Author: Lois Houston

I'm a sweet tea drinkin' southern gal who loves to cook, bake, crochet, and read. Check out my blog for posts about parenting, faith, books, crafts, planning, baking, cooking, and life in general.

So simple, yet so good

I am having one of my favorite salads for lunch today.

I don’t know why, but I have been on a salad kick lately. Maybe my body needs the greens.  It doesn’t matter. I’m just loving eating salads again. I haven’t had many since my surgery because it seemed silly to fill my belly with salad instead of protein.   Now that I’m getting closer to my goal, I’m eating a little more variety and the salads are back! Yay!

This is one of those salads you’d get at a fancy restaurant. All dolled up on a pretty plate and you’d think you were getting something super special. Until you deconstruct the salad and see how stinkin’ easy it is to make.

Then, it goes from “super special salad” that you eat only on occasion to “super duper salad” that you can eat anytime.

The magic of this salad is the blend of flavors.  The creamy, pungent gorgonzola mixed with the sweet crunch of the pears and topped with the bite of the balsamic dressing. 

Yum.

Sigh.

So good.

Here’s what I use:

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You need:

  • a pear (I used a bosc) Peeled and cored. Slice into about 1/8” thick slices
  • mixed greens – I used a spring green mix.
  • Balsamic dressing
  • gorgonzola cheese

That’s it!

Super-easy.

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Assemble your salad thusly and then drizzle with your dressing.

This is not a salad you want to “drown” in dressing.

You want the Balsamic to be a compliment to the cheese and pears.

And, quite honestly, the greens are just the transport vehicle for the yumminess.
(to me, anyway)

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You can also add a little grilled chicken if you're feeling a little bit crazy. (or hungry)

Try this today.

You will be glad you did.

Trust me.

(have I steered you wrong yet?)

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What I’m Reading Right Now

imageWell, not really reading.

More like listening.

It’s an audio book.

But it’s really good.

So, I thought I’d share.

The book is “Russian Winter.”  I downloaded the audiobook from audible.com. Love that I can do that – it allows me to “read” while I knit, drive, cook, or do other things where my eyes must be otherwise occupied but my brain needs some stimulation.

Anyhow.

The story is about a Russian ballerina, Nina Revskaya, and her decision to sell her jewel collection at auction.

There is mystery and memories aplenty in the story as we are flashed back in time to Nina’s youth as she recalls her time in the Bolshoi ballet and living in Russia under Stalinist rule.

Other principal characters are Drew Brooks, the young woman who works for the auction house hired to sell the jewels and Grigori Solodin, a professor who believes the jewels hold secrets to his own past.

I am finding the story very engrossing and hate to stop listening when it is time to do other things.  So far, I’m only a few chapters in, so I can’t really spoil the plot for you, but I can in good conscience recommend the book to you.

 

What are you reading these days?

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Menu Plan Monday ~ 18 October

Fall is really here now. The air is crisp and cool and it doesn’t warm up too much during the day – just enough to make it comfortable to be outside. I LOVE weather like this.

It makes me want hearty, filling foods.  Things that “stick to your ribs” and make you want to go snuggle in front of a fire after you eat.

I’m planning some baking this week, too. Hoping to make homemade whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread and maybe some plain whole wheat bread.  I’m also baking a cake for my ladies’ Bible study on Wednesday morning (thinking it’ll be the Brown Sugar Walnut cake)

Dinner tonight is easy – we cooked a chicken in the crock pot yesterday, so that will be dinner along with some rice and gravy and vegs.Thanksgiving

Here’s what else I have planned to cook this week. A few items are familiar from previous weeks that I didn’t get to cook but am still in the mood to eat.

Join us over at Menu Plan Monday on orgjunkie.com and share your menu plan for the week – and get some great ideas if you don’t have a menu plan!

A recipe for you

Happy Friday to you all!

I haven’t shared any new recipes this week, so I thought I’d give you a treat today and post a new one. It’s not new to me, it’s a well-loved family favorite, but I don’t think I’ve ever shared it on the blog before.

