Let's start getting it together by Getting Organized! In our home..... FYI: Part 2

Spring as sprung!!!!!  It's been so cold here in PA that I was fearing the warm weather would never arrive.  So hearing that the next few days are going to be super I thought it was worth while sharing these FYI's I use to keep my home looking fresh and neat.  

This is how I do it and you can do it too!  Just know it won't happen overnight but you must start somewhere so here goes.  You can do it!

First to make things easy let's start with eliminating all the clutter.  Books, magazines, newspapers must go!!  Go through them and keep a few that are important to you but get rid of all else. You have to! that's a start!  

Kitchen counter:  You must clear all unnecessary items.  Depending on the size of your counter and space, only allow items that you use frequently on the counter.  Example:  Coffee maker, toaster and possibly utensil keeper. Salt and Pepper shaker too! Eliminating items will give your kitchen a free flow and look so much neater and yes larger!

Living room, Dining room: Time to let go of all the nick knacks and books laying on tables.  A few items (as in one or two) look nice.  Anymore makes your tables look cluttered and I don't think you want that!  Again your rooms will look larger and neater.


Simple is best.  A few books or magazines and throw away the rest...or donate!!

Choose either a table cloth or place mats.  A versatile centerpiece you can change different color schemes for the seasons. I use mine all year.  I change the bottom dish items spring, fall and holidays. (This is my spring/summer)


Bath:  Again get rid of clutter on counter.  The only thing that should be on your counter is a soap dispenser and hand towel.  If possible place a nice hand towel rack on wall.  It'll look much neater. Place any other items under cabinet or in a bin(basket) that you can store either in your cabinet or under sink.


A small flower arrangement might add a nice touch


Bedroom:  Any dressers should be clear for the exception of a lamp or phone.  I hate to repeat myself but the room will look larger as well.  Keep draperies to a minimum. If you don't have them already, shades, mini blinds or light valances really are enough.  No bulky draperies (remember you want the room to look large)


A valance, blinds, or sheer drapes is all you need.  You do not have to have all three.

Happy Organizing from my home to yours,

recap 2012
1/20/13
 

Brocolli Apple salad with or without chicken

When I get hungry for salad it's never just lettuce.  The more ingredients the better and this one adds healthy veggies,nuts and not a bit of lettuce.

I had to stop myself from not eating the whole bowl.

Great side to be served with
Chicken or if your grilling it'll be awesome addition.

Just remember portion control. It's addicting and there is mayonnaise in it!  Next time I think I'll do half plain yogurt and half mayonnaise to eliminate some of the fat and increase healthy protein. Yummy!

I'm adding some grilled chicken to this salad to make it a meal! YUMMY!

Broccoli Apple Salad

Salad Ingredients:

3 cups fresh broccoli florets

1/3 cup sliced or shredded carrots

1/4 cup diced red onion( watch amount) red onion can leave a bitter taste

2 medium apples, chopped ( one with skin on one with skin off) Iused one Granny Smith and one Ambrosia apple.  I like crisp and juicy...

1/2 cup pecans, or walnuts, chopped

1/3 cup dried cranberries
*2 boneless chicken breasts grilled 

Dressing Ingredients:

3/4 cup mayonnaise ( next time I may use half mayo and half yogurt to cut some of the fat)

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 Tablespoon sugar or alternative sweetener (I used 1/2 tsp.)

1 pinch of salt

Dressing: Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, sugar, and  salt. Store in the refrigerator. 

In a large bowl combine broccoli, carrots, red onion, apples, pecans, or walnuts, and the dried cranberries. Toss the ingredients together until well distributed. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just before serving add the dressing and chicken to the salad and toss to coat. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

From my kitchen to yours,

4/5/16

Chicken Rice Soup

We are winding down our stay in sunny Florida and as I do when I am home I create my meals with what I have so I don't waste anything.

It's actually a very chilly day here today and for March(63 degrees)  is unusual so soup is a good choice for us.

I've been dealing with a bad knee for over 3 weeks so hubby has been doing a lot of cooking.  I decided this crockpot soup would be easy enough for me to make so I'm sharing it with you. 

You can add more chicken and vegetables if you like but considering my crockpot was not huge;it's of average size I thought the below amounts would be sufficient.  Feel free to adjust this recipe to your liking.

