Sunrise

 Taken at sunrise on November 8, 2010 looking at the sky to the southeast, over my backyard fence.

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Wheeeee!

I can't help it, I think the little piggy from the Geico commercials is hilarious - so much so that I once again just snorted my drink into my sinuses laughing at him!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

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Six Word Saturday 11/13/20

Errands to do, house to clean!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

How this teacher felt today...

Maybe I'll have something more substantive to say tomorrow!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

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Right Now on Thursday

Time:  9:20 p.m.

In my mug: Tazo Wild Sweet Orange tea

On the stereo:  “The Mentalist,” which is actually on T.V.


In my belly: See’s Chocolates “California Brittle” (milk chocolate), which Mr. Mamie brought me when he picked me up at Barnsie after his class.

In the fridge: A CrockPot full of Slow-cooker Beef Stew, which I just prepped for tomorrow’s dinner.

Last thing on the laptop: The website for Climbing the Stairs, the entirety of which I read tonight while at Barnsie.


On my wish list: A new box on Tazo Iced Green Tea sachets – I just used the last one tonight to make cold tea for the next couple days. Must get more this weekend!

Looking forward to: The first grade Thanksgiving feast – my class is responsible for contributing corn, and we’re working on making pyramid of corn cans. The extras will be donated to the food bank. And after the feast… five days of vacation!


On the nightstand: The Diamond in the Window, a children’s novel Mr. Mamie recalled from his youth and purchased through Amazon Marketplace. Somehow it’s a book I never came across myself, though I would have loved it – it’s nerdy AND a mystery!


Last thing that made me laugh: During rotations, when I was teaching in another first grade room about Thanksgiving, one kid said he was thankful for “watching football all day on TV” – right on, kid, that’s MY idea of a great Thanksgiving, too! It just so happens that his mom is a first grade teacher in our school as well, and she got a good laugh out of our shared FANatacism when I told her about it after school.


~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

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Nearly Wordless Wednesday 11/10/10 - Pillow Dog Bliss

Mr. Mamie sent me an email the other day that said the following: "This morning YOUR dog pushed the pillow until it was on your lap desk and then went and laid down all comfy like."

That's my doggie!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Ten Things Tuesday 11/9/10

Ten Funny Things Kids Do Almost Daily:

1. Check out what socks I am wearing.
2. Dance like goofballs to our calendar songs.
3. Say things like "Ohhhhh, bananas!" and "Ooooooh, applesauce!" as they approach the salad bar at lunch.
4. Call me "Mom," "Grandma," and even "Dad."
5. Shout out their former kindergarten teachers' names with great excitement when we pass them in the hall.
6. Chase each other in endless games of "boy/girl 'trapped'," "jail," "dragons," "monsters," and innumerable variations.
7. Warn me not to burn my tongue on my hot tea/coffee.
8. Ask for band-aids for totally invisible injuries.
9. Hand me the woodchips from the playground that get stuck in their shoes and clothes like it's precious treasure (I immediately throw the splintery things into the trash).
10. Say "Thank you for teaching us today!" on the way to the bus, every afternoon - except that's not funny, it's WONDERFUL, and I am grateful to the little girl who says it every. single. day. :)

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Menus 11/8/10 - 11/14/10

 Monday: Mr. and Mrs. Mamie go out with friends visiting from out of town. Leftovers of last night's Ruby Tuesday Potato-Cheese Soup for GrandmaT.

Tuesday: Oven-baked Chicken Fried Steak (I don't have a source listed on the recipe so I can't link it, boo me!), Italian Rice Pilaf (made with organic brown rice),  green salad.

Wednesday: Chicken and White Bean Chili, green salad, corn chips (the organic ones from Costco).

Thursday: Slow-Cooker Beef Stew, green salad, Oatmeal Rolls (from the freezer).

Friday: Beef and Bean Enchiladas (made with this homemade enchilada sauce), Spanish Rice (made with organic brown rice).

Saturday: CrochetMom's Chicken Tetrazini (got bumped from a preceding week), green salad.

Sunday: Mrs. Chili's BBQ Beef, as sandwiches (got bumped from a preceding week).

See LOTS more meal plans and recipe links at www.orgjunkie.com. Happy eating!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Announcing...

The RECIPES tab, now live on the blog! I finally gathered up "all" (like, all 30) recipes I have published on the blog, and made a separate page for them. Wheeeeee! Check it out!

Now I want to make other pages... probably one dedicated to Wombat (mom), maybe one with first grade resources...? Hmmmmm, we'll see where creativity (such as it is) takes me.

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Chicken (or Turkey) Tetrazini

On my recipe it says that I got this from CrochetMom in December 1991 when they (she and Travellin'Dad) lived in Eugene, OR. It can be made with either chicken or turkey, which makes this a good post-Thanksgiving-leftovers meal.

