Ground Beef Barbeque (Or Glorified Sloppy Joe's)

This is very tasty, but it's pretty much homemade sloppy joe's. Don't forget the bread. They don't include it in the recipe but you're going to need it. Enjoy!

GROUND BEEF BARBEQUE

1 lb. ground beef (or ground turkey)
1/2-1 onion, diced
1/2 c. diced celery
Diced pepper, if desired (I omit this!)
3/4 c. catsup
1/4 c. smoked barbecue sauce
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tbsp. vinegar
1/4 c. brown sugar

Brown meat, onion, celery (and pepper) lightly in frying pan or in microwave oven. Drain. In saucepan or crock pot, add other ingredients and simmer (the longer the better).

Serves 4-6.

Cute but Strange

So the little one (who will be two soon) is apparently training to be a fighter (we’re he’s receiving this training, his dad and I have yet to figure out). One day as he was standing, blocked by the invisible barrier at the doorway of the kitchen (so not allowed in there for all our sakes) he proceeded to hang on to the wall, stick his foot in the air and shout, “HI YA!” Well the yell was convincing enough (OK not really more like cute) but the kick, well he’s going to need some more training if he’s going to be a successful fighter. However the other thing he does, is to get in your face, yell, “Fight!” then proceed to sock you in the jaw. Really, young sir? No more TV for you.

Well the oldest (a gigantic four year old) isn’t without his specialness either. The other day his dad had told him to do something (or maybe not to do something, who can keep track anymore). So he came to me babbling about whatever it was. The Man says, “Hey I’ve already told you about that.” The Boy comes back with, “But I’m not takin’ ‘bout you. I’m talkin’ ‘bout mommy.” Well knowing he was being a little smart ass (please excuse my language) I replied, “Little boy you need to watch your mouth.” Do you know the little loudmouth came back with, “But, Mom, would I ever steer you wrong?”
*blink* *blink*

Well the conversation was over after that, because The Man and I laughed until we couldn’t breathe. There are times when I am royally depressed I don’t own a video camera. *sigh*

Kids…

They’re such weird interesting little people. So one day (don’t ask me which day though) the boys were taking a bath. The little one thinks the big one is the best things since sliced bread (so what if it’s cliché) except for when he tries to bully him for his toys. Well anyway, they were splashing and covering the bathroom with soapy water (so glad they have their own bathroom... sort of) and all of a sudden we hear this insane, belly laugh coming from the little one (who will be two in August, so just imagine how that might sound). I am not sure what the big one was doing to make the little one laugh SO hard, but it seemed each of the twenty four thousand times he did it the little one laughed, HARD. For the life of us I can’t think of anything I’d find that funny now, but I would kill to be let in on the joke. Ah, to be a kid again… not that I’m that far off from being one myself.

Can I Get to the End Already?

I mean really, is it asking too much to just be done with this book? I mean I really do love the story, don’t get me wrong, and that’s part of the reason I want to be done with it so badly. It has nothing to do with that fact that I’ve worked on it for so long that I am now seeing double. No, no it’s for the love of the story. And if it wasn’t taking me so long to polish this baby up I’d have already submitted it. It has nothing to do with my procrastination issues… and addiction to angry birds. That can’t be it! I refuse to accept it. Soon, hopefully very soon, I’m going to finish this story and move on to something else, just as soon as I finish this game of angry birds get my brain in gear. *starts up another level*

I Could Really Use a Laptop (Random)

*sigh* The one computer we have at our place is totally NOT cutting it. The teenager (well he’s actually more of a young adult now, but that’s not as fun to say) needs it for school, The Man needs it to look for work and I need it for playing angry birds writing. You should see the tussle that takes place in the mad dashes we all take to get to the computer. Seriously, it shouldn’t be this difficult to get in a game of angry birds some writing time. Anywho, if I could get a nice laptop of my very own it would totally make my day, no my week, no my LIFE! Dramatic much? Why, yes I am, thanks so much for asking. I mean come on, is it really that much to ask to want my own space to get in some much needed time for angry birds writing/editing. If anyone wants to donate to my worthy cause I am not above begging. *sigh* It’s really sad what I’ve been reduced to, isn’t it? Wait, never mind. Don’t answer, I’ll be over here playing a game of angry birds. *wink*

