Recipe of the Week - Week 2

Chicken Pot Pie

This is an old stand by for us. As I type that though, I realize its been a while since I made it. Credit is to my stepmom.

This is comfort food for me. It's great reheated, making it an easy meal to drop off to a friend who is under the weather, just had a baby, etc.

Preheat oven to 350, grab a skillet and a pie plate.

One package Pillsbury pie crust (you need two crusts)
1lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
1 can mixed vegetables, drained (I always use veg-all)
1 can cream of potato soup (I use healthy request to reduce sodium)

Place one pie crust in pie plate, lining the pie plate
Cook cubed chicken until done in skillet. Added mixed vegetables (drained) and cream of potato soup. Mix together.
Spoon into pie crust
Place remaining crust on top and seal edges. Cut slits in top crust

Bake 30 - 45 minutes, until crust is golden brown.***
Serve with salad for an easy yummy meal. Its great in the winter!

When I am taking to someone for dinner, I cook til the crust is done, but light in color. When the reheat, the crust will brown.

By the way, this is veg-all.

What not to say, installment #3

Dear Rudy McRuderson Pharmacist at Super/Department Store with a pharmacy -

I would first like to note that I am fully aware of the fact that I am responsible for ensuring that my prescription refills don't run out. I however, like all of us have had a lot going on and simply didn't realize that I had no refills. Moving on.....

I am well aware that keeping up to date on my refills is my responsibility. I understood it both the first, second, and yep even the third time you said it. I also understood when you reworded it and instead stated "I mean, we can't keep track of 100's of customers refills, that is up to the customer." The funny thing is, you in fact CAN keep track. After all, if you couldn't keep track then how would you be standing there telling me I had none? Hmmmmmmmm? Ok, ok, I am nit-picking here, I get your point.

Now that we have established it's my fault not yours lets examine further.

What really bothered me is this: When I asked you for two pills to get me through the weekend, your response was as follows: (And, you have to picture this as you read. Head shaking, tilted to the side with her lips pursed)
"Mmmmm, Sorry maam, but we actually don't give out drugs to people when they don't have a prescription."

Let's dissect
1 Is there a mouse in your pocket? Cuz I am looking behind the counter and I don't see anyone else there with you, which makes me question the "we".
2 If by we, you mean the company you work for, then really all you need to say is "It's against our policy to do that." I wouldn't put my job on the line by breaking a rule for some flake that forgot to get her prescription refill updated either. I have a job, I get rules ok! Instead you make it seem like I am trying to get you to give some crazy drug to get me through to my next fix.
3 Am I exhibiting drug seeking behaviors? Is it the brown loafers and 3/4 length Old Navy Shirt that gave me away?
4 Give out drugs? I am asking for two synthroid tablets. Um, in case you forgot that is synthetic thyroid. Since my thyroid is lazy and doesn't work on it's own, that little pill get's it moving. Yeah, seriously! I am not looking for vicodin or codeine. I am not even asking for a case of the Claritin they keep behind the counter. And last I checked the young crazy kids aren't selling it on the street and Ren McCormack isn't passing it around right before he and his crazy cohorts convince Reverend Moore to let them have a prom.

I get it, I totally get it. I was an idiot for not paying attention, but shame on you for making me feel like and idiot and a pill seeker. Honestly, I felt dirty and a little ashamed of myself when I left. Now I have to go groveling back to CVS and hope he will take me back. I only left CVS becuase it was easy to grab my prescription while I was there at your mega store buying other things. I should have know better than to leave CVS, I should've known!

And in honor of the mention above, here you go...

Some amazing friends I have never met

This is Mamas Losing It's Writers Workshop
Write about your first blogging friend
This is the story of some of my blog pals. It covers only a few of them, but here goes:

My first blog friend was Jennifer at the The Petersons Go Public.
And here is our story (HA!)
I first found blogs when I did a search for crockpot recipes (for realsies). In my search on google I got this blog as a result. Stephanie completed her mission and posted a crockpot recipe (that she made) every single day in 2008. Anyhow, one day I had a question about an ingredient from an older post/recipe and went to ask in the comment section. I starting reading through the comments and thought Jennifer was funny because she asked if she could skip the sauteing of the chicken before placing it in the crockpot. After all she said, she wanted to Crock, not Cook. I clicked on her profile and started reading.

