Saturday, June 30, 2012

"The Clinky Noise"

A few days ago, Casey showed me the following video of five people playing one guitar. He thought I would enjoy it because he and I have the same sense of humor. Turns out he was right. I love the video. Check it out...






The second video is almost better than the first. Some of you may be offended by this one, so watch it at your own discretion...







My friend disliked this video. Now she is just somebody that I used to know.  ;)

Friday, June 29, 2012

No Wonder Coca-Cola is SO Enjoyable...

I saw the following article on MSN's homepage today:

"Major soda brands are known for having their fair share of strange ingredients, but one that could come as a surprise to many consumers is alcohol. According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, a French magazine called 60 Million Consumers recently published research that found trace amounts of alcohol in 19 major soda brands worldwide. The sodas included Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, and Pepsi.

The actual amount of alcohol present was minuscule, reaching about 0.001 percent per liter, so soda drinkers don't have to worry about getting drunk from consuming a few cans of pop. The Huffington Post reports that Coca-Cola France's scientific director, Michel Pepin, proposed one theory for the presence of alcohol: natural fruit fermenting that could take place during the secret drink-making process.

Coca-Cola isn't hiding the alcohol in its soda. In fact, a disclaimer is posted on the company website. It reads, "Trace levels of alcohol can occur naturally in many foods and beverages. Government and religious organizations have recognized that such minute levels are considered acceptable in nonalcoholic foods and beverages."

Despite the statement explaining that traces of alcohol are really no big deal, Coca-Cola has announced that it will change the recipe for its sodas, but only in the United States.

Are you bothered by the knowledge that there are trace amounts of alcohol in major soda brands? Or is it no big deal?"

Here is my answer...No, I am not bothered that there are trace amounts of alcohol in Coca-Cola. However, I am bothered that Coca-Cola thinks it needs to change the recipe for the United States. Boo!

What are your thoughts?

To read the article in its entirety, go to www.delish.com .

Brown Sugar Zucchini Bread

I finally found a Zucchini Bread recipe with brown sugar and it was worth searching for. After all, brown sugar makes everything taste better.

Brown Sugar Zucchini Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup oil (I used canola oil.)
1 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
 3 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini

Generously grease two 9x5 bread pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together in a bowl. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla and sugars together in bowl. Add sifted ingredients and beat well (batter will be thick). Stir in zucchini. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 50-70 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove and cool completely.

Makes- 2 loaves

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Pre-Wedding Stress

Chase's future bride and I are having nightmares about the wedding, much like the photos below...

Ga redneck wedding pictures
Wedding Dress FAIL


Hillbilly Wedding Announcement

Redneck Wedding Arch

Beer Can and Candle Table Decor





Bridesmaids
Country Bumpkin Bridesmaids




Redneck Bridal Bouquet
Redneck Bouquet




Images from joe-ks.com

Friday, June 22, 2012

Jack Osbourne Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

Click on the link below to read about Jack Osbourne's diagnosis. Curiously enough, my husband's first symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis were very much like Jack's. 

Jack Osbourne diagnosed with MS | Multiple Sclerosis Society UK


If you want to learn more about MS and how you can get involved, go to nationalmssociety.org.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Blueberry Zucchini Bread with Lemon Glaze

It's that time of year again. My zucchini plants are producing squash like rabbits produce bunnies.

This morning, I searched the Internet hoping to find a recipe for zucchini bread made with brown sugar, but came across this recipe and decided to try it instead. After all, my husband loves lemon and I happened to pick up some blueberries at Costco just yesterday.

I adapted the recipe a bit. Here is my version:

Blueberry Zucchini Bread with Lemon Glaze

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded zucchini
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup melted butter
2 tsp. lemon zest
1 egg
3/4 cup blueberries

Glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8x4 loaf pan with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients (except for blueberries).

Gently fold in blueberries and spoon into greased pan...




Bake approximately 55 minutes, testing with a toothpick. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes.

Remove and cool completely...




For glaze:

Whisk powdered sugar, milk and juice from 1/2 lemon, Drizzle over bread...






