Our Anniversary going on 49 years!

 I'm feeling a little nostalgic today so I thought I'd share a few memories!  This July 2016 hubby and I will be celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary.  Here are a few highlights that I thought you might enjoy reading which I wrote about and posted July, 2014.

Yesterday we celebrated our 47th Wedding Anniversary.  Two kids who  were from the same town around the same age but didn't hang around together.  He was an ambitious kid who worked for his Dad and also at the local gas station.  He loved cars.  (the faster the better) and I was the quiet but perky girl who loved pretty dresses, worked in my parents small grocery store and was a Candy Stripper.  If you don't know what a Candy Stripper is.  They were young women who wore  stripped uniforms and volunteered at the local hospital delivering flowers,mail and chatting with the sick and I loved it.  

I didn't know him at all and one day a friend asked me if I'd like to go out with him.  I asked her to point him out and the rest is history.  We went to movies that we walked to that were miles from our house, school dances and slowly but surely getting to know each other. We became friends.

We were teenagers and I  never imagined for a minute that marriage would be in our future.  Who thought of it then, not me.  I did know he was a guy with super manners who treated me wonderful and was kind.

Through the years there were many tests of our marriage but never did we ever think of divorce, it wasn't an option.  You worked it out no matter.  A lot of our friends got divorces for various reasons and although it was years ago I think most wish they had tried harder to work it out. 

Mark

Susan

Our Grandchildren and my mom 2015

 We went to dinner for our anniversary and he bought me beautiful roses, an anniversary tradition. Life is good!

7/2014

12/2015

                                                                 3/2016
  
 I hoped you enjoyed a visit back in time with me....:)<3

** Please note: I do believe that women should not stay in a marriage where physical or mental abuse occurs.  That is not acceptable at all so sometimes trying to save that kind of marriage just isn't an option. (I had to mention that for those who try to stay and should not).  Your life it way too important and you deserve better.


Love,

Chocolate and Cheesecake

It rained most of the day and when days are long and I get hungry well my head starts to spin and usually I either start baking or cooking.  I wanted something chocolate that was not only easy but quick to make so into my pantry and refrigerator I went and came up with this easy loaf cake.  Actually I managed to make two.  One for today and one to freeze.

Quick cakes and pies not only satisfy your sweet tooth craving they also are easy to make. Enjoy!

It's not a scratch cake but there are some days you make whatever you have hanging around and this is delicious. I like Betty Crocker Super Moist cake mixes for the times you are looking for an easy cake without fussing.

1 Devil's Food Chocolate cake mix (make according to directions) set aside

In another bowl place softened cream cheese, egg, vanilla, sugar and flour.  Beat well.
.
1-8oz. package softened cream cheese
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
2 T. all purpose flour

Grease a loaf pan or two (I used aluminum disposable) and pour half of chocolate cake mixture into pan(s).  With a large tablespoon, place half of cream cheese mixture in scoops on top of chocolate batter.  I did not swirl the cream cheese through the cake so it fell to the bottom when it baked and I thought that was fine. 

Note:  With a butter knife swirl the cream cheese mixture through the cake several times.  It will have a marble effect.

Pineapple Cream cake

When I started this year 2016 I knew I wanted to shed a few pounds.  I knew I was off track eating way too much sugar and carbohydrates .  I'm a candy and pasta lover!

So being upfront about my weaknesses I also knew I'd have some moments where my cravings would over take my sensible eating.

Having said that I'm owning that I'm about to splurge and make a cake.  It's an easy recipe using several things I seldom use as in cool whip and a cake mix.  I like scratch recipes but when I want an immediate fix it seems these two ingredients fulfill my needs.  Enjoy!

Awesome Topping!

• 1 box yellow cake mix ( I used a white cake mix )
• 4 eggs
• ½ cup oil (I used canola oil)
• 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice

Frosting:

• 1 (8 oz) container whipped topping, thawed
• 1 small box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9 pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and 1 can of crushed pineapple with the juice. Mix well.
3. Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
4. In a medium sized bowl, fold together whipped topping, box of vanilla pudding, and 1 can crushed pineapple with the juice. Spread over the top of cooled cake. Enjoy!

Note:  My pan was a little larger than a13x9 so when I make it again and I will use the 13x9 as the recipe called for or increase my topping ingredients because the topping makes this cake super awesome.

Enjoy!

1/20/16

Healthy Cookies

Healthy Cookies!  This recipe caught my eye when I looked over the ingredients.  It had everything I liked and I thought I'd try it.  There is no flour, sugar or eggs in it so I was curious as to the results.

 

 

As it turned out they were so easy to make and although I did make a few adjustments because of what was available in the house at the time it worked out nicely. I have been eating them so they are good and although you can make them larger I like the bite size for me.

Healthy Cookies
3 Mashed Bananas (ripe)
1/3 c Applesauce
2 c oats( I used quick cook steel cut oats)
1/4 c Almond Milk( I used 1% milk)
1/2 c Raisins or dark chocolate chips( I used cran raisins)but next time I'm using the dark chocolate chips. 
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350. Bake for 15-20 minutes

These Cookies are moist so do not cover completely.  I have mine in a large zip lock bag and they made approx. 36 small bite size which I did not close.  I like them so much they won't last long.  LOL

Enjoy!

Italian Chicken and spinach stuffed shells

When I woke up this morning I had no idea what would be for dinner but since I had fresh ground chicken in the refrigerator it would have to be something using it as the main ingredient.

I looked in my pantry and saw a box of large shells and decided to make a chicken filling for the shells.  No plan just a quick glance and I figured it would definitely make hubby happy.

I knew that if I were going to stuff these shells I would need sauce.  I had plenty of meat sauce in the freezer but thought that chicken stuffed shells would be complimented by a marinara sauce so that's how this meal was developed.  It really didn't take very long to put together and I had never made a bechamel sauce so quickly googled it and thought a nice drizzle of a white sauce would top this dish beautifully taste and presentation. YUM 

The Sauce 

2 large cans crushed tomatoes
1- 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 small onion grated
1 finely chopped carrot
1 small chopped pepper
salt and pepper
olive oil and I happened to have some fresh basil so that's all it took to have a light marinara for this dish.

Saute onion in olive oil with carrot and pepper until carrot is tender.  Add crushed tomatoes and sauce(swish cans with a little water to get every bit of the tomatoes out of the can) and add to pot.

Add some salt and pepper. A few pinches is good.  Allow sauce to simmer slowly for about 1 hour or so.

The Bechamel Drizzle

2 T. Butter
2 T. flour
3/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
pinch of nutmeg(optional)

Place butter in small pan on low heat.  When butter is melted add flour, milk and salt.  Turn heat up a bit and Whisk until thickened.  If sauce is too thick you can thin with a bit more milk.

The Filling

1 lb. ground chicken
1 small onion grated fine
 1/2 cup chopped spinach cooked and drained well
 3/4 cup bread crumbs( I used garlic and herb seasoned) I really like them(Progresso)
1/2 cup grated Italian cheese
1 egg slightly beaten
3/4 tsp. salt and a pinch or two of pepper

Place ground chicken in a pot with a slight amount of olive oil. Add grated onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium until chicken is no longer pink.  Add cooked spinach and cook for a few minutes more.  Remove from heat , add bread crumbs, Italian cheese and beaten egg.  Stir until all is mixed through.

Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.

Please note:  My box of shells was a regular size box and I had about 8 left so if you want to use the whole box increase the ingredients as in 1 1/2 lb. of chicken or even 2 lb. if you like them really filled. 

Enjoy!

9/27/15