I think I am crazy!!!!

I just submitted my admissions application to Fresno State for the Credential Program. I waited until the last minute....yes, applications are due by tomorrow. Am I nuts? I am a professional student I think.

So, why do I want to get my credential?

10. Summers Off
9. Christmas Off
8. Other Holidays Off
7. Same schedule as my hubby
6. Same schedule as my kids
5. Got to do something???
4. Decent Pay
3. Will not take me that long...some classes and student teaching
2. Do not want to work at Federico's forever
1. I do not want to work when my hubby and kids have the summer off. Who wants to be stuck at work when your entire family is playing....not me!

Update:
For those who do not know....I am a dibble dabbler. I am my fathers daughter. He has been a fireman, police man, pastor, teacher, in the Air Force etc...I just have that in me. I just can't make up my mind and I will probably never settle on one career. I am going to drive and do drive my hubby crazy! This probably will not be the last time I go back to school and I am okay with that.

No more.....

weekly meal planning. Monday is the big day and I do not know what they will be doing for the week, so I am keeping the bare essentials on hand and that is about it. I have packed up one side of my kitchen, the side that they are going to destroy first so they can hook up the gas and exhaust. I am going to bum meals off of my family for awhile....which will save money on the food bill so I can buy new bakeware!!!!

I also needed to post something else, because I am tired of looking at my huge self in the picture below....hehe!

Project for the week...

I have to take the carpet out and clean this room up by next Monday. This is where the laundry room is going to be. We have neglected this room ever since we have moved in. Talk about dusty and dirty.

Dinners this week?

So, now that the kitchen remodel is going to start soon, I do not want to cook. I only want to destroy my kitchen! I ordered pizza last night and have packed up 5 boxes of dishes etc... from the kitchen. Yesterday we bought our sink for the bathroom, toilet, faucets for the kitchen sink and bathroom sink. Our kitchen sink should be delivered this week and also our frig. We had to refuse the frig yesterday since they deliverd the stainless steal instead of the ultra satin. Anyways, back to dinners.....what to make this week? I have not gone to the grocery store either. I did go to the Farmers Market on Saturday, but I do not think that hubby just wants fruits and veggies for dinner. I think a trip to the Meat Market is in order. Next Sunday I am having my in-laws over for dinner for my father-n-laws b-day. That will be my last big meal that I will be cooking before the destruction begins. What to make for his b-day dinner? So many decisions, lack of motivation. I think I have rambled on enough. I will be posting pictures of my project this week. I have to convert our storage room into a laundry room. I think I have black lung from ripping up the carpet in there...LOL!

We have a date!

We are starting the kitchen and bathroom deconstruction on March 2nd. I will be posting pictures of the progress. I can't wait!!!!! Our contractor said that I must have had the patience of Job for living with this kitchen for 6 years.....I agree. I just put my blinders on and kept on cooking.

Yosemite Falls Cafe

So we went to Yosemite Falls Cafe for the first time tonight. We all got hamburgers since I was told that was what to order. Little man loved the waterfalls and that he got a sprite, cheeseburger and ice cream for dinner. He was a very happy kid after that. Little missie loved the french fries. She is a french fry eating mug! That girl loves her food! Our burgers were good and it was a great place for kids, noisy and they were pretty fast for being busy. I will be going back the next time I want a burger for dinner. All in all I give it a 3 stars out of 4 for a casual dinner with the kids.

Side note: My hubby told me after reading my entries that I misspell a lot of words. I told him that us moms do not have time to spell check. So please continue to misspell words to keep me company! That is what you get for being married to a teacher!

Salmon with Apricot Glaze

This is sooooo good.

2 tbsp oil
1-2 jalapenos cut into rings (depends on how hot you like it) I usually do 1 and a half and seed the jalapeno.
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1 tbsp whole-grain mustard or dijon
1 cup apricot preserves
2-4 salmon filets depending on your family size
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a small saute pan over medium heat, heat oil. When hot, add jalapenos and saute until carmelized. Add garlic, and before it begins to brown, deglaze with white wine. Next add mustard and apricot preserves and bring to a simmer. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes and after let it completely cool.