At this point, I didn't have my own blog and no interest in getting one. AT ALL. I am boring, I don't have kids, and dinner at The Cheesecake Factory followed by a lap around Williams Sonoma while drinking a St@rbucks is exciting for me, which doesn't translate to exciting to the rest of the world. I kept checking Jennifers blog, and a few sites she was linked to. My interest started to peak, but again, I have nothing to offer.

Then one day, Jim suggested I post about my cooking and baking and the things I created at cake decorating class. So it began.

And it kind of sucked (sorry for using that word Grandma)

My aunt commented on the first two posts, I am sure totally out of guilt and family responsibility, but other than that, for a while NO.ONE.CAME. And if they did, I didn't know it. I was ready to throw in the towel. I counted on certain people reading and commenting and it was disappointing to feel like I was really just typing to type.

Then I went back and started reading some of Jennifers older posts. It turns out we share the same heartache of losing our mothers. Losing a parent is, while an unwelcome one, a bond that ties people together. I emailed her suggesting a book that I had read (and reread) about dealing with the pain and ongoing struggles losing a mother presents a woman. She responded right away and I felt a bond with her. She was a friend. Not a blogger buddy or someone whose blog I read, but a friend.

Jennifer, in my opinion has had more heartaches than seems fair, but the thing of it was - she was writing about them, pouring her heart and soul out to a world of people. I started thinking maybe I could do more than just recipes and spice facts. I had a story too, and maybe someone out there wanted to read about it. The thing is, it's kind of risky out there. People can still judge you, and even more harshly because they don't have to do it "to your face" or even tie a name to who they are when they do. Still, I thought I could do it, I thought I wanted to do it, I just didn't know how.

So, while I was ready to branch out I was never sure where to start with making my blog a personal thing, and Kathy helped with that a ton! When she started writers workshop, it gave me an excuse, and a push to open up and start writing.

One of the first ones I did was tough for me. I was truly terrified to post it and I think I cried writing and reading it more than once. It was the first time I was "laying it all out there" Still, I posted, nervous and scared, and once again Jennifer swooped in and had this to say:

I kind of alluded to a comment on this, but it really deserves one of its own. You should really be writing! I love when someone can reach down into themselves and pull something like this out!
I cried because of your mom going. I cried because of your dad trying so hard to fill both roles. Those are so close to home right now---and it feels so good to know that someone else has endured what I have. You are a special lady Carrie! And I wish you only good things!
Thank you for this.

It was an unexpected compliment from someone I had never even met. Someone who didn't have to say it because I expected it. It truly pushed me to keep opening up. Thank you Jennifer!
And btw, my aunt may have a bone to pick with because she says I have made her cry too many times reading the blog recently!

Blogging has been great for me and in the last year I have:
Cried, laughed, been inspired, and found a new way to express myself here
Laughed til I nearly peed and found direction and inspiration to write here
Saw the true meaning of Faith in God here (tissues required)
Cried for a woman who traveled, met, and cared for a baby she was due to adopt before having the birth mother change her mind here
Learned that Jim forgetting to take out the trash (five minutes after I ask him to do it) isn't worth nagging over and that I should remember how lucky I am to have him here (I would seriously grab a tissue before going to that one) and here
Laughed out loud (and recently got great hair advice) here
Admired the strength and bonds of family here
Wondered if I could do the same if I were in her shoes here

Recipe of the week - Week 1

The first in a weekly segment, this weeks Recipe of the Week (ROTW) is

Easy Peasy (but no one has to know) Sticky Buns

Here is what you need

A Muffin Pan (12 compartments)
1 Can Refrigerator Biscuits (no need to get all fancy, the regular ol 10 in a tube ones are perfect)
1 Banana
1/4 C Dark Brown Sugar (Lt works also, but dark makes them ooey gooeyier)
1/4 C Chopped Pecans (optional)
1/2 stick (1/4 C) margarine or butter

There is no precise measuring here. I use about a teaspoon of brown sugar and pecans per muffin and there are 16 t in a 1/4 C. So, you really don't even need to get out those measuring cups.
Moving on

Preheat the oven to 350
Slice the banana thin (not paper thin, just thin) You will need twenty slices
Place about a teaspoon of brown sugar in 10 muffin compartments
Now place two slices of banana in each of those muffin compartments
Now place a pat of butter in each compartment. Again with the measuring, just get some butter in there. You can easily get 10 pats of butter from that 1/2 stick.
Add on about a teaspoon of pecans. People, I am scooping from the containers here. No method to this madness.
On top of the ingredients place one biscuit dough disc. Press lightly just to get it "set". You don't need to fill the compartment or worry about the dough touching the sides. Heck, if you are feeling crazy just plop the dough in there and go about your business.

