It's Friday already?!?!?!?!

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Michael W. Smith - Healing Rain

Morning everyone, I can't believe it's friday already, I feel like I've been on a never ending race this week, I'm tired and I still didn't accomplish all that I needed to get done.

I'm starting with one of my favorite songs "Healing Rain" by Michael W. Smith, isn't he just amazing??? He's actually going to be on tour in South Africa and my brother and sister in law are dying to go see him, I told him to go because it's worth it. Can't wait to hear about it :)


Last night I fixed the Rigatoni and Sausage for dinner, it was really good, the family loved it and the kids even had seconds.....now that is when you know you have a winner.


When I was at the library a week ago, I picked up this book called "Saving Dinner", it's from the Saving Dinner site and the Food For Thought Column at Flylady.net, who doesn't know the FlyLady??? The great thing about this book is that it's separated into the 4 seasons and has menus/shopping lists and recipes for every week. BUT it gets better because each week has one crockpot recipe.....how cool is that???

If you happen to see this book at your library or bookstore, be sure to pick it up, I think you'll enjoy it.

I still haven't made it out to your blogs, things have been hectic to say the least.

Two days ago we had another of the good Arizona rains, so much so that I walked into my laundry room only to realize I was splashing water........yeah, the water was coming in from the outside and flooding my laundry room. THEN my toilet in my bathroom started leaking....when it rains it pours right????

One of the great things about living on base is being able to just pick up the phone and call Housing Maintenance, having them come in and fix or replace whatever is needed and we don't pay a single thing. I love it.

Oh I have to tell you, I walk into the commissary the other day and almost threw a party, I was at the bakery and see Portuguese Bread Rolls....do you know HOW long it's been since I had one of these beauties???? I couldn't believe that they make them just like the original ones and every day. Guess where I go for my bread every morning???? LOL

Well ladies I have things to do, hopefully get caught up on everything soon so I can spend the afternoon visiting your blogs.....please stop posting for a while so I can catch up. LOL No???? Oh well, it was worth the try wasn't it???

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. God Bless,

Slow Cooking Thursday!!!

Thank you to all the ladies who participate every week, I can't tell you how much I enjoy your recipes.

Here's mine for today, don't forget to leave a comment and your name on Mr Linky so the rest of us can come save your recipes to try them out :)

CROCKPOT CHICKEN TACOS

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 cans tomatoes with green chilies
1 package taco seasoning mix

In a Crock-Pot, add all ingredients and cook on low 7-9 hours or until chicken is tender and easily shreddable.

Serving Suggestions: Serve with warmed corn tortillas, shredded cheese, salsa, and whatever else you like with your tacos. Add a bit salad and you're set.

REALLY EASY MIXED BEAN CHILI

1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 jar salsa
1 10-ounce package frozen corn
1 sweet potato, cubed

Dump everything into a crockpot, set on low, and cook for 6-8 hours. Mix well before serving.

Serving suggestion: Serve with a big green salad and some corn muffins.

Good Morning Everyone.....I have some hot coffee

ready and I'm trying to catch up on my blogging. I've been so bad lately with emails and blogging and everything, I wish I had more than 24 hours in a day to get everything done, but sometimes things just tend to slip away from me.

Come on in and sit with me a bit, I'll tell you what's been going on over here in Arizona.

Saturday afternoon we got a phone call from my MIL and her new hubby saying that they were in town and would be over in about 2 hours. We were shocked, we didn't expect that at all, they live in Texas. LOL

They're on a road trip and were in New Mexico and decided to stop by and say hi. What a nice surprise it was!!! We enjoyed having them, it was short but sweet. They left yesterday morning on their way to Colorado before starting their trip back home to Texas.

So it was a short visit but it was nice, I'm glad they took the time out to come see us.

I think I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the house is almost completely done so I'm starting to get together all my projects, sewing, crafting etc. I also want to get into my reading pile, I miss curling up in bed with a good book.....lately as soon as my head hits the pillow I'm out.

One of my favorite TV channels is the Discovery Channel, so saturday I was thrilled to see "The Deadliest Catch" on all day, I don't know what it is about that show that has me hooked, I love it. Then sunday night I watched "Ocean of Fear" the story of the USS Indianapolis sinking and the survivors being in shark infested waters......it was so scary to watch but it was amazing to see the trials that these poor men went through.

Onto other things, I have some new cookbooks that I'm enjoying, and this coming week I'll be trying some new recipes, you can see which ones on my Menu Plan Monday, with it being so hot here I want to avoid using the oven as much as possible, hence pulling out the trusted crockpot and letting it do the work.