Place salmon on parchment paper or foil over a cookie sheet. Season with salt and pepper and liberally apply cooled apricot glaze. Save some for serving. Cook salmon until flaky about 15 minutes or so checking on it occasionally (depends on the thickness of the salmon).

Make some white rice and green beans or sugar snap peas. Serve the salmon over the rice and drizzle additional glaze over the salmon and rice.

Easy and Good Dinner

Buy 2 Marinated New York Steaks at the Meat Market. This will run you about $8-$9.00. This feeds all four of us. Bake some bakes potatoes, make a green salad and if you like mushrooms like we do, melt some butter and saute the mushrooms for a couple of minutes, add some garlic and 1 tbsp of soy sauce. Great on top of the steak. I grill the steaks on the BBQ, so you are only using 1 small sauce pan for the mushrooms. This is quick with minimal clean up and is one of our favorite meals. For a steak dinner it is pretty inexpensive as well.

Why are we remodeling you ask???

Little man likes to cook with me and there is no room for him in the corner.

My father-n-law bought this oven in the 70's for $75.00.

When you wipe down the counters the red dye comes off of it.

Yes, I have metal cabinets!

This is the smallest bathroom in the world! Looks like a gas station bathroom...LOL!

I rest my case!

The sink of my dreams......

Hubby thought I was weird that I had my heart stuck on a kitchen sink until he saw it. This is a must have for me and I am cutting back in a couple of areas so I can have it! Isn't it pretty!

The New Kitchen Line Up!

This is the new kitchen appliance lineup.....

Kenmore Elite Frig with the Satina Finish so we won't see tons of fingerprints. It has a bottom freezer and a huge frig area!

This was on such a good sale at Lowe's that we could not pass it up. Whirlpool Gold dishwasher in stainless. When you have not had a dishwasher in years, you are not too picky.

This was the hardest decision. I wanted 5 burners (gas) with a convection oven, but wanted a slide in. After looking at too many, the features are great on this one. It has a separate lower oven as well. I think I will be very happy with this choice. The reviews are good on it as well.

I will post some more when we get to it. I am excited and wanted to share!

Happy Valentines Day!!

We have a babysitter for the afternoon and me and hubby are going to lunch and then kitchen appliance shopping!! Hopefully we can start out kitchen remodle ASAP. The contractor is coming on Monday!! Can't wait to take a sludgehammer to my kitchen. I will post pictures as soon as the demo begins. To those who have not seen my kitchen, I will post pictures. It is right out of the 1950's, metal cabinets and all.

This is very cute. The girl that babysits for us goes to Bullard where my hubby teaches. There is a guy that likes her that is in my hubbies class and he asked if he could send her flowers at our house when she is here. Too cute!! Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

My Day.....

This has been my day today.

4:50am Allie crying
5:15am Allie crying again
5:30am Call the gym telling them that I will be late for my class because Allie is still crying
5:45am Going to the gym to teach my class
5:55am At the gym starting my class 25 minutes late
6:35am Going home
7:45am Get the kids ready to take to the gym again
8:15am Teach my other class
9:30am Shower
10:15am Get kids back into the car while it is raining
10:30am Berean for story time
10:40am My neighbor calls to let me know my front door is wide open and has been for awhile. She called my father-n-law too.
10:45am Hubby calls wondering why the front door is open. Oops forgot to close it after getting the kids in the car. Father-n-law came over to check things out and lock up.
11:00am Drive thru to In-n-Out
11:40am Put Allie down for a nap
12:00pm Play with Sam
12:50pm Getting ready to put Sam down for a nap so I can take a nap!

Needless to say.....I'm pooped!

Sunday-Chicken Marsala
Monday-Frito boats
Tuesday-Pork Fried Steak w/mash potatoes and white gravy (healthy I know)
Wednesday-Tamale Pie w/left over chili
Thursday-Dinner at the in-laws
Friday-Out to dinner
Saturday-Going out in the afternoon, but cooking at night...maybe steaks from the Meat Market.

I'm in Love!