This came to me through some of my past Weight Watchers friends.  It can be WW friendly very easily by using ground turkey and low-fat cheese in the recipe. I’ve tried making it low carb before by substituting sweet potato for the baking potato but that wasn’t very well received by the family. Sweet potato is too mushy when baked and the sweet flavor didn’t meld very well with the spiciness of the cumin and chili powder. Oh well. Lesson learned.

This is a great make-ahead recipe and it also freezes well and doubles well. So if you are a fan of making 2 while you’re making one, this is a great candidate. You could serve one for dinner tonight and freeze the other one for dinner on another night.  I’ve also doubled it before to serve to a large crowd.

I usually serve with salsa and sour cream to top the casserole. Other than that, I don’t think it really needs much else. It’s just yummy all by itself.

I hope you enjoy.

You can access the recipe for printing from here.

Mexican Potato Casserole 

Hearty and delicious recipe that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Yields: 8 Servings   

Ingredients

1 teaspoon Olive oil
1 pound Ground beef or ground turkey
2 medium Bell pepper diced
1 medium Onion diced
1 can Diced tomatoes (I use mild Rotel or Del Monte Diced Tomatoes with Chilies)
2 cups Mexican blend cheese shredded 
1 can black beans
Chili powder 
Cumin 
1 tablespoon Minced garlic 
Salt/pepper to taste 
2 large Baking potatoes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.
Using a mandolin, slice potatoes on the bias (diagonal) into thin slices (about 1/8" thick). Set aside.
Brown meat in skillet with olive oil, seasoning with Houston House Seasoning, chili powder and cumin.
Add onion & bell pepper and cook until vegetables begin to soften.
Mix in tomatoes and season to taste.
Cook 5-6 minutes.
In a greased 13×9 casserole dish, layer potatoes and meat mixture, adding cheese between layers.
Top final layer with cheese.
Bake 40-50 minutes, covered. Bake additional 10 minutes uncovered to brown cheese if desired.
Serve with salsa & sour cream for topping.

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So Thankful

We all get caught up in the day-to-day hassles of life.

Of just surviving the day unscathed.

But, sometimes, it’s good to slow down a bit and look around at all we have to be thankful for.

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I’m thankful this morning:

  • for the sun that comes up without fail each day.
  • for the birdies who eat the seed I leave outside for them and entertain me with their antics.
  • for my girls’ smiles and hugs before they leave for school.
  • for my warm bed and cozy home.
  • for SuperMan, who takes care of me and makes me feel safe and secure.
  • for my friends who love me and cheer me on.
  • for my job.
  • for hot water and electricity.
  • for the luxury of being able to choose what to eat for dinner – and not wonder if I’m going to have dinner at all.
  • for the many blessings I’ve been given… too many to number.

What are you thankful for today?

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Not-so-Wordless Wednesday

So, today is supposed to be a Wordless Wednesday post, but I have some thoughts to share with you that (sort of) go along with the photos I want to share.

IMG_20101012_181235 IMG_20101012_181042 We went to the fair yesterday, the girls and I.  This was the first time in a few years that I’d been to the fair, but SuperMan was working late and the only good night to go this week was last night. I wasn’t looking forward to it, dreading it actually, but I “sucked it up” and took them.  My neighbor (and good friend) went with me so that our kids could ride the rides together and we’d have moral support as well.  I was thinking I was going to need it.

You see, in years past, I have hated the fair. Yes, hated it.

I hated the noise. I hated the crowds.

I hated the carnies. I hated the smells.

I hated the walking. I hated the sensory overload.

It was misery in action for me.

I would go, only to please my family, but couldn’t wait to leave and cringing inside the whole time.

Only yesterday was different.

And I think it is because I am different these days.

Yesterday was fun.

Yes, there were crowds of scary people (where do all those weirdos come from anyway?)

Yes, there was a lot of noise and smelly smells and weird, creepy carnival people.

There was all of that.

But, somehow, yesterday, it was fun.

I loved watching my kids on the rides.

I loved watching them get their faces painted.

I loved hanging out with my friends and running into other friends (hi, Leigh Ann!)

I loved the crazy robot who wanted to “double-dog dare” us

I loved watching the rescue dogs do their frisbee tricks.

Imagine that.

I loved the fair.

Oh, and the best part?  I wasn’t exhausted when we got home. My feet weren’t aching and I didn’t feel like I’d just climbed Mt. Everest.

