Thursday, July 30, 2009

A Picture of Curiosity


I’m gonna say this is a picture of what utter curiosity looks like.. For my kid at least..

While The Kid was at camp yesterday he found a baseball that’d been busted, so being the curious kind of person that he is wanting to know really what was inside the baseball he went about pulling it apart, yards and yards of string, then yarn, then more string.. Then there was a little red rubber ball inside of it all. it took about an hour to get to the end of this, he started pulling it apart at work, there’s white string pieces all over the parking lot, lol.. some went into the trash, some went out the car window when we were stopped at a red light (which got him yelled at!) but the main part is this blob of yarn & string that he finished up on the ride home last night.. the little ball in the middle was a surprise to both of us.. I remember there being rubber bands in baseball “guts” when I was a kid, but then I suppose, like a lot of things it depends on the manufacturer.

Still.. it’s pretty cool... I told the kid he should try and put it back together.. he asked me if I thought he was crazy.. well, no.. but it would surely be a challenge, LOL!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

OMG, I love this!

Ah, Sweet, my 200th post and I get to talk about my mom and Perpetual Kid.. YAY!!

My mom was famous for her Revlon Back cherry lipstick which is a purple-ish red color and it was always on her mug, on the glass she used, on the faces she kissed, lol.. But this Mug, it’s freakin’ Hilarious because I’m pretty sure that nobody else would want to use it, especially when those marks aren’t going to rub off anytime soon, lol.

Check this baby out:
DIRTY MUG


Yes, yes. We know how it goes. You wash your coffee mug and leave it to dry in the office kitchen. Next thing you know, Nasty Joe from three cubes down is using YOUR coffee mug. Our Dirty Mug is sure to fend off other people from using your cup. Even when it's clean it looks... well dirty! No one will ever steal your mug again! Ceramic.

This is what Revlon's Black Cherry Lipstick looks like:
Revlon Super Lustrous™ Lipstick

This mug would be so perfect for the office, but I don't drink the mud they make here.. in that ancient coffee machine that we have.. this is the mug I use at home:



I know that Perpetual Kid has the Master of the Messy Desk mug, I hope they are able to get some of the Mistress ones in too.. Mine’s a little chipped & I’m gonna need to keep a backup around just in case, lol.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Let’s talk about Breakfast

Are you a breakfast eater? Do you get up in time to sit down and enjoy? Grab something and run out the door? Pick it up on your way to work or are you like me and just bring it with you and eat at your desk?

I’ve usually got some kind of cereal with me, but I occasionally run into Dunkin Donuts and get an egg & cheese wrap, which are pretty filling considering their tiny size.

I came across a few breakfast recipes in an email this morning that I wanted to share with you all, because you know Breakfast is the most important meal of the day ;o)

Honey Granola with Fruits, Seeds & Nuts
We love this mixture, but make this granola your own. Try cashews subbed for almonds, cut-up dried apricots for the cranberries, or chopped figs for the raisins. Choose strong, dark honey or a delicate, light type--whichever suits your taste.

Work Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 45 Minutes + Cooling Time
Servings: 18

1 c honey
1/3 c canola or safflower oil
1/8 tsp salt
4 c old-fashioned rolled oats
1 c unsalted pumpkin seeds
1/2 c slivered almonds
1/2 c unsalted sunflower seed kernels
2 tsp sesame seeds (optional)
1 c dried sweetened cranberries
1 c golden raisins

1. Put one oven rack in middle position and another just below. Heat oven to 300°F. Lightly oil 2 rimmed baking sheets.

2. Combine honey, oil, and salt in small saucepan. Set over medium heat and stir until hot and well blended, 2 minutes.

3. Mix oats, pumpkin seeds, almonds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds (if using) in large bowl. Stir honey mixture again. Drizzle over oat mixture while stirring. Continue stirring until oats are thoroughly coated.

4. Spread mixture on prepared baking sheets. Bake 15 minutes. Stir. Rotate pans top to bottom and front to back. Continue baking, stirring every 5 minutes, until golden brown, 10 to 18 more minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning.

5. Cool and stir in cranberries and raisins. Transfer to airtight storage containers.

Nutritional Info Per Serving (1/2 cup) 263 cal, 5 g pro, 43 g carb, 3 g fiber, 9 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 19 mg sodium

Puffy Frittata With Ham and Green Peppers


Serves:4 Prep: 17min|Cook: 35min |Total: 59min

Directions

1.
Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large (12") nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the ham and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a plate.
2.
Separate the eggs, placing the yolks in a medium-size bowl and the whites in a large bowl. Lightly beat the yolks with the water, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff, but not dry, peaks. Fold the yolks into the whites.
3.
Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet over low heat. Pour in the eggs and spread them evenly with a rubber spatula. Scatter the ham mixture and cheese (if using) over the top, cover, and cook until the eggs are set, 25 to 30 minutes. Slide the frittata onto a plate and serve immediately (puffiness will subside in 5 to 7 minutes).