I'm coming down with a bit of a cold, I'm not sure if it's the temperature change between it being so hot outside and having the air con inside. Something is up, I woke up this morning and my throat hurts, my head hurts and I'm just feeling miserable. I also need to have my eyesight checked, my right eye has progressively gotten worse over the months, but I'm thinking it has to do with the computer, if I don't get on here for a few days I'm fine, but the minute I get back on, it gets scratchy and dry and it burns, it also makes it blurry. It's always something isn't it???
I'm going to try and come by all your blogs this afternoon, I have no idea what is going on with anyone anymore, I have no clue what contests are happening, what meme's are IT right now, nothing, I'm completely in the dark. It's not a great feeling let me tell you!!! LOL

I better get on out of here, I hope you all enjoy the rest of your Tuesday.


WHAT I'M COOKING:

For dinner I'm fixing Grilled Steaks with Twice Baked Potatoes and Lemon Cake for Dessert.


WHAT I'M WATCHING:

All My Children
General Hospital
Just for Laughs
Singing Bee



WHAT I'M DOING:

Laundry
Nothing else.......need some rest today!

FIVE SENSES SATURDAY!!!

Good Morning everyone, I know I've been MIA (missing in action) a bit but I've been so busy here and you understand, with the move there's still lots of stuff to do. I do plan on taking some time today and visiting your blogs and replying to emails etc...........but first I need to go find Costco LOL

It's been a while since I've done my Five Senses Saturday, so here we go, if you decide to do your own just leave me a comment so that I can come and check it out :)

::Hear::

- Avril Lavigne "When You're Gone"

- F-16 Jets flying overhead
- Family voices on the phone
- Kids laughing hysterically at their own craziness
-The pit pat of the water from the leaky shower

::See::

- Animals at the Phoenix Zoo
- My first Arizona Rain
- Food cooking on the stove
- New Cookbook that I'm dying to buy
- All the Knick Knacks at the Cracker Barrel Store

::touch::



- The soft goats at the Petting Zoo
- The pages on the new book I'm reading
- Yummy fuzzy peaches
- Wet clothes stuck to my body from walking around the zoo
- Hot coffee mug as I take a sip of the velvety coffee



::taste::



- Chicken Fried Steak at Cracker Barrell
- Chocolate Cobbler
- Garlic and Beer Shrimp
- Cold mug of beer
- Portuguese Bread Rolls



::smell::


- The morning air
- The smell RIGHT after the huge thunderstorm we had
- Fresh bread at the bakery
- Lavender Air Spray
- Dove Bath Soap

Slow Cooking Thursday!!!

Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchange. It's such a great way to share your avorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.

What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???

Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

Here's another from the Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook.

RIGATONI AND SAUSAGE

1 pound sweet italian turkey sausages, casings removed and crumbled (I've made it using maple sausage too, it's good)
One 26- to 28- ounce jar tomato pasta sauce
1 pound rigatoni, uncooked
Freshly grated or shredded Parmesan cheese for serving

Coat the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat, brown the sausage.

While the sausage is cooking, pour the pasta sauce into the cooker. Fill the empty jar with water and pour it into the cooker. Add the rigatoni and cooked sausage; gently stir with a rubber spatula to combine well. Cover and cook on LOW until the pasta is tender, 31/2 to 4 hours. Stir once halfway through cooking.

Do not cook more than 4 hours because the sides will dry out and burn. Serve immediately sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Ginger-Nut Apple Betty with Warm Eggnog Custard

Prep Time: 20 min Total Time: 3 hr 20 min Makes: 8 servings

2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
8 medium apples (about 2 lb.), peeled, cored and sliced
12 NABISCO Ginger Snaps
2/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup PLANTERS Chopped Pecans
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
2 cups milk
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

MIX sugar, flour and cinnamon in large bowl until well blended. Add apples; toss to evenly coat. Place in bottom of slow cooker. Place cookies in food processor or blender container; cover. Process until finely crushed. Pour into medium bowl. Add oats, pecans and butter; mix well. Sprinkle over apples; cover with lid.
COOK on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or until heated through. Serve warm or transfer to large bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
EMPTY dry pudding mix into medium heatproof bowl; set aside. Bring milk just to boil on medium-high heat. Gradually add to pudding mix, beating with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in nutmeg. Spoon over individual servings of dessert. Cover and refrigerate any leftover sauce and/or dessert.