Kale Chips? Yes, Kale Chips!

Anything green and healthy and robust looking that is part of the “Vegetable family” is not even acknowledged by my kids. But I still try – hard – to get them to eat their greens, usually ends in arguments or tears but I don’t give up.  Not often am I successful - - until today – at 10:30 AM, no less!

The other day at Trader Joes, I decided to buy a bag of Kale. No idea what to do with it nor did I have any intentions of using it. Why buy it? I don’t know – my gut told me to. It was only $1.99 after all so why not listen to myself for once.  

This morning I came across an article about Kale, I perused through it.  Then as fate would have it, moments later on tv there was a comment about Kale chips on a morning show.  That was it, I needed to use the bag that I just had to buy 3 days ago.

I called my 8 year old into the kitchen, told her we were making Kale Chips.  “What are those?”  “No idea but we’re making them, it’s supposed to be good..and healthy”.   I got the death stare but she was up for the cooking part.

A simple wash and dry of the kale, ripping it into pieces, tossing with a bit of olive oil and just a touch of salt, tossing it into the oven 350 degrees for 20 minutes was all it took.

After 5 minutes of cooking down, my 8 year old and 16 year old had at it.  The bowl - - empty. Gone.   My freakin’ kids just ate an entire bowl of KALE!  GREEN VEGETABLE my friends! GONE!  An entire bag! At 11:00 AM!  I’m in shock.   Could have knocked me over with their comment “Can you go buy more so we can make it again?” .

 

(How can it be) Sweet 16!

Tomorrow I will be the Mom of a 16 year old.
16!!!
16???

I need a moment to think about this.
 
Wasn't it just weeks ago that this birthday girl was my giggly little, squirmy little, sweet little, pudgy faced, golden haired – turned redhead baby girl?  
I swear it was.
I remember as if it were yesterday:


Bouncy Seats soothing her in front of a fire in our apartment
Binkies of all colors to match her many 0-6 month outfits
The first time she slept through the night
Her first birthday cake – AND the outfit she was wearing
Her favorite Winnie the Pooh music cassette
Her crib mobile music
Her first steps a day after we returned from a vacation in Bermuda
Her first bike ride
Her first bee sting in the palm of her hand
Her first day of Kindergarten – oh how I cried and cried as her bus drove away
Her first soccer practice
Her first day of middle school, I can still see how she walked away from the car
Her first time on skis
Her first day of High School
Her first late night from her homework overload

And now here I am:

…About to bake her 16^th Birthday cake
…Moving her Drivers Manual and permit application from the kitchen island to put it back into her room

I can’t say enough about this young woman.
She is talented. She is smart. She is beautiful. She is determined, headstrong, giving, sensitive, brilliant, caring, stubborn, happy, an introvert slowly coming out of her shell, a student with big dreams and the ability to make it all happen.
She is my 16 year old baby girl.
She hates when I call her my baby girl. But she is.
That girl has amazed me with what she has accomplished in her short 16 years.
That girl will continue to amaze me with what she has to offer this world.

I know that as parents it’s our job to teach them whatever they need to know. We work hard at it. We succeed and fail. We read about what to do, I’ve got plenty of books to prove that I’ve got all good intentions of how to do it right. I’ve even read articles about what not to do.  I’ve heard about and witnessed parents that have given up on their children and weren’t able to or weren’t interested in parenting once they realized how difficult it really is. I’ve heard about and witnessed parent that have given up everything they have just to give their children whatever they need to make their dreams come true.

Yes, it’s my job to teach my daughter what she needs to know. I’ve been doing all I can to make sure of it. And yes, I’ve had good days, bad days, awesome days and horrible days.  We have belly laughed until we’ve been in tears, we’ve fought and have had slamming of doors and attitudes. We’ve had hugs and kisses and huffs and puffs of frustrations.
I’ve certainly succeeded and I’ve also had moments I've failed big time.
The amazing thing – this 16 year old-to-be has taught me more than I could ever teach her.
She’s taught me that I’m not perfect (I admit it, I'm not). I’m not as patient as I’d like to be. I’m not as smart as I think I am (Don’t tell her that!). I don’t have all the answers.
She’s taught me my strengths, my weaknesses.
She’s taught me how to love unconditionally.
She’s taught me right from wrong.

All of this – she has taught me without the help of a book, no reading articles on “how to raise parents’ and done it all without failing. She’s taught me it all just by being herself.

Yup, I’ve raised a beautiful young woman. (And I say “I” because this is my blog..but believe me my husband, her Daddy, has done all the same as me with the same amount of passion).

But how could 16 years have gone by so fast?
Please slow down.
I want to enjoy every day  - whether it’s a good one or a bad one – because I know how fast this time flies.

Happy Sweet 16 to my Beautiful Daughter – my “Avenger” …because she really thinks she is one . And you know…I think she just may be right.

Coffee Shop Daydreams

I'm sitting here watching the SuperBowl and surfing the internet (does one still 'surf' the internet?). Since my New England Patriots haven’t graced us with their presence this year, I'm not 100% into the event but can’t stay away from watching a SuperBowl. Who doesn’t watch the SuperBowl? Even my 8 year old does “Of COURSE I’m watching it Mom, why wouldn’t I?”