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Recipe Tips
Extra servings make wonderful sandwiches at room temperature or hot. Refrigerate the frittata for up to 2 days. To reheat: Place the frittata on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray, cover, and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes.

Nutritional Facts per serving

CALORIES 316.1 CAL

FAT 22.4 G

SATURATED FAT 9.8 G

CHOLESTEROL 472.5 MG

SODIUM 1142.8 MG

CARBOHYDRATES 5.9 G

TOTAL SUGARS 2.1 G

DIETARY FIBER 1.3 G

PROTEIN 23.6 G



OK, now this one.. this one sounds soo good.. I would probably make it a sandwich style though, lol...

Waffle Sundae

This warm waffle and cool yogurt combo is a delicious sit-down meal that’s ready in less than 5 minutes. Too sweet for the morning? Serve it as an after-dinner dessert.

  1. Prepare 2 frozen whole grain waffles according to package directions
  2. Top each waffle with 1/4 c nonfat plain yogurt
  3. Add 1 Tbsp slivered almonds, 1/4 c fresh raspberries, and 1/2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

Total calories: 409 Calories



Oatmeal Buttermilk and Berry Pancakes


These oat cakes have such a lovely blending of flavors and pleasing texture from the whole grains.

Ingredients

makes 12 pancakes

1 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup low-fat buttermilk**
1 egg
1 egg white
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon peel
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup maple syrup

Directions

1.
In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2.
In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg, egg white, butter, and lemon peel. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the oat mixture, stirring until just moistened. Gently fold in the blueberries with a rubber spatula. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3.
Preheat the oven to 250ºF. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Spoon four 1/4 cupfuls of batter into the skillet and cook until the tops begin to bubble slightly, about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Turn the pancakes and cook 2 1/2 to 3 minutes longer, or until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Divide the maple syrup over the pancakes.

**If you don't have or don't care for buttermilk you can use a 50/50 mix of plain yogurt & milk
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Nutritional Facts per serving

CALORIES 129.7 CAL

FAT 2.4 G

SATURATED FAT 0.9 G

CHOLESTEROL 21 MG

SODIUM 100.7 MG

CARBOHYDRATES 24.6 G

TOTAL SUGARS 13.7 G

DIETARY FIBER 1.9 G

PROTEIN 3.6 G

Monday, July 13, 2009

I’m on the road

Over this past weekend I got my first car.. Yes, you read that right, my First car. after having my license for 14 years I finally got a car! I lived in the city for 10 years right after I got my license, and I did the occasional driving (in someone else’s car) and I’ve rented cars (at a hefty price because I also had to purchase their insurance for the weekend) But this weekend, Thanks to my best friend and her hubby getting a new car, they graciously gave me His old car. I went last week and got car insurance and then went to DMV on Friday and got license plates and registration and all that fun stuff (and damn does DMV get you with the fees!)

It’s great that I don’t have to take the bus anymore, no more walking through the rain and snow to school with the kid and no more hour long trips to just get home (15 minute drive people, yeah!) I can drop the kid off at camp and be at work in 5 minutes instead of 45 and 2 buses later.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Non alcoholic Summer Drink Recipes

Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Ingredients
10 Frozen strawberries
5 fresh strawberries
3 1/2 cups water
1 cup fresh lemon juice
20 fresh basil leaves
2 cups Ice, Crushed

Directions:

In a food processor or blender grind together basil and sugar until the basil is roughly chopped. Add Sugar to a saucepan with 2 cups of the water, bring to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool and add to blender with the remaining 1 ½ cups water, lemon juice and 1 cup of the ice. Blend for 30 seconds, add strawberries and the remaining ice and blend for another 30 seconds. Serve with a sprig of basil and a fresh strawberry.


**You can also the juice of 2 Nectarines or even 2 Peaches for the Strawberries


Frozen Watermelon Slush

3 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
1 cups frozen strawberries
2 scoops lemon sorbet
1/4 cups pineapple juice, chilled
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Directions

1. In blender, combine watermelon, strawberries, sorbet, pineapple juice, and lime juice and blend until mixture is smooth. Pour into 4 glasses.




Cantaloupe-Lime Smoothie

1 lime
2 cup(s) diced cantaloupe
1/3 cup(s) diced peach
1 tablespoon(s) honey
3 ice cubes

Directions

1. From lime, grate 1/2 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice.
2. In blender, combine lime peel, lime juice, cantaloupe, peach, honey, and ice and blend until mixture is smooth and frothy. Pour into 1 tall glass.