.....with my new washer and dryer that is! They have arrived and I have my first load in as I blog. I am using the bedding cycle right now, for all of our bedding needs to be done! Here are a couple of pictures of all the laundry that I get to do! I just used the steam fresh cylce to get the wrinkles out of my sweatsuit and it worked beautifully!
Here they are...all new and white!

This is how I have been drying our clothes.

Dirty laundry.....

More dirty laundry....

The kids watching them unload the washer and dryer off of the truck...very exciting!


Next...a new kitchen...Yeah...and we are moving Mr. and Mrs. White (washer and dryer) upstairs by our bedroon...double yeah!

Homemade BBQ sauce

1 small onion
3 cloves garlic
8 plum tomatoes
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp dark molasses
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp Worcestershire
1 tsp cayan pepper
1 tsp paprika
salt to taste

1. Heat some canola or vegetable oil in a large sauce pan. Add onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes. Slice all of the tomatoes, taking out the seeds and add them to the pan. Simmer for 15 minutes until the tomatoes break down. When I do not have the time for that I use 2 cans of diced tomatoes, draining the liquid.
2. Add all of the other ingredients and simmer for another 20 minutes. Take off the heat and cool. Once cool, blend in a blender or food processor. It is that easy and it is very good. It is a little spicy, so if you do not like spicy, add less cayan pepper.

If I am using meaty ribs, I put them in the slow cooker with half of the sauce and keep the rest for serving with the ribs. If I am using baby back ribs I cook them in the oven on 375 degrees for 2 hours with the BBQ sauce and for the last 15 minutes I put them on the grill to get the BBQ flavor and texture.

Just a note: I always take a recipe and make it my own. If you do not like a certain seasoning, take it out or use less. I do this all of the time. By the third time making it I usually have it to our liking. Sometimes I will just use what I have in the cabinet and at times will be pleasantly surprised. Yes, I have had some bad ones too. It is fun to play with food!

Blog or not to blog.....

that is the question?

I think I will post what I am making for dinner tonight a little later. The shower is on, so I think I should shower. Here is a preview....short ribs w/homemade BBQ sauce slow cooker style. Add some pilaf to the mix and green beans and I mine as well throw in some herbed beer cheese bread. I feel like cooking today.

Crunchy Parmesan Chicken

1 cup cornflakes, lightly crushed
3/4 grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
3 eggs, beaten
Four 6 ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
5 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon, cut into wedges

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a shallow bowl, combine the cornflakes, parmesan and 1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper. Place the eggs in another shallow bowl. Coat each chicken breast with the cornflake mixture, then eggs, then again with the cornflake mixture.
2. In a large non-stick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden brown about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake the chicken until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

Tonight's Dinner

Lasagna with the Meat Sauce recipe that I posted. I used ricotta cheese between the layers, meat sauce and topped it off with mozzerella cheese. Can't wait for dinner tonight. It melt so good when I was making it last night! I work late today, so I thought would be proactive and have hubby put it in the oven before I get home so I can come home to a yummy smelling house!

Meat Sauce with Veggies

Meat Sauce

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped pancetta or bacon
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup dry red wine or beef broth
One 28-ounce can tomato puree
salt and pepper

1. In a large, heavy pot, heat the olive oil and add the pancetta or bacon and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the onion with the bacon, carrot and celery and cook until softened for 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic for another minute. Increase the heat to medium-high heat and add the beef and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink. Stir in the wine or beef broth and cook for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the tomato puree and 1 cup of water; season with salt and pepper bring to a simmer. Partially cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until thickened for about 2 hours. Season again with salt and pepper.

This makes a big batch, so you can use it for pasta or put into pizza dough add cheese and wrap up and bake. It is really good!

Seaside Cafe and Bakery

This weekend we found the BEST place for breakfast and baked goodies. It is the Seaside Cafe and Bakery in Seaside right before Pismo off of Seaside Dr. They make homemade english muffins, homemade breads for their sandwiches, homemade bakery items...we sampled the coconut cream muffin and lemon poppy seed cake and let me tell ya, YUM-O! I also had the oatmeal with berries which was wonderful and my hubby had the breakfast sandwich on the homemade english muffin two mornings in a row. It is a small little place with big taste. So if you are heading that way, give them a try, we will be going back!