While ‘rummaging’ through the internet looking for nothing in particular, I saw a photo of a cozy coffee shop. You know the kind that makes you want to call a friend, invite her to meet you for a great latte and chat for an hour or two? The kind of coffee shop that is so relaxing and delicious and the place that has its regular visitors that bring new friends?

 

The photo was of that kind of coffee shop.
The photo brought over me a feeling of happiness.
**I don’t have permission to post the photo of said coffee shop, I’d love to but really, it was a photo of someone I don’t know sitting in said coffee shop (it wasn’t an ad, it was an actual photo from a blog). So I need to refrain from reposting the photo – but a coffee photo should be just as good..**

It’s amazing how just a single photo can transport you to another place, another time – back to the past to relive a memory or a quick dream about a moment in the future. How just the right photo can bring over you a feeling of serenity and excitement with ideas you had never considered before.

I have owned 3 Ducklings Bake Shoppe for 6 years; my plans for the future have never included owning a coffee shop. Many times I’ve been asked “will you have an actual shop one day?” My answer has always been “I don’t think so, I like that I bake to order, not bake to hope to sell”.  And that’s true.

But…way down deep I’ve always had that little spark of interest in the way back of my mind for a really sweet and cozy coffee shop.

That photo brought me there – to that place of consideration. That place of possibility.  

It was a few moments of staring at that photo and letting my imagination just go. Lattes
Cappuccinos
Espressos
Iced Coffee
Regular Coffee
Flavored Coffee
Specialty Coffee
Sugar
Cream
Milk
Muffins
Cookies
Pound Cake
White coffee cups?
Dark coffee cups?
Clear coffee cups?

I enjoyed that quick time machine trip to my maybe-someday coffee shop.

And then – I heard one of my daughters shriek something about Bruno Mars and the halftime show began for the SuperBowl, snapping me out of the daydream and back to reality.

I liked that coffee shop. I really did. I may visit it again sometime and plan my maybe-someday coffee shop menu. And maybe someday that photo will be a reality for me.

When and if it ever is, please come and visit. Remind me of this ‘way back when post’ and a free cup of coffee is my gift to you.


~Pam

What's For Dinner - Comfort Food!

Who doesn’t love comfort food?
It’s usually not the healthiest food but it certainly is the most delicious.
I’m a sucker for comfort food..of any kind.
Warm soups, chowders, chilis & sandwiches, casseroles,  I love it all.

I was in a Comfort Food  type of mood today. My husband is sick, the kids are busy, it’s cold out, I’ve had a long day.

Took a look in my cupboards, freezer, fridge … Chicken, Ritz Crackers, cheese, rice. Yup, it’s a Chicken and Rice Casserole night.

I just ate a bowl and when I tell you I hit a home run with this… trust me!
Try it out – let me know what you think when you make it on your Comfort Food night!

                    

Creamy and Delicious Chicken and Rice Casserole

Ingredients:
Cooked Rice – enough to generously cover the bottom of a 9x13 glass pan. I used 1 cup of uncooked rice.
¼ cup butter
¼ cup all purpose flour
1 tsp chicken bouillon paste – I use Minors brand
Garlic powder to taste – ¼- ½ tsp-ish
Black pepper to taste
Kosher salt to taste
4 large cooked and shredded chicken breast (skinless)
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice.
1 ¼ cup sour cream
½ cup butter or margarine
1 sleeve Ritz crackers

Cook rice and spread on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
In a large saucepan melt the butter over med-low heat and then stir in the flour, blend well – it will become smooth.  
Add the milk, chicken bouillon paste, salt, garlic powder, pepper.
Mix together and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly – about 5 minutes or so.
After thickened, add in the chicken, the sour cream and the cheese. Blend well.
Pour it on top of the rice.
Melt the butter, crush ritz crackers and mix together.
Sprinkle top of the casserole with the ritz cracker mix
Cook at 450 for 15 minutes.
I hope you LOVE it!     
          
Enjoy!


~Pam

The Magic Rack...

                                  
I have a secret. It’s a grocery store secret.  It’s a smart secret. It’s not a secret I share with many… for purely selfish reasons.

However, this thing that is now my favorite ‘secret’ was something that, in the past up until a year ago, I had always snubbed my nose up at.  I wanted and thought I always needed ‘fresh’ and then… I grew up and thought outside the box.

What’s my secret?
                                       Discounted / Reduced produce.

Yup, you know that tall baking cooling rack in the back of the grocery store? The one loaded with fruits & veggies placed on a Styrofoam plate wrapped in saran?
This one:

That…is the magic rack, my friends.
This rack is full of potential - - and massive savings.
Everyone wants the new to the store stuff.. the fresh fruits and veggies, the top of the line and that only  makes sense. The “new stuff” is also priced the way it should be for ‘fresh’ fruits/veggies.
But.. think about it. How often does the fresh fruit/produce arrive? Weekly? Sometimes 2x/week? Check with you store.

