Sunday, April 26, 2009

Opening week!!!


This is it!! Opening week is here! What a rare privilege it can be to work with women! That said - this is not just a chick show. Bring your husbands and dads to this heartwarming look at the lives, loves and losses of some southern women! You'll be glad you did!

Tickets available now on line! www.magentatheater.com

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Productivity

is such a funny thing! Somedays I get next to nothing done (despite my good intentions)! And then there are days like today were things just seem to click. I have already started on the (mounds and mounds) of laundry, vacuumed the front room and stairs. Assembled and baked a lasagna, baked cookies, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, swiffered the kitchen, entry and downstairs bath and scrubbed the kitchen sink.

Oh yes! And now I can add blogged to my list of accomplishments!!!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Monday memories




Getting this in JUST under the wire!
This is a summer trip to Grandma and Grandpa's in Saskatchewan, Canada - 2003. Simpler times and fun with the family!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

what to make when you have not bought groceries in over a week??

So its Monday again and that means being creative in the kitchen with what is left from the week. Here's what is in my crock-pot today:

Chicken with Spinach, Green olives and Tomato:
12 chicken breast tenders (frozen)
1 pkg, chopped spinach (frozen)
1 tsp pre-minced garlic (refrigerator)
2 tbps green olive tapenade leftover from a party (refrigerator)
6 garlic stuffed Sicilian green olives sliced (refrigerator)
1 can low sodium diced tomatoes (cupboard)
cracked black pepper to taste

I will make some rice to serve with this. WINCO tomorrow!

Monday Memories



getting my 'tat'!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Good Friday

So this is the first year in a long time we as a family have decided to observe Good Friday. The last few years the kids have gone to school, I have had rehearsals. It has become a bit lost. We care . . . but not enough to make a POINT of anything.

Anyway, this year we kept the kiddos home from school. Eric will be attempting to make hot cross buns with them. I am making a Good Friday stew. I was going to just do potato soup but I got inspired by the lenten recipes online and came up with a Salmon & Shrimp Chowder instead. We are fasting until supper so it is smelling SO good right now!!

One last word on the meaning of Good Friday before I post my recipe - take time to read through the book of John today. It is short but covers the life of Christ and his sacrifice, his death and resurrection so beautifully.

Dorinda's Impromptu Good Friday Chowder:
1 teas olive oil
1/2 tablespoon butter (yep the real thing!)
1/2 Large sweet onion chopped
2 Large Celery ribs chopped
1 cup baby carrots coined
1 tablespoon pre-minced garlic
4 large baking potatoes peeled and chopped
4 cups veggie broth
1 large (14oz) can Wild Pink Salmon drained and fork broken
2 small cans tiny shrimp undrained
3 cups skim milk
1 cup fat free half and half
1 teas dill weed
1 teas Kosher salt
a couple dashes green tobasco
1 cup frozen green peas
fresh ground black pepper to taste

Use a large pot or dutch oven. Soften veggies in oil and butter. Add broth add bring to a boil. Turn heat down to med-low and add salmon, shrimp, milk and cream. Stir in spices. Simmer on low all day or until potatoes are very soft.


Happy Easter!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Directing should not be this much fun!




But with this cast it is! Amazing, heartfelt and earnest, this is one of the most rewarding shows I have ever directed.

Don't wait! Go online and get your tickets now!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Easter makes me think of 'Breakfast Casserole??'

So my friend Karin ask me if I have a Breakfast Casserole recipe that was tried and true. I love breakfast Casseroles! Here is what I sent her:

Don't have a recipe per-say but I love to make breakfast casserole! This is what I usually do:

Spray a 9x 13 pan with non-stick spray. Beat together in a bowl 8 (or more depending on your tastes) eggs and
1 cup milk.

Line pan with stale bread (I just toast mine - usually whole wheat but use what your family likes)

Then layer the following:
(I use any one of these they are all good)
browned spicy turkey breakfast sausage
lean deli ham or
cooked turkey bacon

Then:
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded (you will use 1 cup total - more if you want a really cheesy top)

Then pour half of egg, milk mixture

Another layer of bread, meat, cheese and egg mixture. Now for the finishing touch (this sounds gross but it isn't!) One can cream of mushroom soup, I use healthy request, broken up over the top as 'sauce'. Bake at 350 until set. Cool before cutting.

One day I may have to find a crockpot recipe for this . . . .

what to make when you have not bought groceries in over a week??

Tuesday is my shopping day. So on Mondays I sometimes have to get creative with supper. This past week has been extra busy so other than picking up a few things here and there (bread, milk, fruit) there are hardly any groceries in the house.

I am basically a cook from fresh kind of girl (lotsa chopping!) but today this was entirely chop-free.

Crockpot Pantry Chili

2 cans dark red kidney beans drained
1 can garbanzo beans drained
1 can black beans drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 large container (16oz? - I am not sure, but the big one) refrigerated salsa
1 cup frozen corn

2 tbsp chili powder
2 teas cumin

If I had some frozen chicken breast tenders I may have added those and shredded them at the end - I think that would have been very good. As it is it seems a bit bare . . . so I think I will make some brown rice to serve it on!

Monday Memories



Well it is after midnight so I will start tomorrow tonight . . . . lol!

This picture was taken May 9th, 2000. Hannah is 2yrs old and Nathaniel is 1 day old. She didn't get to visit him in the hospital because she was getting over a bad cold - so this is it: Meeting baby brother!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Thankful Thursday

Wow I have made it to two now! Let's see how long I can keep this up!

Today I am thankful for:
1) Nathaniel's amazing progress this year
2) Good friends
3) My fancy schmancy new cell phone (and texting plan!)
4) Full cupboards and freezer
5) Commitments

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Hummus

Okay here it is! This recipe has been extensively played with and I am now happy with it! (I have adapted this from Diana Dyer's Cancer website. A three time cancer surviver Diana is a registered dietitian who focuses on healthy, natural recipes that taste amazing and have anti-cancer properties.)

Note: Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It has a strong flavor. I use tahini sauce as it is already premixed with lemon juice and olive oil for a slightly milder flavor. You can always start with one teas and increase to taste. Do not skip it completely though - you will have a spread that tastes like chickpea goo without it!


Dorinda's Hummus

2 cans garbanzo beans (chick-peas) thoroughly drained
2 teas. tahini sauce (or paste) I buy mine in the refrigerator section at Trader Joes
1 generous teas. sea salt
2 heaping teas. pre-minced garlic (opt. but very tasty and good anti-cancer properties in garlic)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil

Combine all but oil in a food processor. Blend (mixture may be thick at first) Slowly blend in Olive oil and continue to process until very smooth. Use as a dip for tortilla chips, a spread for crackers or bread, as a dip for raw veggies, instead of mayo on your sandwich or with tuna. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to two weeks though ours never last longer than a few days!