Glazed Pork Chops Baked in Mushroom Cream Sauce

I found this one when I was just looking for something other than my usual. You can check it out on Cooks.com if you'd like. It's one of my favorite spots for finding recipes. Let me tell you I didn't have any leftovers or complaints when I made this dish. Yum!

GLAZED PORK CHOPS BAKED IN MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE

4 pork chops
kosher salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can whole mushrooms (or equivalent fresh)
1 large onion, sliced and quartered
3 stalks celery, sliced
½ cup sweet Marsala wine
3 tbsp. butter
1 cup water

Season pork chops with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic then heat up a frying pan (cast iron preferably!). Melt butter and brown the chops on both sides. Remove chops and put aside.
Deglaze the pan with the Marsala wine and let simmer a few minutes while you scrape up the bits off the bottom of the pan. Put the chops back in the pan, turning them over to let both sides get a nice glaze on them. Put the chops in a large casserole dish. Add the mushroom soup and water to the frying pan and stir until mixed then add the celery and whole mushrooms and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile brown the onions in another pan in butter until golden brown then add to the main frying pan. Once everything is mixed nicely together you can pour over your pork chops (make sure you turn the pork chops a few times to get some sauce all over).

Bake at 350°F for about an hour or so.

Vacation!

I’d really love a vacation. Not a staycation, where you take time off from your normal life and stay home or even in the same city. I mean a real vacation. I want to get on a plane, boat or train and go somewhere no one knows me except my travel companions, preferably with beaches and or waterfalls with crystal clear water. I want to eat different/ethnic/exotic foods and do some nice shopping. I want to immerse myself in a different culture for a while and learn a few things about their native land, then spend a good portion of time just… relaxing. I want my room to have a nice balcony or maybe I’ll rent a splendid vacation home and enjoy fresh ocean breezes coming in through my bedroom window. Oh my, that sounds so nice. *happy sigh*

Oh well, back to reality… at least for a little while. *wink*

Blank!

Have you ever worked hard to come up with an idea of something only to come up with a big huge blank? Yeah, the story of my life. I think I’ve even tried to focus so hard that I’ve given myself a headache… or fifty. Perhaps this is my brain trying to inform me that it just needs a rest… or I could be losing my mind. It does usually help if I just let my mind go for a while, only watch or read "fluff" (as my dad would call it), but then I get board with that and I’m pondering away once again. Do they have twelve step meetings for people who are going to think themselves crazy? If so I’m going to need their info, ASAP!

*sighs and goes in search of fluff*

First I’m Hot Then I’m Cold

No this is not a post about the weather… though where I live it could apply. This is post about my wavering motivation. Regardless I always want to feel like I’m being productive. I love knowing that I am working on something that brings me joy and to feel like I’m making progress in important areas of my life. There are times when I am so pumped and ready to go, I’m moving too fast or too much even for myself. Then there are other times when I can barely get moving. It’s not that I don’t want to, I just can’t seem to motivate myself to do whatever it is I’ve planned.

Honestly, the only thing I can think of to help my situation is to avoid beating up on myself when I hit my down moments. They happen, it’s just life and everyone gets tired. Logically I know this, but when I’m not working on something I feel like I’m going stir crazy or like I’m losing my edge… which is silly, right? I’m sure we all just need to take a break everyone once in a while so when I’m “cold” perhaps I could just consider it a break and enjoy it, then when the mood hits me, hit the ground running (I totally love that saying).