What do they do with all the product already out there to make room for the new stuff?
I’ll tell you – they place it on the Magic Rack. And mark it down to pennies. Pennies!
I was planning to make banana bread last week and was out of bananas. This was the Perfect reason to visit the Magic Rack.
Bananas regularly priced about .49/lb …marked down to .20/lb.
I paid .40 for bananas to use for my banana bread the next day or so.

Green Beans – I have bought 2.5 lbs for .70
Asparagus – I have bought 1.5 lbs for .50
Potatoes (from the top picture) – I bought for .35 – there were 5 big potatoes.
I’ve bought oranges, apples, pears, peaches, broccoli, turnip, kiwis, pinapple…the list goes on. The packages each have plenty in them.
All for under $1. I think the most I spent  on 1 item was $1.29.

It’s important to note that these fruits or veggies are fine!  Some things that are older and I clearly can’t use or freeze, I don’t buy. But.. for Veggies especially – with a good batch I do bring them home, clean and freeze..or use that night.  

So, next time you’re in the market – look for the magic rack.
Some days it’s full with great product, some days there’s barely anything.
It’s like the TJ Maxx section of the Grocery store ;)

Enjoy!



~Pam

A Kitchen Must Have!

Let’s start off the week with one of my FAVORITE things. I discovered this a few months ago. The word “Oxy” grabbed me. I’m a sucker for anything ‘Oxy’ to help with house cleaning (I’m also an infomercial junky but that’s a story for another day..), so I had to try it out.

What’s more gorgeous than a sparkling clean drinking glass? Seriously – I’ve had my fair share of waterspots and grime on my glasses even when using other rinse agents which will remain nameless.
I knew OxyClean wouldn’t let me down. It just couldn’t, we have a long history together; after all the other awesomeness they make for us in this world, this couldn’t not work.
And Guess what?
SPARKLING clean drinking glasses my friends.. SPARKLING!
It’s not cheap (I paid $8.99 for a 15.6 oz. bottle) but the bottle usually does come with a coupon on it for $.75 off .  Bring a double coupon coupon if your store has them and that’s $1.50 off.
Go ahead, put this on your shopping list!

Lipstickaholic

                                   I admit it.  I am a Lipstickaholic .
                             

 If you’ve never heard of a Lipstickaholic or if there has never been such a term, there is now. Here I am.

You can ask my family, you can ask my friends. They will not only agree but they may even think back and realize that they've never seen me without it.

Drinking morning coffee, yup it’s on. Sick as a dog with a headcold, yup it’s on. Stuck in the house during a snowstorm with no chance of going anywhere, yup it’s on. It's important for me to note that this is not a vanity issue - it's pure addiction. Absolute addiction. An addiction I have no desire or need to end. Yes, my lipstick is always on.  I simply feel naked without it.

I don't have a favorite brand or a favorite color or a favorite type. It can be a gloss, a stick, a brush, a wand, a stain - I don't discriminate.
My problem is that even though I go through phases of  colors (the past couple of months it’s “Birthday Suit” by wet n wild), I will continue to buy other shades/colors because “I kinda like that”. Doesn’t mean I’m going to wear it anytime soon. I just have to have it. Just in case.

Now.  In my attempt to rationalize my addiction, I keep in mind that the lipsticks I buy are inexpensive – or – on sale. I even buy the pricier ones from my favorite sellers stores on Ebay. It’s ok to have this many lipsticks if I am buying them for as little as $1.99 each.

I have purchased $12 lipsticks, I have purchased $18 lip-plumping glosses, I have a fair amount of $1.99 Wet ‘n Wild lipsticks & glosses. Honestly, they are all the same to me. A pretty lipstick is a good lipstick. The one type of lipstick I am picky about is a long-wearing lipstick. I cannot stand the drying/flaking types. You know, the kinds you can’t remove from your lips with a sandblaster. Ya, those. I hate those.

I like creamy lipsticks. If they wear off in an hour, that’s ok, I’ve got a tube in my purse or in my pocket or in my car or on the kitchen island. There’s always a lipstick within my reach. Putting on a fresh coat of lipstick is always welcomed.

Today after dropping off my youngest at school, I remembered I had to take a trip to Walgreens to get my oldest daughter some snacks for a ski trip she’s going on tomorrow with her race team. Walgreens – I knew when I pulled in this was not going to be a visit just about snacks.
Where did I go first? The makeup aisle. “Pam, do you REALLY need to do this? Yes, you do. You need a peachy- nudeish- kinda pinkish-but not to pink -but just kind of neutral lipstick."
 
After 10 minutes I found 2 lipsticks that I HAD to have. It was like they were waving at me “Over here! C’mon, you know you want me”.
They were right. I did want them. I had to have them.
Into my basket they went, I marched away from the aisles with excitement filling the air. Pathetic? Yes. These are the things that make days exciting. Lipstick. I bought them and brought them home.  C'mon...I couldn’t say no to those colors.
You know, I don’t even know their names, they're just pretty. Let's take a look.
Ah! I'm the proud mama to-
Fergie’s “Bebot Love” by Wet n Wild
&
Jordana’s Twist & Shine in “Honey Love”

Welcome to the family !