A night well spent

I may have a kitchen that looks like this:

But I also have a new purse that looks like this:

Stuffed Zucchini

Zucchini is one of our favorite veggies, and most all the time we just saute it on the stove with a little olive oil and salt and pepper.  But after our experiment with grilling it which went so well, I’ve started looking for new ways to fix it.

Tonight I made this:

Loosely based on this:  http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/stuffed-zucchini

 

I started with one zucchini, halved it and carved out the insides to make boats.  Then mixed the zucchini innards with chopped tomato, onion, 1 teaspoon plain greek yogurt and a few leaves of basil from the garden.  I put the mix back in the zucchini, topped each with shredded romano, and cooked at 400 for 25 minutes.  Absolutely wonderful!  Everything tastes so perfect, just cooked long enough to be a little soft but still have all the fresh flavor and texture.  We will definitely be making this again!

Around here

We have tomatoes starting to grow!

Rooster vs. Chicken

Last night, Bailey and I were having a *fake* debate on whether or not roosters and chickens were the same or different.  In a last ditch effort to clench victory, Bailey grabbed his laptop and I quickly informed him that Wikipedia was not a reliable source.  So naturally he searched for a scientific journal about roosters.  And found this:

Click to access chicken.pdf

Go look at it.  Seriously.  Now.

 

We laughed out loud (very loud) for a very long time.  I think this made my week.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Our valentine’s treat–Mandarin Orange cupcakes with pineapple icing

I found the original recipe online somewhere, but we’ve made a few changes…so here’s our version:

1 yellow cake mix, 3 eggs, 2/3 cup oil, 1 can of mandarin oranges, undrained.

Mix those all together and pour into muffin tin.  Bake at 350 for about 18 minutes.

The topping makes enough for 2 or 3 batches, so you could half the recipe, but then you’d have to find another use for half a can of crushed pineapple.  I just make it all and freeze it til the next time we want them.

1 large tub Cool Whip ( I usually use cool whip lite), 1 large instant vanilla pudding mix, 1 t vanilla extract, 1 can crushed pinapple undrained

Mix those all together and spread on top when cool.  Voila!

The strawberry hearts are completely optional 😉

A celebration of finally finding the camera cord

Here’s how excited Bailey was when I woke him up on moving day:

Here’s a peek into the kitchen and of my birthday cake:

Our new house!

Guts

Remember my post about how I worked so long on Bailey’s gift and then it turned out too small? Well, he’s at work til probably 3 or 4 today, so I’m trying to get up the courage to try again. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well this time!

Christmas is coming

It’s snowing outside, Bailey’s at work, and I get to enjoy our newly decorated tree 🙂

So time for a poll:  Bailey thinks the tree looks crowded and I think it looks empty.   We need a tie-breaker.

Today

I spent hours working on Bailey’s Christmas present.

Once it was finished, I discovered that the elastic was shot.  (note to self: buy NEW elastic)

Not that the elastic mattered, cause apparently I made the whole thing too small.

I habitually make things too big, so I had set out with the purpose of making sure it wasn’t too big.  It’s definitely not.

I called and got our internet fixed.

Unfortunately, I broke the wireless router in the process.

Now, we have to sit on the floor in front of the entertainment center to plug our computers in.

Bailey was supposed to have a break from work starting at 4:30 until around 6 or 6:30 before he heads back for 3 or 4 hours.  It’s already 5:15 and he’s not off yet.

Clemson won 🙂

 

Singing in the Rain

Watch this before reading further:

In referencing this song, I recognize that there is a distinction to be made between the romantic nature of this song and the spiritual nature of what follows. Both songs in the mash-up are romantic in nature, but the joy and happiness that is expressed in the songs is unique because it is joy and happiness that is present in spite of the nasty and depressing circumstances that are surrounding the individual singing. I am convinced that as a Christian, the joy and happiness that I experience as a result of my relationship with God through Christ is exactly like this. Yes, there are difficulties and hard times in life, but I can take joy and experience happiness in spite of those things. But as this very old prayer expresses very eloquently, that joy and happiness can only truly come from the God of the Bible:

Happiness

O LORD, Help me never to expect any happiness from the world, but only in thee. Let me not think that I shall be more happy by living to myself, for I can only be happy if employed for thee, and if I desire to live in this world only to do and suffer what thou dost allot me. Teach me that if I do not live a life that satisfies thee, I shall not live a life that will satisfy myself. Help me to desire the spirit and temper of angels who willingly come down to this lower world to perform thy will, though their desires are heavenly, and not set in the least upon earthly things; then I shall be of that temper I ought to have. Help me not to think of living to thee in my own strength, but always to look to and rely on thee for assistance. Teach me that there is no greater truth than this, that I can do nothing of myself. Lord, this is the life that no unconverted man can live, yet it is an end that every godly soul presses after. Let it be then my concern to devote myself and all to thee. Make me more fruitful and more spiritual, for barrenness is my daily affliction and load. How precious is time, and how painful to see it fly with little done to good purpose! I need thy help: O may my soul sensibly depend upon thee for all sanctification, and every accomplishment of thy purposes for me, for the world, and for thy kingdom.