Green drink

I've been craving this drink lately.  I had it at my local natural food store, but have been making it at home.  It tastes and looks like summertime.  The ingredients are 2 green apples, 2 limes, 1 kiwi, and and some kale.

7 layer salad

Here is my version of the 7 layer salad.  I get a lot of requests to bring this to parties from people who have tried it before.

Chop up Romaine lettuce to the size you prefer.

Toppings are peas, grated cheddar cheese, green onion, crispy bacon, hard boiled eggs. ( sometimes I add raw broccoli or cauliflower, cut up real small)

The salad dressing is 3 ingredients:  Mayo, brown sugar, parmesan cheese.   Mix all 3 together.  Taste until you get the right amount of ingredients.  I don't really measure.  I think if I had 1 cup mayo, I would add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.

Toss all ingredients together right before serving.  Add dressing in small batches. You want to add enough salad dressing to make it moist, but not soggy.

Weekend Wanderer

New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope you had an enjoyable holiday season.  Did you make new year resolutions this year?  My yoga instructor said something yesterday that I thought was helpful.  If you make a big resolution, make smaller ones to help reach your goal.  For instance, if you want to have your house organized this year, make smaller goals of doing 1 room every 2 weeks.  If you want to lose "_____" pounds this year, make weekly goals.


I don't usually make New Year Resolutions, but I do want to organize and clean out each room in my house.

My sister-in-law said she takes 15-20 minutes when she has time and will clean out a cabinet, a closet, or a drawer.  It starts adding up and inspires you to do it everyday.

I think it does help to write down a plan and keep track of progress, because you can look back as the year progresses and see how you're doing.

Well, gotta go.  I'm starting with this cabinet today!

December Movies

Have you seen any movies over the holiday week?  I read this book a few years ago and want to see the movie as soon as I have time.  My sons saw Unbroken and said it was good, but the friends they went with were not too excited about it.

Update on movie-
I saw the movie Wild.  It was good, but as usual, the book is much better.

Gift for Anyone (Great Stocking Stuffer)

Seatbelt Cutter Window Breaker Emergency Escape Tool!  I've been meaning to buy this for years, so all the men in my life are getting one in their stocking.

Gift for Him

Last year, I bought this for my older son and he liked it.  My boys have thankfully outgrown Axe, which I made them spray in the garage before they left.  This gives a nice subtle smell.  LINK

Gift for anyone (over 21)

     Rum Chata is made locally in Wisconsin.  I had some on Thanksgiving at my brother-in-laws and it is very good.  It taste somewhat like the leftover milk after eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal.  It is very sweet and I could only sip what is pictured in the glass above.  There are a lot of drink recipes on the web with Rum Chata as an ingredient.  It would be great in a signature drink for a Holiday get together.

Jewish Meatballs

Here is recipe my husband loves.  I'm not sure where he got it, but he always ask me to make it this time of year.

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
2 eggs
1 onion soup mix
1/4 C breadcrumbs or oatmeal


Sauce:
1 can sauerkraout
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 jar chili sauce  ( this is like cocktail sauce, not the hot stuff)
fill jar w/ water- 1C
1/4 C brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together 1st four ingredients and form into bite size meatballs.  Layer in a pan.

Mix the sauce ingredients and bring to a boil.

Pour sauce over meatballs.

Cook for 1 hour.

It makes a great appetizer for parties. 

The Rivoli

     In a neighboring town is a great rehabbed movie theater.  We just saw the movie, The Good Lie, with Reese Witherspoon.  They charge $3.50 a person and the concessions are also reasonably priced.  The movies are a little old, but only by a month or two.  The employees all volunteer and the theater was refurnished with donor money.  It's a nice change from the mega theaters everywhere today.

semester abroad

    My oldest son gets home on Sunday from, a semester abroad, Down Under.  I'm so excited to have him home for a little while.  Here are some of his pictures from Australia.  I'm hoping he got some studying done.  I did not see any photos of books or classrooms.  His girlfriend is studying in Italy, but came to see him for a week.

Gift for her

I bought this slouchy beanie at Nordstrom's when I was in Nashville a few weeks ago.  It is very comfortable and comes in many colors.  Link

Weekend Wanderer