Stuffed Cornish Hens

I found this one online one year when I was looking to do something different for Christmas. Though it's not Christmas I'm sure you can still enjoy it. ;)

STUFFED CORNISH HENS

1 (6 oz.) pkg. long grain and wild rice mix
1/2 c. diced celery
1 (5 oz.) can water chestnuts, sliced
1 (3 oz.) can chopped mushrooms, drained (1/2 c.)
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 tbsp. soy sauce
4 (1-1 1/2 lbs.) ready to cook Cornish game hens

Cook rice using package directions; cool. Add remaining ingredients except Cornish hens. Toss lightly to mix. Salt inside of birds and stuff and kk. Roast according to poultry roasting chart.
Serves 4.

MIA (Again)

So I’ve been missing… again. I know, bad Lauren. *slaps hand* But it I’ve been doing a lot while I’ve been away. I went to a woman’s conference with my mom and it was fabulous. It definitely helped me to bond with other women; believe it or not I’m not always so good at that. *gasp* Right, I know. Anyway, I took a lot of time to look deep within myself and acknowledge things about my life I love or want to change. Then when I got back to the day job I had 40 bagillion things to catch up on. *still trying to catch my breath* And finally life is coming to some semblance of calm so I’m back. Yay!


I’ve been working on my writing and getting a lot of editing done. I feel really good about the path my writing is taking. I can see my growth with every story I finish and I love to see how my writing is transforming for the better (at least to me anyway). Now, that life has settled back down it’s time to get back to business. Wish me luck!

I’m Turning into My Mother (Totally Random)

OMG how has this happened? I’ve been a tomboy all my life. I preferred to buy everything in grey, black and blue (the darker the better). Everything was to have as little glitter and glitz as possible, and make-up, forget it. On the other hand my mom is one of the most festive people I’ve ever seen. Glitter, sequence, bright colors galore and poor woman she’s spent her life trying to convert me (and probably wondering why she got stuck with such a dull dresser). Of course, over time, she’s decided to buy my clothes to help spruce up my wardrobe, but that only went so far and even though the clothes were cute I still resisted wearing them.

Well I don’t know what alien came and altered my brain while I’ve been sleeping, but now… things have changed. I go to the store now and buy reds, oranges, pinks and yellows. One of the last things I purchased was black but *gulp* shinny. I purposely bought a top with (oh my dear) sequence. And I have a few of pairs of leggings sporting (heaven forbid) glitter. As I checked out my wardrobe, recently, I realized that my mom must be rubbing off on me... but maybe I kinda like it so I’ll keep the little parts I’ve stolen… for now anyway. Sorry mom. :P

Tasty Beef Stew

Here I go again with the Crock Pot. I'm telling you, that thing is completely awesome. I found a recipe for easy beef stew and I want to share it. I hope you enjoy!


CROCK POT BEEF STEW

2 lbs. stew meat in 1" cubes
¼ c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 ½ c. beef broth
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic or chopped onion
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. paprika
4 sliced carrots
3 diced potatoes
1 stalk celery, diced
Put meat in crock pot. Mix flour, salt and pepper and add to meat and stir to coat meat. Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix. Cover and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours. Stir well before serving.

Far From Perfect by Portia Da Costa

FAR FROM PERFECT - Portia Da Costa

Enduring passion, turbulent emotions, and an engagement of convenience…

Anna Felgate and Nick Lisitano shared a night of passion together four long years ago, and even though the sex was perfect, the emotional aftermath and the estrangement that followed were about as far from perfect as it's possible to be. Both strong willed individualists, they've been keeping their distance ever since - even though they both secretly admit that they're still hot for each other. But the best laid plans of estranged lovers never run smoothly, and a crisis in Nick's family brings the two of them back together again. For the sake of his ailing father, Nick proposes a daring plan - a temporary engagement - and even though she knows she's playing with fire and putting her heart in deep peril, Anna is compelled to agree to it.

Can these two former lovers pull off their deception without tearing each other apart in the process?  And will they manage to resist their mutual desire and keep their hands off one another... or will they plunge headlong into an affair, perfect or otherwise?