Yes, things are definitely different these days.

And I like it this way.

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Do you coupon?

I have a few well-intentioned friends who have been encouraging me to coupon for a few years now. I have been dragging my feet because it just seems sooo overwhelming and like so much extra work.

I have been trying to figure out a system that would work for me.

I’ve tried Coupon Mom and Southern Savers websites.

I’ve tried the “save every coupon circular and date them and then refer back to them to find the best deals” system.  THAT didn't work for me. Too much clutter and too much more time involved.  I have a hard time finding time to go shopping, I can’t spend an extra hour looking through filed circulars to find coupons.

I’ve tried cutting my coupons and storing them in a cute little file box.  That got forgotten at home more times than not and the coupons were expired before I remembered to use them.

I have recently, though, hit upon something that works for me.  I thought I’d share with you … just in case you coupon, too. 

And I’d love to hear your input and suggestions. I’m a relatively new recruit and I’m definitely looking for ideas from the more seasoned couponers out there.

Here’s what I do:

  • I make my grocery list of what we’re out of and what we need.
    (I do this throughout the week)
  • I look at the weekly paper for sales at the grocery stores I frequent.
  • I pull the circulars and clip the coupons I know I will use.
  • I check Southern Savers website -  I find it easier to use to find the specials for the grocery stores I like.
  • I plan my menu for the week, based on what is on sale and what we’re hungry for.
  • I update my grocery list with any specials I find on the web and my menu plan items.
  • I pull my coupons for the grocery list and put them with my list.

BUT, the biggest thing I have found that has helped me is this:

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A friend told me about it. At first, I thought it was a novel concept, but who needs another “toy” for coupons and shopping? Now that I’ve used it?

Love it.

Love the way it makes it SUPER EASY to sort my coupons with this little thingy. It’s about 3 feet long and has a spot for you to put every category of your coupons. So, I cut, stack and then sort.  My Big Girl loves to help with this part.

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  Everything goes in its own place.

 

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It even has a place for me to keep the coupons I’m planning to use for my next shopping trip. And I move them over to the “checkout” section as I use them.

Easy peasy.

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There’s also a place for the other “miscellaneous” coupons we get – for restaurants, car service places, etc.  I like the fact that I can have ALL my coupons in one place.

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Have you found a system that works for you?

What do you use? Share with us all in the comments… I’d love to hear your ideas.

Menu Plan Monday ~ 11 Oct

Happy Monday!!

I am so loving this fall weather. Makes me feel so alive and so much like baking and creating. 

Busy week in our house this week – the girls had a break from dance classes last week, but we’re back on the normal schedule this week so we will be busy. I’ve got some comfort foods planned and hoping to find time to do a little baking as well, but we will see.

menu plan monday

Here’s what’s on the menu for us this week:

  • Country Fried Steak & Gravy
    I use cubed steaks for this and cook them low & slow on the stove for about an hour. Makes a really tender steak. I’ll serve with some mashed potatoes and veggies.
  • Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
    This is one of Big Girl’s favorite meals and comfort food for me. I make it the easy way – I use Paul Newman’s Garlic Alfredo sauce (I watch for it when it’s on sale and stock up) and whole wheat noodles.
  • Sesame chicken bites
    One of my go-to easy recipes that the kids love. I’ll serve it with some baked french fries and fruit.
  • Salmon Croquettes
    SuperMan loves the leftovers for breakfast sandwiches.

And, well, I don’t know what else.  I’ll see where the week takes me, I guess, but this gets me started. I’ll probably toss in some chili or a crock-pot meal in the mix but I will wait to see where the week’s agenda goes.

I hope you have a great week! Check out other menu plans over at orgjunkie.com.

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Eight Months

Many of you have been asking for some updated pictures – so I thought I’d share the recent ones I recruited SuperMan to take of me to mark my eighth month post-surgery.

To set the stage…

One month post surgery:

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And in July (five months out)

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And this week (eight months out)IMG_0031

 

I still have a little ways to go, but I am finally starting to feel like I look on the outside like the girl I feel I am on the inside (well,I don’t feel so wrinkled on the inside, but I guess that is what happens when you get over forty)