Place in preheated oven and bake 8-10 until biscuits are a light golden brown
Invert muffin pan onto a cookie sheet. The buns will fall right out and the goo will ooze down the sides a little. Serve em up!

The Christmas Finale

Christmas Eve Jim and I made gingerbread houses, ate Reuben's and fries and then watched Its a Wonderful Life. It was quiet and we had fun, but hearing the hustle and bustle going on at my Dads as I was "passed" from person to person made me a bit sad. It lasted only a moment though and then it was back to a nice evening with my love. Take a look at our master pieces:





Christmas Day brunch was lots of fun. We were joined by Chris and Johanna and Kev and Judy. I decorated the table with reds and silver and we of course had Holiday Crackers
We definitely missed our friends and family in Ohio, but made fun memories and enjoyed our quiet first Florida Christmas


Holiday CrackersHats from the Crackers. They also contained a toy. I got a plastic harmonica that went well with Chris' maraca.

Chris, Johanna, Me and Jim
Kev and Judy

I know, I know

Its way past Christmas, but I have to show off how my the last 9 days of my 12 days of Christmas went.
Day 4-6 Came with this package and I did take a picture of all the items unwrapped together, but it got flipped and I can not get it to turn to post. So, you will have to picture it:
A book with three short novels in it - all holiday themed
Hand sanitizer - I am a bit of a germ freak
Nivea lip balm - it's like heaven for your lips and brings my chapstick/lip gloss total to 1472

Days 7-9 packages, which included a treat for Jim (so sweet)


Day 7 "Socks for staying home in" AKA - soft fluffy socks that make your feet feel delightful. And, just what every LADY needs: A little holder for that item that you need to have, but don't care for the world to see. Too funny! : )

Day 8
Fun, cute pj's in this pattern


Day 9 - A GAP fleece pullover in pink (cute) and Jims present "The Super Dooper Reindeer Pooper." You can imagine where the brown jelly beans dispense from.
Day 10-12 along with a special Christmas gift

Day 10Day 11

Day 12
Thanks girls!

Diet Schmiet, and an introduction

Would you be starting any New Years diet if this were a breakfast option?

Homemade, still warm, yummy doughnuts! Jim and I made these this morning as a New Years treat. They are time consuming (rising time is a total of 90 minutes), they are not good for you (um, they are fried in oil), but they are so darn yummy.

I followed Altons recipe.
I will warn you that
1 They are time consuming
2 Alton is a big proponent of measuring certain ingredients by weight and I follow this method in my baking, so I don't know how the ounces of flour would convert

Knowing this, I tell you...GO GO GO make these.

I made my own coffee flavored glaze for the doughnuts, and must say it was delightful. If you want to give it a whirl, combine:
3-4 T brewed coffee (thank you Giovanni)
1 C confectioners sugar
1/2 t vanilla extract

Then add sprinkles if you are feeling crazy.

I went with sprinkles and a hazelnut latte (again, I shout out to Giovanni)


Who you ask is Giovanni?
Giovanni...meet my pals
Pals...meet Giovanni


Santa brought Giovanni to the Andersons and there was an immediate connection. He makes espresso, coffee, lattes, cappuccino and more with the press of a button. We have trained (read programmed) Gi-Gi (only I can call him that, he and Jim are still working out nicknames) so that we hit one button and get a pre-measured coffee at our desired strength. I like a mild 8 ounce coffee first thing in the morning, Jim goes for our own version of the Americano - two three ounce shots of extra strong coffee topped off with hot water. Gi-Gi does it all.

Here he is in action making my very first cappuccino from the machine:

And there is the finished product. Nice froth and foam, perfect strength. True love. I would say I love it a latte, but I am just not that dorky. Well, I am actually and I kind of said it.

I need to recap the 12 days of Christmas from my friends, give a year end recap, get back to Writers Workshop, talk about being anti-resolution and much more. I have been a bit of a slacker, but I'll be back on track now that everything is winding down.