Read an excerpt

Read a longer excerpt at Google Books

Read an excerpt and BUY from Samhain

Personal Time

I have a thing for this time “issue” don’t I? Anyway I was really considering the notion that many people want time for themselves but rarely get it. We feel guilty thinking of ourselves when we feel that so many others want or “need” our attention. There is nothing wrong with wanting to share time with others, but there is something (in my opinion) wrong with never feeling like our own needs are met.

I’m not saying go out for hours and spend time frolicking out in the forest communing with the creatures in nature… unless you want to. But we can take a sliver of time (or more) each day to take a deep breath, relax and just be. Most of us take some sort of lunch break or other break no matter what our professions happen to be (including being a stay at home parent) and during these breaks, we could take some time just for ourselves, if we wanted.

Who says that taking time for ourselves has to take hours and cause us to feel guilty about leaving our families or loved ones without our attention (heaven forbid)? But, we could take fifteen minutes here or an hour there, each day to relax our minds and spend some special time just alone with our thoughts and no one else. And it doesn’t have to cost anything either. It can be window shopping at a new store, or taking a walk down a trail, taking a drive down a street you’ve always wondered about, but never went to. It could even be something as simple as going to the local park and observing the people around you. It’s the quality of the time that matters not the length of it or the amount of money you did or didn’t spend. It doesn’t even have to be done every day, but it sure would feel nice if we could all pull it off.

I think things like this contribute to the overall wellbeing of people in general and specifically to their creativity. When we are able to clear our minds and just let things be and enjoy ourselves it seems that a weight is lifted from our minds, so we can have clarity about what we’ve been trying to accomplish. Spending quality time with myself often helps with my writing and makes me feel like the creative individual I desire to be. Give a shot. What do you have to lose?

The Plot Bunnies are Against Me!

I’m sure I’ve brought this up a time or twenty, but sometimes I just need to vent a little. My characters do what they want, with no regard to how I feel or how I want MY story to go. My ideas come and go constantly. One moment I think I have the best idea ever and then the next I think I need my head examined for ever having it. On top of all that, before I can finish anything I get more and more and more and more (ok you get the picture) ideas for new stories.

The plot bunnies are evil. They pop up out of nowhere, sprinkling my brain with little dustings of story ideas that I can’t forget, but I have to force myself not to work on them. Then I get all antsy, because I want to work on them (because I won’t allow it if I ever want to finish something). I have documents and workbooks full of story ideas not to mention the tons of stories I have yet to complete. Please just hit me over the head with a mallet and end my misery. *sigh*

My Boyfriend's Back by Chrissy Olinger

My Boyfriend's Back

A Short, Sweet Romance

by Chrissy Olinger

Paranormal/Fantasy Romance only .99

15,826 words

Available on Kindle
from Amazon.com -- BUY IT NOW

"Fear not! I bring you tidings of... DAMMIT!"

With those few words, Jack Lynch's world was turned upside-down. Once the nerd everyone loved
to torment, he has returned to his home town for his twentieth reunion. Now a multimillionaire, Jack has everything but the one thing that matters: his
true love. Twenty years ago he let her slip away. Now he's back, and determined to win her heart.

But screeching tires on an icy road change everything. If being temporarily dead weren't bad
enough, Norman— an angel in training— returns Jack's spirit to the wrong body— the class bully, John Lydon.

With the rockin' hot bod of his former nemesis, the help of a nerdy angel, and his own wits,
Jack has to get Rori to see him, love him, and bring about a miracle... without revealing this true identity. The clock is ticking, and he only has three days.

Jack's got the brains; his new body has the brawn; and Norman's got his back. What could possibly
go wrong?

*This book contains some mild language, no strong sexual content, and an excessive amount of silliness.

Chicken and Rice Recipe

Here is a recipe I love because it's so easy. The crock pot is one of the best cooking inventions ever, in my opinion. I can make a wonderful meal with as little hassle as possible for the most part. Check it out and tell me what you think.

