Soup Salad Simple

One wouldn't know by this blog as of late, that we really are quite healthy eaters.  
Two years ago when I was starting my "cleanse", I took a break from my menu-planning blog and never went back ~  two reasons ~ first, it was just too much food.  Secondly, we, (mostly I), changed much of what we ate and didn't think it'd be very interesting to post a menu of it.  We've never been big eaters and most nights are happy with a big salad and a side of protein or a good soup.  Apparently I was confusing menu-planning with four-course and it just wasn't us.   I do still make my market list to make sure I have everything on hand for the week.  All quite simple and not too exciting really. :)

 A very typical and simple mid-week meal.

I really, really enjoy cooking though, so I'm all over trying new recipes
and making something a little more special.

When I saw this yummy recipe in the latest C0untry Living, I had to try it!

Potatoes and Sausages with Olives, Lemon, and Parsley 

(I didn't have green olives on hand so I used Kalamata and also turkey kielbasa instead of sausage)

It was SO good!!!

Along with this side of cornbread and a glass of wine, was a perfect Winter meal!!

So, so, so, SO good!!

Spring Tease

We knew the beautiful 70' weather we had this weekend

wasn't here to stay so we took full advantage of spending time outside

walking, playing and being warmed by the sun and loving every minute! 

A typical shot ~ the boys in action and Petunia not far behind! :)

River walking

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is

no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open."

~ Jawaharlal Nehru

It was so good to finally be back outside enjoying the fresh air and warm sun!!  

And hugging trees! :)

Second Best

Between the boys tonight at bedtime while drifting off to sleep ~

Elliot:  Ethan, your the best brother.

Ethan:  Thanks.

Ethan:  Elliot, your the SECOND best brother.

Elliot:  Hey.....who's the best?!!

Ethan:  Me.  You just said I was.

Elliot:  ...Ohh....yeh.  
Elliot:  Goodnight.

Ethan:  'Night.
:D

Here Is Where You'll Find Me

It looks like I will have a little time to myself this weekend, 

so I'm hoping to catch up on some sewing which I'm very excited about! 

Now I just have to decide if I should finish up one of the many projects started, 

or start something new. 

Either way, I hope the weekend seems to linger on and I get a lot done!

After I remove the dust and cobwebs from this thing! :)

Here's to a fun (and hopefully productive) weekend!

Homemade Caramel Corn

 

Homemade Caramel Corn

2 sticks butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup white corn syrup (Karo or similar)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar (optional)
2 cups peanuts (optional)

7 quarts popped corn

(I made only a half recipe, shown above) 

(Have everything ready beforehand because it heats fast and you do not want to burn it!)

Melt butter, brown sugar, syrup, salt, and cream of tartar.

Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Take off heat and add baking soda. 

Immediately pour over popcorn and gently (and quickly) stir to coat.

Add peanuts (optional).

Bake in greased pans at 250' until golden (30-45 minutes), stirring every 15minutes. 

Enjoy!

This is a great snack for movie-nights and parties!

Dollar Finds

These are a few of the things I found at Mich@el's Craft Store this week 
in the dollar section!  They had so many cute things to choose from!!

Pencils

Note cards!

Gift tags, love the bright green!!

More note cards!

Holiday scrapbooking (90% off) 10 cents each!

Rhinestone embellishments!

Pens!

Gift tags and more note cards!

And my absolute favorite find...
 
 

this adorable lip gloss pot!

Not only is it as cute as can be, but it has a nice taste
and it's the sticky kind I like so I had to go back and stock up!:)

And what a great little party favor this would be!!

So Little To Do

"Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do -

or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so."
~ Stanley Crawford

Our Week

We completed the first full week of homeschool since Winter break and it went great,

we are all loving the new schedule and do not miss the 6am alarm at all.

Or as Ethan said to me while driving one late afternoon,
passing the school bus that he once rode, "Mama, I'm loving my new life! " :)

Our January theme has been Winter Weather and Goals.  

In science, we're learning about matter and elements that make up matter 
(or something like that :), we've memorized Isaiah 1:18 
and we're all loving the book we 're reading together on the life of Noah Webster!

 

Ethan continues to use his imagination and creativity

with the magnetic Buckyb@lls he got for Christmas!
Elliot showed me that he learned to pick locks!  :) 

Ever since seeing a few episodes of C@ke Boss, the boys have been begging to get some fondant!  I finally bought some (I should have made homemade, the store-bought ingredients are atrocious!) and they had fun acting our their inner "cake boss" dreams.  I was SO glad they didn't like the taste and told them next time, we'll use play dough.  The funniest part was them always correcting me in saying "fondant"..."Mama, it's not "fondant", it's "fawn-daunt" (with accent).  So we're all saying it all the time just to be silly, with the accent of course, and laughing about it. 
They are so funny and I want to remember these little things. :)  

To help combat the winter blues, I painted my nails bright neon pink and I love it! :)

 Lastly, Saturday morning we treated the boys to breakfast at Dunkin Donuts,

where they had bagels and doughnuts (just iced-coffee for me) 

and yes, it's all bad, but we had a good time together!