Serve up, Sip & Savour a warm cup of conversation on the stoop in the neighborhood. Talk about your day, your troubles, your passions, your dreams, your loves and get comfort from friends in the neighborhood on the stoop.
Happy Halloween to all the girls and boys in Halloween Land. Come and enjoy a Jack O Lantern show with all the ghosts and goblins.
Dinner Menu for tonight
Meatloaf Brains
2 pounds hamburger with 2 Cups Spaghetti noodles 3 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce One Cup cubed Colby Jack Cheese dash salt and pepper and Italian seasoning and garlic powder 2 pieces of bread torn in pieces 1/4 c BBQ sauce 1 /2 Chopped Onion (Optional) 1 egg 2 TBSP bread crumbs 1/4 c milk Mix all ingredients and shape into a bread pan Bake at 350 degrees for one hour
Yes, Halloween is only five days away. In my writing group on Monday Madness we are to bring forth some inspiration that comes from the prompt, "Witchy Woman" In Good Halloween Fashion, I have made a family halloween video for you to laugh with... You can make one too. Just click link and you will laugh your head off. Waaaaa http://sendables.jibjab.com/add_ecard_message/231176058
Let me share a song I learned when I was in first grade with you.........
"Witches, pumpkin heads and black cats, scary spooks and black bats, Oh it's Halloween Witches, pumpkin heads and black cats, scary spooks and black bats, Oh it's Halloween
Halloween night is a night where fearful things are seen Look Out look Out Look Out look Out Look Out, it's Halloween~~~~
"Taco Tuesday on a Tuesday"....... My sis and I used to say this at college when we went out for taco's. Now we have taco night at home and love it. We call it a fiesta and add a wide variety of fixings to the taco's.
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Shredded Lettuce
Can green and black olives
1 Onion
2 C shredded cheese
Can re fried beans
1 Pound browned ground beef
1 bag taco seasoning
1/3 c water
Taco Shells and Tortilla's
2 C tomatoes
1 C sour cream
Peach or Mango Salsa
Brown the burger, drain and add seasoning and water. Heat while chopping the veggies.
Chop all Vegetables
Warm Taco's in oven for five minutes
Drain all olive cans
Dollop sour cream in bowl
Use Taco holder as shown in my picture above and below if you have one. (if not, use bowls for all)
Fill taco with cheese, burger, veggies and fix ins. Enjoy
In blogger world, it feels so special to earn a reward for your writing. Claudia selected me for theVersatile blogger award and I don't take it lightly. When one is honored with the Versatile Blogger Award, you give it back to seven other talented writers. First I am to write seven things about me that I want to share with you. Here it goes:
I am a single doting mother of two great teens I absolutely love life and am so grateful I have a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology I am an identical twin I was an extra in one of the worst movies ever made-It was called " The Comeback," Starring Robert Yurek and Chyna Phillips God gave me the strength and courage to leave an abusive marriage I sing and used to get paid to sing for weddings and other celebrations- On that note- ha- My twin and I were invited to sing at New York's Carnegie hall
Now I will select my five other winners that I feel deserve this honorable award. http://www.babylifetime.com/===========Susan
Just another day in the life of single mother Laura. As a mother of two kids girl and boy, eight and nine respectively, I still giggle looking back. My usual after work mode was and still is, cooking in my kitchen, hearing active & loud kids running around me, as my comforting smooth jazz plays over the radio. "Ten minutes till dinner kids, that is your dinner bell warning. Let's start the wind down process." I dropped the white apron with a picture of my late father around my neck and tied the string around my waist.
Running circles around my upper living room into the kitchen, Ellie and Jacob did not heed my dinner warning to calm down. My sister and I chopped vegetables for the Caesar salad we were to serve. We laughed as the kids made circles around us. Survivor of lung cancer, my twin sister Linda lived with us and helped me raise my two children with tender love and care. She was coined by my kids at a very young age as "Auntie Mama." She was then and now a very integral part of our family circle. Fourteen now, my son Jacob commented the other day when I said " Jacob you just called Auntie, Mom, his response, It's the same thing, your both my moms. I felt so touched hearing him say what I already knew he felt in his sweet little soul.
Now it's time for the kids to set the table. I reached my hand onto Jacob's shoulder, and stopped him in his tracks,Woe there little horsey. Time to set the table for dinner, and that goes for you too little miss Ellie. " Oh mom, do we have to? "Yes, Ellie, you know that we are a team and that means we all do our part." As I looked down to the floor I noticed Jacob wearing two different socks on his feet. This was a common scenario seeing no reaction at all to having totally different socks. One sock long going up to his knee and the other a short sport sock covering only his foot and barely reaching his ankle. I know I don't have to die on every mountain so I let it go.
Cheesy chicken was once again the hit of the week. Cheese drizzling out of a chicken breast filled with butter, bread crumbs and cream of mushroom soup. The only way this mom can get her kids to eat veggies is to hide them in a meal. Well it worked and as the kids said, " Tasty chicken mom." " I'm glad you liked it kids, please clear the table and take it to the living-room for cuddle time." Routine is so important for children, so this scene was common place at our house.
Table cleared, kitchen cleaned, we were ready to head into the living room for our nightly cuddle time to watch a special show. As Jacob headed for the other room, he grabbed what he thought was the lip balm. Gliding it effortlessly over his lips and pursing his lips together, he noticed my reaction. "Mom, what?" Jacob, what did you put on your lips I screamed as I ran from the kitchen sink over to him? "Mom, I just put lip balm on, why do you have that look on your face? Worried, I took the lip balm into my hand and read it out loud. Warning: This is wart medicine.Do not put this anywhere on the body unless there are warts observed. In case of accidental application on lips, rinse the lips with water until till medicine is gone.