CROCK - POT CHICKEN AND RICE

4 lg. chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ c. diced celery
1 c. minute rice
Mix in crock pot the 3 cans of soup and rice. Place the chicken on top of the mixture, then add diced celery. Cook for 3 hours on high or 4 hours on low. Makes 4 servings

Quality Time

Time is a big issue for most people, as it is considered our most precious commodity. We want to be careful how and with whom we spend our time. And really no one can be blamed for being picky about it. The balance between needs and wants is very sensitive and we all want to make sure we are getting the most out of our time.

One of the biggest areas people feel they don’t get enough time is with family members, and more specifically with their significant others. We want to spend time with the one who makes our heart beat faster, the one who sends flutters down our spines, the one who supports us daily whether it’s emotional or monetary or physically. But for some reason the overwhelming majority of the couples I know seem to be lacking in the area of quality time. They want more time to have nice dinner dates, go to the park and walk hand in hand, take in a movie or go on vacations. Between work and home there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day, or are there?

My husband and I have been together almost ten years and there was a time in our lives when we felt the same way. Where was our quality time? But when we took the time to look at a little closer we realized that we had to make the time and then take the time. We go on small dates to Starbucks or McDonalds. When we go to the Y for our workouts we enjoy a free cup of coffee and some conversation before we hit the weights. We take a short trip to the mall and do a little window shopping. Before I leave for work in the morning he makes me a very quick breakfast and we eat together. Sure some of these things require me to wake up a few minutes earlier or go to sleep a few minutes later but I am willing to do what it takes to share quality time with the man I love.

The time is there but we had to decide to take the time and just learn to be appreciative of what we had. Quality time does not have to be an expensive date or candle lit dinner (though there is nothing wrong with those things). Sometimes all it takes is the willingness to sit down and just be together and enjoy each other’s presence. Well, that’s how it works for us and we are happily going on to ten years of loving companionship. Just a thought…

Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley

SWEET AS SIN by Inez Kelley

She was made for sin. Sin was something he knew intimately.

John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he’s driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.

Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won’t lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she’s as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?

Carina Press or Amazon or All Romance ebooks

"The story is hyper intense, hyper complex, its what romance, new romance is supposed to be. Its NEW its fresh, it expands, its so beyond new, its freaking shiny. In the package wonderful. I loved it, I loved it I loved it. " -Romance Book Forums

GAH! Totally Random Rant!

I reaaaaaaaaally hate bad weather. Snow, sleet, ice… pretty much anything that comes with winter and cold weather conditions. I hate, hate, HATE winter. If it could just be cold and windy (and nothing else) I wouldn’t be forced to loathe it so much. I mean hey, throw on a jacket, scarf, hat and cloves and I’m good to go. But any type of precipitation that comes along with cold weather I am totally NOT a fan of… at all… EVER!

Though I am from the Midwest and grew up accustomed to freezing pipes and below freezing temperatures that doesn’t mean I like it. In fact once when I was young I questioned my mother about the necessity of winter. I mean is it really needed? I know there is science and all that, but really, couldn’t there be a way around it? (Keep in mind that I was like five when this conversation took place.) I even asked her if there were places that didn’t have winter and when she said yes, asked if we could we move there. Clearly since I’m still complaining about the weather I must have never gotten my wish, which I try not to hold against my dear mom ‘cause I really do love her. *waves* Hi mom!

I thought I would escape some of the crappy weather if I moved to the South. WRONG! Apparently I didn’t go far enough. For a nice while I managed to avoid the nuisances caused by snow, now we are being bombarded with the wet, flaky, white substance. I think the little bit of snow we get here is worse than the tons of snow received in my home town. The reason is because in the Midwest they are prepared for it but in the South it’s not as expected so things just don’t go well. If spring could come early this year I would be ever so grateful, because I never want to see snow again. *grumbles*