Greek Night! Opa!

Last night (because it's just too darn hot to cook anything longer than 10 minutes) I made Greek Chicken, Foccacia (frozen) and a green salad. I've been working on resetting my pantry these past few months and it was so wonderful to have EVERYTHING I needed for the greek chicken topping.




When I say "resetting" my pantry, I should use the word emptying. I've had the most random cans of "food" in there for years. Hoarding tomatoes, beans and the like and never really using them. Instead I've been eating only what we have in there and adding a couple of items at a time. I realized I was searching for security in a full house and full pantry. We're working on that!

Back to dinner!

It has always been a dream of mine to have a little garden. Well, our yard is like a Disney movie, so a garden on the ground without significant security would be ridiculous. We have at least 3 bunnies in our yard at all times. They eat my flowers (which I've learned to just get over) but I don't think I could take them eating OUR food.




Instead I have my little garden atop a defunct patio table. And I'll tell you, my tomatoes look terrible but they are some of the few actually sprouting fruit in this area. The heat has been ridiculous.



My favorite part of gardening this time around has been my little selection of herbs. I use the basil and mint almost daily. To be able to run out back and snip a little flavor from my own backyard has been short of heavenly.

The greek chicken was EXACTLY what we needed in this heat wave. With the greek salsa it was cool and fresh. And lovely to run outside and collect a little mint!




And to add to the ambiance........

Edit: this was also the same day the Greek bail out was announced. We are SO with it.

Patchwork Turtles!

Once I saw THIS TUTORIAL on Make it and Love it, I just knew my nephew had to have one!!!

I loved the fabric she used as well and was inspired to go digging through my own scrap basket!

The only change I would make (and will make before I mail it) is add a bell inside. I think the turtle needs a little jingle in his life. And make him more appealing to my bouncy little buddy!




And this is totally worth it just to learn the hidden stitch trick!

It will change the way I finish projects FOREVER!!!

Show Us Your Life--Breakfast Recipes

It is SUYL Breakfast recipes over at Kelly's Korner this week!

Ok-I realize this might be selfish that I'm posting a one serving breakfast recipe. But breakfast time is my ONE selfish alone time of the day. It's quiet. The girls are still upstairs and usually my husband has just left for work.

My mom gave me this idea. And it's awesome.

Start with either a multi grain sandwich round (2 ww points) or an english muffin (typically 3 ww pts). Toast it lightly.

Then cook 2 egg whites in a tiny bit of butter (about 1 ww pt).

Put the egg whites on the lightly toasted bread and sprinkle a little bit of shredded cheddar (or whatever you have---this morning I used mozzarella because we were out of cheddar).




And last but not least, I use Jimmy Dean turkey sausage (1 per item--not serving). It heats quickly in the microwave and then I slice it up so I get some in each bite!

It's easy and SEEMS like a splurge, but it's not!!!

All in all it's about a 4 point weight watchers breakfast!




Enjoy!!!

Outside treasures

Each morning I take a walk or bike ride. I rise quite early, enjoy a cup of coffee (although I wouldn't say a GOOD cup of coffee until I run out of the yuck I have now) and start off. I love using the runkeeper app so I can try to maintain a decent pace. And it's fun to figure out where the tough points of my walk/ride were. I love being able to tell where the hills are. We live in a big valley, so there's not an easy walk in the entire 'hood.

I've been looking for treasures for my girls while out.



And even one for my husband.

I like to hide them for the girls in the mailbox. As long as we remember before our mail lady arrives!

I've even done a little urban foraging for flowers. Someone dumped a hanging basket over the edge of the ditch. It definitely wasn't accidental. I watched it for a few days and finally decided I could use it in my backyard!

Although discovering this big guy....

(dead, of course) near the ditch where I procured my find, I will think twice about jumping down there again.

I highly value this alone time. I enjoy listening to the Sara Groves pandora station and talking to my God.

With this set alone time every morning, I no longer have to ask "how is it between us, when did I talk to you last and what has happened since...." How is it between us by Sara Groves.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

So....I'm going to actually try to keep up with this blog....

Making: a Happy Summer pennant for my mantle
Cooking : whole wheat blueberry muffins this morning if I can find a recipe.....
Drinking : ugh, weirdo k-cups. I'm trying to get through the random ones before I buy more...
Reading: The Omnivores Dilemma, and La Bella Figura
Wanting: to lose a few pounds and for my thyroid to figure itself out
Looking: forward to more fun summer days
Playing: in the pool with our girls
Wasting: half drunk cans of soda
Sewing: pillow cover for the living room
Wishing: that we lived somewhere not so humid and not so hot
Enjoying: that we had a staycation this year!
Waiting: for everyone to get up!
Liking: the quietness of the house
Wondering: if we will actually make it to early service :)
Hoping: that I can vacuum upstairs today
Loving: watching my daughters grow
Marveling: at God's hand in our lives. He's always there and shows us every minute of everyday.
Needing: to buy more k-cups. These are kinda gross.
Smelling: the awful vanilla cream iced coffee k-cups that I'm using for regular hot coffee
Wearing: sweat shorts and a ruffled tshirt
Following: Ummm...Antiques Roadshow?
Noticing: that my eldest starts kindergarten in less than 2 months
Knowing: that today is the last day of my husband's staycation off from work
Thinking: that I wish the paper would get here
Bookmarking: summer recipes
Opening: bills. It's that time of the month!
Giggling: over anything my littlest one says. What a little hoot!
Feeling: tight. And apparently grumpy and ready for new k-cups!!!

I really want to do a better job of blogging. I have a private blog for far away friends where I post funny stories and pictures of my kiddos. This isn't the place for that. We want to keep those things to ourselves and those that ACTUALLY know us. So this blog is for me! And I think it will be a nice outlet for what I'm thinking. Because, I can't exactly tell my daughters what a crapfest the latest book I read, can I? They just know it went in the recycle bin. But more on that later :)

Warm French Bread

We are a bread family. My father in law is italian, so there is no doubt where my daughters' love stems from. It's undeniable. Add some cheese and they are in bliss!

My favorite cheesy bread recipe.

Nearly stale french bread from Sam's. Seriously, they have the best non homemade bread.




Next, good olive oil. My brush was still rinsing in the sink, so I HAD to drizzle it on the bread.

Third, I added a generous sprinkling of garlic salt.

And finally, REAL mozzarella. Well, at least whole milk mozzarella. None of this low fat stuff. Once you go full fat, you can never go back. That's the saying, right?




It also helps to have a rock star cheese slicer like this from my husband. It is THE best! And we've gone through several.




Then throw it in the broiler. On HI. And watch it like a hawk. I am the world's worst broiler-er. Is that a word? It should be. I will NOT tell you how long it should stay in.

JUST WATCH IT!



And enjoy! My kids kept asking me for more. If only they knew I stole a little off their plates before doling it out!

***I'm realizing I should have entitled this blog, One Meal Away as opposed to One Craft Away. Seriously, all we do is cook and eat right?***

I will finally make myself post my craft projects. I promise :)

Slip of the tongue

I cussed in church.

I came home and told my husband THE word that I said.

I didn't just say it under my breath, I said it to a dear Christian friend.

I said the mother of all bad words.

And it was purely accidental.

I was trying to say "sucking fingers."

You can take it from there.....