 

Chicken (or Turkey) Tetrazini

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces frozen egg noodles (dry noodles that have been pre-boiled also work)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1-1/2 cups cooked, cubed/shredded chicken/turkey
• 1-1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (thawed)
• 2 Tbl diced pimentos
• 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbl shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbl dried parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375. Grease an 11 x 7 (approximately) baking dish.
2.   Prepare noodles according to package directions, to al dente.
3. Combine soup, milk, water, and shredded cheddar cheese in a large saucepan. Cook on medium heat until sheese is melted and mixture is hot.
4. Stir the noodles, chicken/turkey, vegetables, and pimento into the cheese sauce in the saucepan until combined.
5. Transfer sauce/noodle/chicken mixture to baking dish.
6. Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese and parsley in a small bowl; sprinkle over top of contents of baking dish.
7. Bake uncovered 30 minutes.

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Turkey Tacos

We rocked the tacos last night! I didn't make a meal plan for this week, which sometimes happens. It wasn't too much of a fail though, because at least I was conscientious about planning the night before and defrosting/prepping as needed.

On Thursday evening I got out a pound of ground turkey, with a couple of different things in mind for Friday's dinner.  By the time I got home yesterday, exhausted and cranky after three days of "professional development" at school (and three days of being away from my classroom while it was descending into chaos), motivation was at low ebb. Add to that the need to drive Niece to a slumber party 5 miles down the highway right at dinnertime, and enthusiasm for cooking really hit bottom.

I consulted Mr. Mamie with three options: turkey tacos, stuffed bell peppers (my mom's recipe), or Easy Cheeseburger Casserole from Tammy's Recipes (which we have had and loved before).  He was fairly neutral. My lack of motivation continued.

Finally I peeled myself out of the purple leather recliner and browned the turkey... and cooked up some GREAT tacos!

Turkey Tacos

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 small can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• Water
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup taco seasoning - this homemade blend from Annie's Eats is AWESOME and made these tacos PERFECT!
• Shells - corn tortillas, flour tortillas, or store-bought taco shells
• Toppings - salsa, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, olives, whatever you want

Directions:

1. Brown the ground turkey in a good-sized skillet; drain off the accumulated liquid (it's mostly water)
2. Add the taco seasoning to the browned turkey. I used nearly 1/2 cup of the homemade blend. Stir.
3. Add the 8 ounce can of tomato sauce to the turkey and seasoning; stir well.
4. Fill the tomato sauce can with water and then add water to the turkey mixture until you have a saucy consistency that pleases you. I added the full can because I knew that my sauce would be simmering for a bit (while I drove Niece to her party).
5. Simmer at least 10 - 15 minutes to allow the seasonings to absorb into the sauce and for everything to come together.
6. While the taco meat is simmering, prepare your shells. Tortillas heated on an electric griddle are GREAT. Just spray the hot griddle lightly with olive oil, place the tortillas on it, and flip when they start to get very lightly brown on the griddle side. Spray the griddle in between batches of tortillas. If you use store-bought crunchy taco shells, your tacos will be 1000 times better if you heat the shells on a cookie sheet in a 325 degree oven for 6 - 7 minutes. TRUST ME on this - the difference is like night and day!
7. Top tacos with your choice of goodies and enjoy!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Six Word Saturday 11/6/20

Long, difficult week - missed my classroom!

For more Six Word Saturday, visit Show My Face.

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

The Post-It Post

http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/promos/201010_sm/thank_you.html

I know, this is a weak excuse for a NaBloPoMo post! But, I do love office/school supplies, and I want EVERYONE to have some! So click on the link for a sample and coupon from 3M, the Post-It people.

~Mamie"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!"(Hunter S. Thompson)

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Kitchen Gadget Questions

Saw this at Budget Bytes and though it would be fun to post!


1. What is your most prized appliance/gadget or what item do you get the most use out of?

Definitely my KitchenAid mixer, which was passed on to me by Wombat and GolfDad when they downsized to an RV for some long-term traveling. GolfDad has been trying to get it back ever since! Close second is the CrockPot.

2. What common appliance or gadget do you NOT own and how have you managed without it?

Hmmmmmm, perhaps a mandolin? That seems to be a popular cutting tool these days. I don't have an electric can opener, either.

3. What gadget or appliance have you bought and never ended up using nearly as much as you had hoped?

That would probably have to be the George Forman Grill. Fortunately, I didn't actually buy it - it was passed on from Travellin'Dad and CrochetMom.

4. a) What would you buy for your kitchen if you had a million dollars and b) what is on your "to buy" list right now?

Million bucks? Double oven, walk-in cooler (as my fridge), prep sink, indoor grill. To buy list: Perhaps an immersion blender, though it's not a necessity - just sounds like fun!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Nearly Wordless Wednesday 11/3/10

Mom and me, camping, circa 1980.

(GolfDad is in the background)

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)