everything

I typed this entry three times and for some reason, when I hit publish, TypePad surprised me with a previously posted entry, losing what I'd typed tonight.  Grrrr.  Forgive the typos and poor grammar.  I'm too afraid to touch anything but publish again.

Recently, I was asked a question that really made me think.  "What kind of blog do you have?"  Not sure what they were seeking in an answer, I asked for more specifics..."You know,  a decorating blog?  a cooking blog?  What kind?"  After much continued thought, even after my answer, I realize that my blog is a cooking blog, a decorating blog, an organizing blog, an entertaining blog, a movie review blog, a personal journal/scrapbook blog, even a blog about my biggest blunders.  My blog is an everything blog.  And tonight... that's what you get... a little bit of everything.  My main goal for my blog, after seven years, is that one day, my posterity can read and feel that they "knew" me and that every day, there's something of benefit for someone.  And some days, that someone is myself.  It works for me.  I so appreciate the many blogging friends that I've made through the years!  Enough said.

And now for a little of that "everything" I was talking about.

A response:  After yesterday's little post of Liza's "haircut emails", I received several requests to show a photo of the haircut.  I'm sorry.  I considered it but decided that it might be someone's brand new haircut and they may feel terrible knowing that Liza thought it was cute for a troll doll.  (wink-wink) 

A Zayleeism:  While I was playing with Go-Go,  Zaylee was very entertained, just belly-laughing until I made a comment like, "Grammie is such a dork."  Zaylee stopped mid-laugh and said, "No, Gwammie!  You not a dork!"  I teased, "Oh, is Go-Go a dork?"  She said, "No!  Gwammie!  Go-Go's not a dork.  Girls are not dorks and dogs are not dorks!  Just only boys can be dorks!"  She's barely three!  Where does she come up with these things?

Klutz in the Kitchen: In the past week, I've shared the details of the broken Corelle Cup in the crock pot full of Chicken Soup.  I've not shared that I ruined a double batch of Rice Krispie Treats by petrifyingthe marshmallows.  I ruined Wendy's jello salad by squirting aerosol whipping cream on it just before a Relief Society dinner and within seconds, it turned into liquid mush.  AND.  I made our favorite salad ~ spinach, mandarin oranges, craisins, mozzarella cheese, poppy seed dressing and sunflower seeds.  When I poured the cup of sunflower seeds in to the mix, I also poured myself a handful and discovered that they were rancid.  One month old and rancid.  $15 of salad into the disposal.  Sadness.  Even Doug couldn't eat it!  Sometimes, it's just better to order in.

Dinner: This tasty recipe, found on Pinterest a few weeks ago was our Monday night dinner.  SO good and very easy!  I took a quick photo before they were all devoured!  And the best part of the meal was that when every bite was gone, I announced to the babes that they had just eaten one very large onion and one very large green pepper.  Gracie proudly responded, "I know!  I saw that!  And I had one bite without a pepper and it wasn't as good as the others."  SCORE for the onions and green peppers!  Happy day!

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Adapted from Rachael Ray

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons steak sauce (I used Worchestershire)
1 cup beef stock
Salt and ground black pepper
4 dinner rolls  (It made enough for 10 at our table)
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk
1 cup provolone, shredded

In large skillet over medium-high heat add the oil and then brown the ground beef, about 5-6 minutes. Add the onion and green pepper and cook another 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables start to get tender. Stir in the steak sauce and beef stock, season with salt and pepper, bring up to a bubble and cook about 2 minutes.

Split open rolls and remove most of the soft insides, leaving a bed to hold the meat mixture. Toast the rolls and set aside.  (We skipped this step because we love Lee's Ranch rolls.) 

While the meat is cooking, melt the butter in a medium-size pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook about 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring up to a bubble and let thicken, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in the cheese.   Enjoy!

To serve, place a scoopful of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the rolls, then top with the cheese sauce and replace the top of the roll.

A new product:  I went to the Scentinel Candle Retail Store for some new post holiday scents.  Oh my!  They have a new "not on the shelves yet" product ~ Cheesecake! Mixed with Apple Crisp, my home smells divine! Oh, my, Oh my!  The Oatmeal Cookie will always be my favorite, but seriously, check it out asap! 

Weather update:  It's snowing.  Again.  Most of the day.  Less than an inch of little teeny tiny crystally pellets.  Now, it's getting colder and we're getting black ice.  Such a strange winter. Please pass a blizzard.  A real one, please.  Oh my.  I just heard the snowplow drive by.  One question:  What's it plowing?

Be so happy that when others look at you, they become happy too.

Comments

[Nicole]

Your blog is perfect, keep it that way! I read some cooking blogs, decorating blogs and crafty blogs but really some of them have way too much advertising. And it's good to know that you, like the rest of us, has some little cooking incidents! Reading some blogs, you would think that they are all better than Martha Stewart!

[diana]

I too love your blog/journey. Thank you for all of the laughs,tears, and tips!

[gayle]

It's funny, just yesterday in my musings while in the pool (had to get that in, it has been the most marvelous winter in Miami Beach) I was thinking about your blog and how clean it is with no ads and no agenda but to entertain, share and let us know you. I would like this record of my life as a mother, wife, friend, believer, entertainer, etc.

[susan]

I've always stuck with the 'girls rule, boys drool' philosophy. ALWAYS....and your blog...pure entertainment=pure joy