2 medium chicken breasts boned
2 medium carrots cleaned
generous amount of celery top or celery stalks
1 medium onion
1 tsp. salt
6 to 8 cups of water
1-14.5 oz. can chicken broth
*1/4 cup milk


2 T. Butter
1/2 tsp. onion powder or grated onion
1/2 cup sifted flour

Wash chicken and vegetables

In a medium size crockpot set on high place chicken, celery, carrots and onion. Add enough water to cover chicken and vegetables.  Approximately 6 to 8 cups. Add chicken broth.  Cook on high approximately 4 hours or on low approximately 6 hours.

Remove chicken and vegetables from crockpot.  Cool slightly and either  cut chicken or shred it. Slice carrots and celery. Place back in crockpot. *Add milk.  Note:   I also broke some of the celery tops and added them to the broth as well.

In a small pot on low place 2 T butter, a few dashes of onion powder and enough flour to make  a slight paste.  Keep stirring.  Add one to two ladles of the broth and stir or whisk well.  Add to crockpot broth and stir continually as not to create lumps.

Add 1 to 2 cups minute rice depending of how thick you want the broth.  Cover and set on low until the rice starts to thicken broth.

Add 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese if desired stirring well. Yummy!

Easy Apple Cake with CARAMEL DRIZZLE

Hi everyone!

 For my faithful followers this easy cake recipe is so adaptable that today I am trying it with apple pie filling. Note: The Apple pie filling in a can the apples are cut in slices so I ran a knife thru the apples so that there would be smaller pieces of apples throughout the cake. Enjoy! :)

I decided to put a heavy caramel drizzle on it.  Oh so yummy!


1 basic white cake mix
2 large eggs (I used three because mine were small)
1 can apple pie filling
1 tsp. cinnamon or more depending on level of your taste buds
1 tsp. vanilla

6:18/15

Mix above with large wooden spoon until all cake mixture is blended. There may be a few pieces of cake mix still noticeable but no need to be concerned. 

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes in well greased bundt pan. If using 13x9 inch pan approximately 25 to 30 minutes.  Insert toothpick in center should come out clean. 

 It's so easy! You can use any other pie filling although eliminate cinnamon. I'm pretty sure you'll get great results.

I've made this cake using chocolate cake mix with cherry pie filling and a white one too using cherries. Both were a hit!

Add an extract of your choice if you'd liking.



For the Frosting I used caramel ice cream syrup, milk , a pinch of vanilla and confectionery sugar.  

 

Place confectionery sugar in bowl.  (about a cup) Add 2 T caramel syrup or more.  Using a wire whisk add a little milk at a time keeping in mind to add slowly so mixture will not be too thin.  Drizzle over cake. 

Crockpot Pork with Honey Garlic sauce

It's a very quiet Sunday and although my knee is still hurting we must eat so thinking ahead of myself I took a pork tenderloin out of the freezer last night and I'm putting together something in my crockpot for our dinner.

I mixed a few herbs and spices together for a rub type seasoning hopefully to combine some flavors and add a sweet sauce to enhance it.

Pork is very versatile white meat. Add a sauce to top it and you can make each pork dish different and using your crockpot makes it even easier.  Tasty and easy.  You can't get much better.

Rice as a side and a vegetable and you're set.  Avoiding carbs eliminate the starch.

Enjoy! 

1 lb. + pork tenderloin
3 T olive oil
1/2 tsp.garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. red pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt

Sprinkle pork tenderloin with above seasoning.  In a medium size pan place 3 T. olive oil and gently sear pork on both sides until browned. Add a little water (about 1/2 cup) to pan and scrape all the sides of the plan and add to crockpot.

Place pork in crockpot on low approximately 3 hours or more.

Sauce

 3 T. olive oil
2 large cloves garlic minced
1 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce

In a small pot place olive oil and minced garlic.  Simmer slowly for about 3 minutes being careful not to let garlic brown.  Add soy sauce and honey.  Stir and let simmer for approximately 5 minutes.

Remove pork tenderloin from crockpot.  Discard drippings.

Slice and with a large spoon, spoon honey garlic sauce over pork or place sauce in a bowl for those who want to  dip the pieces of pork separately.

Serve immediately.  

Note:  You can serve the pork without the sauce and in a gravy boat or a small bowl allow each to spoon sauce on pork to the liking.