. There's another adoption pending after that one. I'm sooooo happy for them to finally be able to have that 'gotcha' day!! It seems like it's been FOREVER in the making!! Yay - more nieces and nephews for me!!!
• I need to start the dishwasher, my house smells like burnt chicken, my cat is meowing for no apparent reason, the wind is so loud outside, a severe thunderstorm warning popped up on my blackberry, I have an unknown "something" on my shirt sleeve (maybe from when the toddler sneezed on my shoulder??) the neighbors dog is barking and it's annoying, and my kid is STILL sleeping - how's that for random?? --- need to change shirts.

Go visit Keely at The UnMom for more random Tuesday!

yummy fruits and veggies

We received another delivery today! I mentioned last night that we would be receiving another delivery and big E perked up and said "man, I hope there's mangoes again". I told him that we'd always get fruits, but it depended on the local farms that the company pulls from and/or what was in season.

Last night we cooked up the last of our previous delivery, all that was left was onions and potatoes, and we had some seriously yummy potato soup.

Today our delivery included:

1 bag of romaine lettuce - local
3 very large squash - local
1 jumbo yellow onion - local
2 large roma tomatoes - local
10 braeburn apples
8 red bartlett pears
6 oranges - FL
1 pack of 6 bananas

Along with each delivery comes 2 recipes that go with the veggies/fruits delivered. I love this company we joined with! Here's a yummy sounding recipe for squash:

Garlic-Cilantro Squash:

1 tbsp of minced fresh cilantro

1/2 tsp lemon juice and olive oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1-1/2 tsp of water

1/8 tsp of salt

4 small yellow squash cut in half

Combine cilantro, lemon juice, oil, water, salt & garlic in a bowl. Brush cut surfaces of squash with 1/2 of cilantro mixture. Place on grille over med-hot coals. Place squash halves, cut side down, on rack and cook 3 minutes. Turn squash, brush with remaining mixture, cook until tender. Serves 4.