Well, I guess you know what Jacob and I were doing for the next half hour. Here are some words I kept hearing over and over till that dog gone wart medicine was gone off my sons lips. "Hot, hot, hot, burning, ouch, mom get it off." Wart Gloss- Don't try this at home.-----
I get by with a little help from my friends. That is our prompt from Monday Madness. I am proud to share my best friends with you all. I can't include all my besties here, but here are some of my most prized people in the world. I feel so blessed. I was told in middle school that as adults if we can say we have one true friend, then we are blessed.
I do agree and especially as a single mom of two teens that "No man is an island." I know that it takes a village to raise great kids. I am not too proud to ask my good friends for help. We all need a little help some of the time. I think the older we get we understand this concept more fully. There should be no shame in asking good friends for help when you need it. I believe that is what life is about, to be able to ask for what you need.
Those with false pride won't think it is OK to ask for help. Think about it, the more quality people in our kids lives, the better off they are. I am a director of volunteers and this fact will amaze you. Each mentor in a child's life, not only saves tax dollars on children getting into trouble, but much more. When your child has all those around them that they can turn to, it broadens their base. This can help our kids emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually. Each adult in our kid's life can teach them new ways of thinking and of being and it is good for everyone. Self esteem can sky rocket with more quality adults in their lives.
How many adult role models did you have growing up? Who were they and what did you learn from them? Did you ever let them know how important they were to you? Well, we can all help mentor kids just by helping out our friends when they need it. So next time your thinking "Oh, I could really use a extra pair of hands, Don't just say it, call up a friend. Or Help your friends: drive kids to school, help with homework, help take to extra curricular activities.
Know it is never too late to call and let a past mentor/adult know how important they were/are.
. We read the book called " The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. One of the first quotes in the book we read was, "As above, so below, as within, so without." Ron and I were entrenched in the book and read it in two study library study sessions. The book revealed "The Power of Attraction." You bring forth what it is that you want in your life. It also teaches " The Law of Intention." Be mindful of what you want, and ask for it. It stresses that our thoughts need to be intentional. All that you want will come to you in the way it was intended, by a divine plan. I knew as the book was unfolding, that this power was the power I though of as " GOD." In fact, many bible verses were written in these pages and as a bible study enthusiast, I knew this book was meant for me.
This is my Mystery series on hub pages. I am on chapter 17 of this series. Please check it out if you would like.
Please listen to the song "ONE DAY AT A TIME.
When I learned of the writing prompt for BFF today, it was a no brain er as to my inspirations. I want to talk about how very precious life is. I am forty eight years young and still know without a doubt how every day in this life matters. Good bad or ugly, it does not matter to me as long as I know I do my best with what God gave me. I do wear the armour of God and it is helpful in every way to me every day.
I have a strong faith in God and that is my vehicle to try to be ever present in my life. I think it quite wise for all of us to be "in the moment". Life is fleeting. I just lost a good friend and neighbor recently. I am forever reminded that this life in the physical plane goes fast. I hope and pray that my life time here and my actions will serve me well in the heavenly plane. They say that the years in between our birth and death are what matters. I hope in many ways I am emulating goodness in my life. Most of us really do want to be the best we can be.
As I sit here and write this, I am very choked up. I have loved and lost many times, too many to say the least. I have no parents and have been an orphan since 1998. My father, one of my most treasured friends I had in this life, left this earth when I was pregnant with my daughter. I named her after him and so she is Gabrielle JoAnne. The Jo is for John, my fathers first name and Anne stands for his middle name, Anthony. I miss him so much at times it hurts physically. Her first name is for Angel Gabriel. Yes, I am a catholic. Ha
I have met Great people with great hearts and I have met those that I know actually are evil to the core. I have been blessed to say that my soul mate in heaven comes to me when things get difficult. I am sad to say that lately life has been tough because my ex is escalated and is now back to bullying me. Lets just say, I know he is monitoring my blog right now and I feel so very violated but compassion for his state of mind and for him. What I do know is that he is scared. One day at a time..............
I will pray for one day at a time and I pray you will all pray for my children's father, and my kids and I.
"Dear lord, please help xxx not feel like he has to be a bully to get what he wants. Please fill his heart with your love that only comes from you. Please heal his sad heart.
My blog frog challenge today is to write a list and post it on my blog. I have chosen to write on my favorite autumn meals/Snacks to cook.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Zucchini Bread
Pumpkin Bars
Banana Bread
Pot Roast
Cheesy Chicken
Meat Loaf
Stir Fry
What are you cooking this fall?
Laura's Pot Roast from her Dad- John Anthony Rogers Recipe - I miss you Johnny.......
One Pot Roast-or Country Roast
One package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix and One Package Mushroom-Onion Lipton
Four Bay Leaves
One can Cream of Mushroom Soup
One can Cream of Celery (Optional)
Salt and Pepper
Any Veggies you desire- I do: Onion,Green and Bell Peppers, Potatoes, Carrots,Celery, Rutabaga....
One Can Beef Bouillon
Sear the Pot Roast in a frying pan in olive oil. You want to sear it long enough to capture and seal in the moistness in the roast. Make sure to observe brown on both sides before putting into the Roasting Pan.
Put the can of beef bouillon in the bottom of the roasting pan with the bay leaves.
Put roast in.
Add cream of mushroom and celery on top of roast
Next add the Lipton soup mixes
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cover with foil
Cook for 1.5 hours Add in the Vegetables. I par boil the potatoes,carrots and celery till almost soft. Cook another 1.5 hours. Suction juice over top of roast every hour. Makes a great gravy. Bake at 350 degrees Serve with dinner rolls
