Just Sayin' Hey

I wanted to remind  y'all that I'm posting everyday on my other blog:  A Year in the Life.  I would love for you to come on over & join me as I blog about my wonderfully crazy life!  I'm not posting here quite as much b/c right now we're so crazy that I'm cooking all my standby recipes the fam likes. 

We're coming up on prom season, so keep your eyes peeled, I may be trying something kinda cool for that...you never know!

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

It Just Needs Less Beans

I have been craving red beans and rice for the last few days.  I get on kicks and I can't help it...I must eat that food.  It's great when I'm craving cucumbers, not so great if I'm craving chocolate.  Oh well, you win some and you lose some.  I've been singing the beans and rice song from when I was a child.  It's bouncing around in my melon & won't stop! 

I love the Red Beans and Rice soup at Newk's restaurant.  It is low in calories but full in flavor.  I decided to see if I could find the recipe online.  No such luck.  I searched and searched for decent recipes, but couldn't find one that sounded right.  There was one that had a ton of bacon, a ham hock, and sausage.  (the calorie and fat count was off the charts)  So I took the ones I did find, and of course tweaked them to fit my tastes.  Heaven forbid and cook anything according to the recipe.  I would get an 'unsatisfactory in following directions' when it comes to cooking.

I needed a quick dinner last night because I had a meeting at 5:30, and I didn't get home until after 4.  Red Beans and Rice it was!  Now my rb & r has turkey kielbasa in it.  Gotta get in some protein.  If you like sausage, but not the fat, try the turkey, it's good.

I arrived home from my meeting at 9:15, a little sleepy, and a little hungry.  As I was eating my dinner I asked Hopson what he thought, and he said that it just needed less beans.  What?  It's red beans and rice.  It is supposed to have a lot of beans, otherwise it would be rice with sausage, onions, and bell peppers.  Silly Hopson.  The children liked it, and I liked it.  My kitchen still smells like it, so I may be having some for breakfast!  Yum.  :)

Y'all be blessed beyond measure!
~ashley

PS~I also made a pretty easy dessert last night.  Here's the recipe:

1 Large box Chocolate Pudding
1 Small box White Chocolate Pudding
1 Large container Marshmallow fluff
Graham Crackers

Mix together 1 large box chocolate pudding and 1 small box white chocolate pudding (both sugar free) according to the box for pie directions

In a Pyrex dish:  put a layer of graham crackers in the bottom
                           spread the marshmallow fluff on top of the graham crackers
                           pour the mixed and set pudding on top of the fluff
                           top with another layer of graham crackers

Oh, It's Cold on My Tootsie Toes

Why is it when it's cold outside it's always my feet that are the coldest.  It takes me at least an hour to thaw out.  Hopson calls me a cold prickle.  :(  I am a cold prickle...I can't hold my own body heat in for anything.  He says it's because I don't have a positive mental attitude.  Yeah, what ever.  I would love it if someone made a bodysuit out of an electric blanket!  I could plug myself into the wall at my house and stay super warm all the time!

Because winter has decided to raise it's very cold head, again, after we've had a few weeks of 60ish degree weather in January/February, I am craving soup.  I would eat it in the winter at least once or twice a week.  (Warm soup to eat and a hot fire in the fireplace...good stuff!)  And because I wanted soup for dinner, I made myself soup.  I decided everyone else could eat it or not.  (Henry has been a birthday party & everyone else can fend for themselves.)  They all had loaded baked potatoes and half decided to have a cup of soup to go with it.

I made homemade Tomato Basil Soup, and of course I cheated on it.  It calls for fresh herbs, but I decided to use dried because I was pressed for time.  Hoppy & Elizabeth gave it a thumbs up.  I was pleased with it.  And since I was selfish and made it for me anyway...I was happy.  It heated me all the way to my very cold toes. :)

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

Things are a Little Crazy Around Here...

...but in reality, when are they not?  It's the best kind of craziness though.  I love a house full of kids.  Not just my children, but having their friends here as well.  Last night was fun.  Henry had his awesome buddy, Josh, over to spend the night.  (I think Hop & Harry would trade Henry for Josh if given the chance.)  Harry had his friend, Joe, to spend the night, and a group of Hoppy's friends came over to hang out.  We had a house full...it was awesome.  Poor Elizabeth was the only one who was a loner.  :(  Oh well, she'll see all her buddies this morning when she goes to dance. 

I don't have any new recipes I've tried, but I wanted to send you over to 'A Year in the Life' for the time being.  If I cook something new, I'll post it, but it's been kinda crazy around here: trying to work, take care of kiddos, and keep up two blogs.  I post on AYITL everyday, so you'll see a variety of things.

The other day I did make Friday Special with 3 pounds of chicken, and at the end of the night there was only a small bowl full left...my I have some little piglets.  (it's now one of their favorite meals)

I hope you join me as I celebrate A Year in the Life.

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley