Tips on Tuesday!

Do you have a tip on cooking, cleaning, homemaking, kids, marriage, travel or anything that you would love to share? Feel free to join in!

I LOVE squash but I used to hate buying it just because it's kind of hard to cut into for cooking. Well, that was until I ran across this tip in one of my cookbooks.

♥♥Hard-shelled fall squash can be difficult to cut for cooking. Do it the easy way, in the microwave. Cook the whole squash on high setting for 5 minutes, pierce with a knife tip to check for tenderness and cook a few more minutes as needed. Cool, cut in half and scoop out seeds....simple!♥♥

Freezing meals is a great idea but how many times do you end up looking for a casserole dish only to realize it's holding that lasagna in the freezer?

♥♥Here's a great tip....line the dish with aluminum foil, bake a casserole, wrap and freeze....lift out the frozen casserole and return the dish to the cupboard. To serve, slip the casserole back in to the same dish and bake.♥♥

Having Taco Salad for dinner and want to set up an array of toppings?

♥♥Fill a muffin tin with fixings like sliced black olives, chopped green onion and diced avocado....everyone can top their own taco salad to their liking. I've done the same thing but using toppings for Tacos....shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped tomatoes etc.

The Simple Woman's Daybook!

Hi everyone, come on in and see what's in my daybook!

If you want to join in, just got visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman, read the guidelines here and then add your name to Mr Linky. There are so many other participants sharing their day, I'm sure you'll enjoy looking through them :)

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window...
my backyard covered with pigeons, not sure what they're doing but they're HUGE.

I am thinking...
that I'm glad I am able to move around today, after spending the weekend in bed with a fever and a really bad cold, it feels great to get up without feeling like you were hit by a truck

From the learning rooms...
I've been reading a lot of books on the Amish, it's just fascinating to me to learn about their lifestyle and their beliefs.

I am thankful for...
the fact that the worst part of the cold hit me on friday and through the weekend while I had hubby at home.

From the kitchen...
For breakfast it was just cereal and lunch will be Pizzeria Pot Pie leftovers. Dinner will be Crockpot Garlic Swiss Steak.

I am wearing...
Khaki shorts, purple top and slippers

I am reading...
Nothing right now, just finished The Shopkeeper's Daughter and The Quiltmaker's Daughter, both were very good.

I am hoping...
to get a little nap in today, just because I feel able to move around doesn't mean I should overdo it.

I am creating...
a clean tidy home after the weekend of being sick. It's amazing how much of a mess a husband and two kids can make when unattended LOL

I am hearing...
the pugs snoring....hubby frustrated with his computer, apparently some spyware got on there and he's having a hard time getting rid of it.

Around the house...
Laundry to be ironed and put away, floors to be swept, living room to be tidied

One of my favorite things...
cuddling in my warm bed and watching a good show on the tv.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Absolutely NOTHING this week, just whatever

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

5 minute chocolate mug cake....so good.

Do you have 5 minutes???

Because if you do and you have some basic ingredients and coffee mug laying around, you can make yourself some chocolate cake.

Don't believe me? Go check out my food blog.

5 minute Chocolate Mug Cake

A day spent in bed....

It's early here and I've just managed to pull myself out of bed. This cold has completely taken me by surprise, not to say that I don't get my share of summer colds or winter or pretty much anytime during the year actually, but this is one that really really got to me.

Yesterday I spent the day in bed and I don't mean, just relaxing or reading....I was running such a high fever that it felt like I had a run in with a semi truck. My body hurt something awful and I felt no energy to do anything at all around the house. Thank you Lord that it was saturday and not a week day because I don't know how I would have gotten through it.

It started rearing it's ugly head on Friday around noon and by the time I went to pick up the kids from school they could tell that something was wrong. I remember driving back home in a sweat, body aching, nose congested and just yucky. That was it, thankfully Curt was already home from work because I went to bed and didn't get up until this morning. My family survived on take out and lots of snacking while I lay with the tv on trying to pay attention to the shows but not even caring what was on......at one point I remember Curt walking in and asking me why I was watching cop shows LOL

Anyway, seems that the cold moved from my head down to my chest, so I'm coughing, I have a hoarse whiskey voice and I'm still congested, but thankfully the fever is gone.

So here I am, I got up early, cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes, cleaned the living room, rearranged all the couch pillows and picked up all the toys, got rid of empty cups and soda cans and I fixed some Cinnamon Rolls, and not the ones in the tin either, homemade ones. Now I have a load of laundry started and I am sitting here on the computer with a hot cup of coffee and my gooey rolls. Life is good.

I'm not going to overdo it though, it's too easy when you're feeling a little better, to just jump in with both feet and then end up worse than when you started.

After the laundry is switched to the dryer, I plan on changing out of my pj's and then laying on the couch and maybe watch some tv, or read. Lunch will be grilled cheese sandwiches and dinner is Pizzeria Pot Pie. Sometime during the afternoon the kids asked me to make them some 5 minute chocolate cake and since it's so easy and they can make their own, I'll probably do that. What you never tried it?? It's SO good and super easy because it's baked in a coffee mug in the microwave, YEAH that's right. Very dangerous recipe and not because of the radiation of the microwave but because now you have access to this goodness at any time of the day. Tsk Tsk Tsk

Sounds like the laundry is ready to be switched so I better get on that, I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

God Bless

Five Senses Saturday!

::Hear::

- the birds outside on the feeder
- cartoons Nicholas is watching on tv
- my own sniffling as I deal with yet another cold
- the new episode of Most Haunted on my computer
- the dogs moving around in the bedroom

::See::

- the little puddle of antifreeze that my car is leaking again
- construction all over the base
- a very old couple shoppping at the commissary and still so in love
- deep blue skies
- the bruise on my right shoulder where I walked into my car mirror

::touch::



- the bottle of vicks that is helping me breathe
- the pages on the book I'm reading
- the soft kleenex on my nose
- the cut on my finger
- the soft skin on my children's faces

::taste::

- the wonderful Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf
- the lollipop my kids gave me
- creamy white chili
- buttered toast
- cold medicine I'm taking

::smell::

- not much right now, I'm congested
- wet grass after I've turned off the sprinkler
- clean laundry hanging on the line
- my favorite perfume
- the food court at the BX