Teriyake Recipe

I'm not a big Asian food cook, I think the restaurants can do it better...LOVE PEI WEI, but this is an easy marinade for your files.

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup red wine
1 clove garlic crushed

3 TBLS brown sugar

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger...I used about 1/4 tsp

Combine ingredients over medium heat.

I made this last night then let my pork and veggies hang out in it for about an hour before stir frying in about 2 TBLS oil. I thought it was great and just realized that I forgot the garlic....and I didn't even notice, but garlic would make it even better I'm sure.

Here is what my dinner looked like last night. Of course, I happened to use the one bowl with a big chip in it. I tried to hide it with the fork...I don't think it worked! It may not look super fancy, it I enjoyed every bite. Leftovers tonight.

Lemon Bars recipe tomorrow..or later if I get productive. I made some today and they are super good. Glad I made them to give away, otherwise I'd be consuming way too many!

Midweek Update

Nothing too exciting going on, just felt the urge to post. We've had a good week so far..doing a whole lotta nothing. To get you update on Lena Kate, she is back to being force-fed :) cereal. She really isn't much of a fan...I just have to feed her one spoonful 4 times. I'm not torturing her, I promise. She smiles through almost all of it. She is rolling ALL over the place and now really enjoys sleeping on her side or stomach. If I put her down on her back, so has rolled over by the time she wakes up. She's such a big girl! She's also starting to figure out how to make her walker move. This week has been really special because she is starting to laugh. It is the SWEETEST sound I think I've ever heard. If you bounce her gently on the bed, she is sure to giggle at least a little. She also loves to stare at Missy and reach up and grab her. I make sure she is being gentle at all times to keep Missy happy. She is still not taking a bottle nor sleeping through the night. On a good night she is only up once between 10 and 6 am. I'm used to our schedule now, so it is not really a problem. 4+ months is such a fun sweet age, I'm loving every minute. She loves to talk immediately following a feeding..sometimes before Momma thinks she should be through, but she will let me know if she hungry. She also likes to reach up and hold my shirt or hand. I just love when she reaches up and rubs back and forth on my arm or side.

On another topic, I am just not jumping on the swine flu scare bandwagon. The regular flu seems worse...but what do I know. What do all these parents do with their kids that are usually at school? I'm sure this is really affecting work attendance too as a result. I guess it is a wait and see situation. I'm not rushing out to buy hand sanitizer...but maybe I should. With only 10 cases in our area, there are more people sick with stomach bugs that pass in the same fashion on any given day. Correct me if I'm wrong here. I think I've learned to not worry so much. Then again, I sure don't want anybody coughing or sneezing on me...and it makes the grocery store carts seem rather gross if you think about it. I am concerned for those with compromised health. It would be awful for something like this to get hold of a large group of weakened immune system people. All we can do is trust in the Lord that this will all be over soon enough. Sorry, if that appeared to be a bunch of rambling. It is just a string of my thoughts.

I have lots of recipes to post soon - Teriyake marinade, 2 different meatloaves, lemon bars, beef stroganoff...did I post that one already??..and many more. I am still contemplating a separate recipe blog, but maybe I'll just start labeling all the posts that have a recipe so they may be easier to find if you want to refer back. I need to figure out how the labels work.

Here's my baby girl. I'm not sure if you can see her outfit, but I'm pretty sure it was meant for a boy. I got it for $2.50 at target and it has little blue whales on the shorts and a whale on the top. It was too cute, and hey - it is just play clothes and I know she's a sweet baby girl even if she is wearing blue :)
New sleeping position

Happy Thursday and God Bless!

Artichoke Chicken

Here ya go to those requesting this one...

4 boneless skinless chicken breast
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup mayo
1/3 cup sour cream
1 14 oz can artichokes - chopped and drained
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
a few shakes Tasbasco
1/2 cup Grated Mozzarella cheese


Place chicken breasts in a baking dish. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl except Mozzarella cheese. Spread over chicken breasts and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Top with grated cheese and bake for another 15 minutes or until chicken is done and juices run clear. I estimated the measurements since I only made a 1/2 portion, but these should be fine and just as yummy. Enjoy.