Would you like to try another terrific recipe using zucchini? Click on my Creamy Zucchini Casserole.  It is scrumptious!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

What Father's Day Looks Like at Our House

Don woke up this morning to...


Katelyn put it together for her dad, using everything
she could think of with the word "Pop".


The idea came from the blog Me and My Insanity.



And Cody gave his dad this...


I told Cody we were giving his dad $100 to get his truck
buffed, but he came up with the poem on his own, because his
dad is such a vain, whiny, agitated person. Just kidding!


Happy Father's Day Don!





Friday, June 15, 2012

Try Rubbing Vaseline in Your Eye and Not Blowing Your Nose for a Week

That's what I have to do. Well, technically it's not Vaseline, it's Erythromycin ointment, but it has the same gooey texture. 

A plastic surgeon did reconstructive surgery on my tear duct Monday evening. The technical term is called Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Basically it's just a fancy name for fixing an obstruction between your tear duct and your nose.

While waiting for the surgery, a lady sitting in a chair next to mine asked me a question. I had no idea what she said, so I looked at her and replied, "Excuse me?" She glanced back and mumbled something along the lines of "Never mind". That's when I saw black drawings all around her eyes and realized she was having plastic surgery for vanity reasons. I thought to myself, "That's right beeotch. The doctor didn't draw all over my face. I'm here because of a real problem."

What is it with people who want to talk to you in doctor's offices and/or hospitals anyway? Seriously, I was a nervous freaking wreck. The last thing I wanted to do was tell 'Mrs. I've Got Nothing Better to Worry About or Spend My Money On' all about my personal problems. I saved that information for all you blogging friends. ;)  Just kidding. I won't bore you with details. Let me say, though, as disgusting as it sounds, you can't realize what a blessing it is to blow your nose, until someone forbids it.

(Hopefully, I am spelling things right through my blurry vision.)

To make this post somewhat educational and for those of you who may be suffering from a blocked tear duct as I was, or are just curious about the procedure, I've included a diagram:





Warning:

Do not put Vaseline in your eye or anybody else's for that matter.

If you go without blowing your nose, you do so at your own risk.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Capturing the Big Moment

Courtesy of Katelyn...

Frame One: A little bit nervous!
Frame Two: Holy shit. I did it!
Frame Three: You're gonna have to share my momma with me, mister!

Frame one: a little bit nervous! Frame two: holy shit I did it! Frame three: you're gonna have to share my momma with me, mister!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Pigs Can Fly!

I have always said that the day Chase gets married will be the day pigs can fly. Guess what? He proposed tonight and she said "Yes"! I won't have to let you know when the big event happens, because you will be able to look out the window and see something like this...


I'm so excited!

Here's a fun little tidbit of information...

Chase proposed this evening at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas as his girlfriend got off the plane. Katelyn, having been with Chase all day, texted me minutes before the plane landed and said, "I wish I could count the number of times he's said he's gonna throw up. Haha. He's so nervous."

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Zion National Park and Coca-Cola

What could be better than popping open a Coke
on top of Angel's Landing?

(That's my daughter for ya!)

Monday, June 4, 2012

Kindergarten Cooking 101

Going through my recipe drawer this afternoon, I came across a "cookbook" that Katelyn's class made in Kindergarten twenty years ago. Although I can't share them all with you, I have picked out a few of my favorites. They are quite comical.

My favorite part? 5 cups of chocolate chips! Heck yeah!

I hope this kid's family takes turns mixing the fish sticks (without any fish) for 20 hours.

5 cups of white cheese on top of two pieces of spaghetti that have been cooked for 85 minutes. Yum!

Okay, I know this kid's dad and I'm pretty sure he doesn't even own a gun,
let alone set out to shoot his own turkey.

Now I know if I'm at the market and can't find the popcorn, all I have to do is head on over to the bakery department and ask the baker! By the way, is it just me or do you get the feeling that this family often burns their popcorn the first go-round?

So that's what my No-Bake cookies are missing. Sand!!


This last recipe came straight from the mouth of my daughter...


What can I say? Our family likes really sweet, undercooked, 0 inch that turn into 2 inch,
M&M Cookies without egg shells. Doesn't yours?
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