C- Ranch Weekend (warning: picture heavy post:)

This weekend was wonderful! It is a long story...pull up a chair. I'll try to keep it brief, but probably won't. We'll start with Friday. Lane was off work since it was Fiesta week in San Antonio. We took off around 10 to head to Eldorado. Lena Kate slept all the way to Sonora where we stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch. Of course, Lena Kate was a hit at the DQ...small towns are so friendly-I just love it. Then we headed on to the C- Ranch. We were the only ones there for a few hours and Lane mowed while Lena Kate and I porch sat and she took a nap in her stroller. Then around 5:30 Chip arrived and he decided to take me riding since he heard the story about the last time I rode Amigo a few years ago. Flashback: We were riding out for a scavenger hunt for Carla's birthday and decided to give the horses a break and drink at the tank. Amigo decided he would rather go for a swim than just take a drink. I FINALLY got him out of the tank and then he started to spin in a circle. Knowing that horses do this before they lay down and roll over I was going...what is he doing...I'm on his back...uhhhh. Meanwhile Carla was screaming - GET OFF, GET OFF, GET OFF!. If I was really thinking I probably could've just kicked him out of it. Anyway, he was already down on all fours when I got my foot out of the stir-up and just stepped over him onto my own two feet. Fortunately, I was off and didn't get rolled on as Amigo decided to go ahead and roll saddle and all. Also, the horse is fortunate he didn't break Lane's saddle or he would've been rode to death probably. I got back on and rode him home as if nothing had happened. It was just weird. End of Flashback. Chip got wind of this story and wanted to make sure Amigo and I were reacquainted. I was fine with him, I actually really like riding him...but it was nice to go out on a ride just the two of us horseback anyway. I appreciate the sincerity of Chip's concern. It was great conversation and a relaxed ride. Later Trent and Nancy and Chili and Carla arrived and we cooked some burgers....and boy those were some good burgers:) Apparently a difficult cow lives on...in the freezer. Sorry for those of you that don't like the thought of eating home grown beef...but I'm a country girl and think it is kind of funny-serves her right for being difficult. We fell asleep listening to the high schoolers on the porch chat....we can't hang anymore....and really don't want to. We were all up and at'em by 6:30 am. Those going horseback to round up the goats for working headed out by 7am. I stayed at the house of course with the baby girl. The goats were worked with no problems to really speak of. It is always fun to watch this process of sorting and grabbing goats that were kicking with all their might. Previously, I'd have been in there too, but now that I'm a Momma I had another responsibility:) The funniest thing was that one of the billies decided that Lena Kate's Uncle Trent was his buddy. We all thought he was going to ram him, but instead he just planted his head on Trent's leg for quite some time. He'd back away then come back up and just rest his head again. Glad I got a picture of that! Of course, we all agreed it was just a little bit funnier being that Trent was the one getting picked on...sorry Trent! Leelee and Grandpa came out and spent the afternoon with us and watched Lena Kate so I could play and enjoy the working. It was nice to have help with her. We had to keep a hood on her the whole weekend it was SUPER windy, but I really think she enjoyed being outside. After goats were worked, then the cows were brought in and separated to ship some calves and work the bulls. One of the bulls ALMOST got a piece of Chip...whew, it was close. I didn't get a pic of that...kinda wish I had since it all turned out to be a laughing matter in the end. For a guy with a hurt back he moved pretty quick, but the bull could've had him if he REALLY wanted to. The girls took the cows back to the correct pasture on horseback Sat. evening. It was a little sad for me because I hung back on Amigo and lead a crippled calf back. He limped slowly behind the herd, but made his way there. Hopefully he wasn't in much pain and just couldn't use the leg. Amigo knew his job and when the little guy would stop, he would gently nudge him on. So sweet and so sad, but another good life experience. Then Saturday night we had BBQ barbadoe sheep. It was super good. I was skeptical, but I was wrong. We also had roast barbadoe for lunch compliments of Chip the chef. It was delicious as were the beans and salads...oh and my butterfinger cake...had to give myself a plug:) We spent a great evening relaxing on the porch and getting caught up with "the crew." Lena Kate had a big day experiencing her first goat/cow-working and slept from 10ish until 4:30am which is really good for her. Sunday was also a busy day. We didn't leave the ranch until after 5. The guys wanted to "get" some baraboe for the freezer. I think they ended up shooting 5. They are really wild so they had to track them down several time. All in all, it was another fantastic weekend with family and a new experience for Lena Kate. We LOVE the country and I miss living there full-time...hopefully someday we'll be there again and our kids will be able to grow up as country kids as we did. On my ride Chip and I discussed how we agree that you learn alot of life lessons on a ranch and we wouldn't trade our experiences or those with our children there.

Oh, and as you can tell by the pics...I'm not the only one that loves my baby girl.
Kids will be kids...oh, they are not kids anymore...ok, newlyweds will be newlyweds

Mi Amigo

Just a pic of a tree..thought it was pretty

There were more wildflowers in West Texas than South Texas this year

Texas Gal. This is the first outfit LK received. It is from Uncle Chile and Aunt Carla...before we even knew she was a girl :) about this time last year!

Daddy play time in the morning

GO AWAY MOMMA

I got you Daddy

Love for Uncle Chili

Awwwww

In Training

Dusk from thye front porch

Best buds

Tuckered out

Porch sittin

Uncle Chip got a turn too

Are you my Momma?

Goat working is tough.

Sweet little goats

Daddy's lap is cool.

Sleeping as I was "wearing" her in the Baby Bjorn.

Leelee is here!

My babysitters were awesome :)

Holding up the fence

Trent's billy goat friend

How could you not love this face?

Trent's friend again

Carla - happy as always. She has the prettiest smile, and a love for baby goats

Hard at work

My handsome hubby pondering life

Like father, like son

Three Amigos

Stella thinks she is a lap dog

Carla on her new horse Vegas...used to be named Chili ironically

Cowboy Lane - I love this man.

She was not drinking the beer, I promise.

Grandpa and Lena Kate enjoying the cows


Another reason I love this man- he loves his baby girl.

POOPED OUT on the way home.

Stauffer's Lemon Snaps

Get some at World Market - I LOVE THEM. Maybe it is just me, and maybe I'm weird, but I love cookies of all kinds. These were a new find and I wanted to share the joy....or devastation of finding yet another sweet temptation.

Silly, I know...but needed to post something.

How about homemade butterfingers...or that is what they remind me of.

Take two regular wheat thins and spread peanut butter between them...then dip them in melted milk chocolate...or dark chocolate if you prefer. Let them harden on wax paper...if you can stand the wait. Mom introduced me to this little treat and I think they are oh so good....the salty/sweat cracker with creamy peanut butter and chocolate...what more could you ask for....oh, how bout some more Lemon Snaps- Wahahaahaha :) (No, I have not been drinking...just a little tired, I think I'm delirious from baking a cake, sausage balls, and blueberry muffins this morning....or maybe I ate too much muffin batter)

Yall have a good weekend, we are off to the ranch...in Eldorado...the one that shares a fence line with the FLDS polygamist compound or ranch or whatever you call it. That temple is even bigger in person..and now they don't even use it since outsiders desecrated it. Geez, now we just get to look at it screwing up the West Texas horizon.

I like to call this one the Guppie Face :0)

Happy Birthday Uncle Gus and our weekend

Lena Kate's Uncle Gus turns 33 today! Yesterday I baked him one of his favorite desserts-a chocolate cream pie. Yummy. I heard it was good. Even LK's cousin Charles enjoyed a slice.

Here is a pic of Lena Kate and Gus. He is so good with little ones. He's got a great "baby talk" I wish we could seem him more, but he works alot :0 We go by the dealership on occasion for a visit.

This past weekend I helped Mom host a tea party/baby shower for my dear friend and cousin Jennifer. There were 4 baby boys and one sweet little girl...guess who that was! I'd have to say everybody really enjoyed the tea party theme despite the piles of china and silver to be washed. Mom always outdoes herself with the cleaning and preparing for a party. I guess that is why everybody likes her parties:) Maybe one day I'll be as clean as she is. Lena Kate had lots of cousin Charles time and attempted to take a bath with him, but he didn't want her in HIS tub....she moved over to the sink pretty quickly, but not before I snapped a few pics. I also got some of them playing and LK eating her big toe.

Bath time

Charles wants her out at this point, can you tell?

LK didn't mind the move to the sink

A man and his dog on our trip down.

Tea party time. Aren't the tables pretty?

Jennifer (in the orange) was the honoree and this is sweet little Charles Brown Szklarski. He is such a handsome little guy...sorry I didn't get a very good pic.

Here is Mom's new kitty. She had mentioned wanting another cat for the house...she has outside cats and Bell disappeared. On Saturday we kept hearing a cat...I starting peaking around under Mom's car and apparently she brought this little thing home with her from town. God gave her a kitten and probably helped this little guy/gal out despite the traumatic ride it took to the country. It is amazing how many cats have ended up at their house this way! I don't know how they ride like they do. This kitten was scared to come out when I called it so I patiently kept going out all day and I eventually caught it when it had jumped down to eat. Fotunately it was actually a friendly kitty, just scared...can you blame it? The interesting thing is that it's tail is only about 1 inch long. We aren't sure if it was born that way or lost it somehow. You can't see here but his/her chin is white as well as the tips of all her legs/feet

LK likes to watch Charles and Charles is always concerned with she loses her chewstick. He wants to give it back to her.

A stare off!

LK's new hat, she's ready for the Derby:)