The Joy's of Fall

I know it's technically summer still but fall is right around the corner which means...Fall Festivals.

This is the first time I've been to Chillicothe, Mo, home of the slice bread. I Learn something new on every trip.  They host the Chautaqua fall festival every year and a good friend of mine invited me to go and you better believe I was in that car. 

There are many reasons why I like fall festivals.  I think the number one reason is the yummy FOOD!

Cake pop, pork skins, blueberry cobbler cheese and walking taco's Oh My!  I've been hearing about all the different types of food that are at festivals and fairs lately and I was geared up to try the fried twinkie but this year they decided not to come.  Of course but that's okay, there were many other temptations.

No fried twinkie...that's okay, I tried the homemade Root Beer and it was so good.  The prices were based on the bottle and there were many to pick from.  You could walk around and drink your root beer and for a small fee come back and get a refill.  How cleaver is that.

I admire those crafters who keep those traditional way of crafting alive.  There were many women out there with their wheels and turning Ilama hair into yarn so they can knit with.  Some were making scarves, hats and many more items.  Something new I learned was that Ilama hair is the new knitting yarn.  I wonder why?

There was a lady demonstrating pottery making which I was really amused, it reminded me of "Ghost".  I want to hopefully make pottery on a wheel.  I was so happy being in the midst of such crafters.

I told you I like the food.  We were walking along and this booth caught my eye.  The sight of the pig skins made me completely forget I was walking with my friends and got engrossed in how pork rinds were made.  The pork rinds start out like the first picture.  Once you put them in hot oil, they expand into alot of good ole pork rinds.  I purchased the bbq flavor.  But I will tell you, they taste a little different now since I've seen the behind the scene making.  I still have a almost full bag.

There were so many creative stands and crafts and I could have stayed out there forever.  In the midst of all the stands and crafters, there were plenty of people to watch.  Something that made me laugh out loud was this lady pushing her dog in the stroller while her and the child pushed along.  This dog was no light weight.  Man, that dog has the life.

The rain held out until it we were walking back to the car.  We got completely drenched.  On the way back to my house, this was my view.  Thank you Lord for a great day and fall festivals.

Re-Kindle Love

For my crockpot.  Or should I say crockpotssss!



I have even a smaller one not pictured, it's at work.  Made chocolate fondue in it for the kids at work!

I've always enjoyed my crockpot but finding recipes or should I say realistic simple recipes have been a challenge.  Well, within the last month, there have been some great websites surfacing on the internet via facebook and blogs. 
On top of this wonder, I've been exposed to crockpot liners savers, smile.  I bought my first box last weekend.  I will say, only 4 bags come in a box, REALLY!  You can't put a number on love, so let's put a little bit more bags in that box please Reynolds, (click on link for a $1 off coupon) please and thank you!

So I used my first crockpot liner Monday for a new recipe called Crockpot Brown Sugar Chicken aka Candy Chicken.  Stephanie @ A year of slow cooking has some really great recipes.  I think I found her site way of fb.

Candy Chicken

Ingredients


Look at me being all domestic, had my laptop ready with the recipe pulled up!

• 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 6 boneless skinless breast halves (I used 1 boneless chicken breast and 4 boneless chicken breast halves)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
• 2/3 cup vinegar (I used white wine vinegar)
• 3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic (I used 3T minced garlic, that what I had on hand)
• 2T soy sauce
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

Directions
Use a 4 quart crockpot for this recipe.  (I don't know what size mine is but it worked great-see my baby)

Happily lay your chicken in your crockpot.  Cover with the brown sugar, pepper, chopped garlic and soy sauce.  Add the vinegar and soda.

Cover and Cook on low for 6-9 hours or high 4-5hrs.  Now, let that babe rock your world! 

Serve over a bowl of white rice with a ladle full of the broth.

What I came home from work too, yummy!

The finished product!

My thoughts
I made for my neighbor too and she loved it.  She said it tasted like chinese food.  Which it did.  It tasted like sweet and sour chicken.  The next time I would probably add less vinegar and brown sugar.  I would probably add some vegetables in the mix.  It would be good with fried rice.  I need to find a simple recipe for that.

Overall, I would make it again.

I Promise Myself...

I got this picture from a fb friend.  I believe this encouragement came from the book and film 'The Secret'.  I haven't read the book or movie so I cannot promote it but I really like this creed/encouragment.

The only thing I would change of this creed is the last sentence to read...

"To live in the faith that God the creator of this world is on my side, ..."

Print this off, retype it and hang it up.  Encourage yourself daily and stir up the God within you.

If it's hard to read and you can't zoom in on it.  I can retype it in a blog.  I really think it's good.

Wordless Wednesday

A Light in the Dark Places

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matt 5:16

Where did that saying come from...They cuss like a salior?  Do all sailors curse, probably not No but they all have that stigma.  We now use this term for people with potty mouths.

"We all stumble in many ways.   If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." James 3:2

Confession: I'm not perfect--I know, I know shocker huh!

Seriously though, I do have a testimony and want to give God the praise because it was ALL Him.

I'm the new person in an office of two people of which one is part-time.  One of my co-worker's who I have to work closely with so I can provide services has a mouth out of this world.  A little soap treatment is definitely needed.

Now, cussing is not my weakness but I believe if you hear it often enough and dwell on it like anything else, it can get in your spirit and the enemy can take root. 

Now this co-worker has been there for over 9 years and here I come wanting her to change her language.  I would say things to her and ask her to please watch her mouth.  She would apologize but continue to use "hard core" curse words.  When she would say 'gd', I would always say something but reminder her about her words is a full-time job in itself. 

Her language was bothering me so much that when I wake up in the morning, I would have thoughts of curse words in my head.  It's so important to not only guard your heart but your ears.  Now I can corrupt myself, I don't need anyone to help me in that process.  I knew when I would wake up and that was occuring that it had become serious.

I didn't know what else to do and I didn't want to go over her head because that would just make the situation worse.  So God would definitely get a ear full.  I'm so glad that he can handle my venting sessions, problems and everything else I bring to him. 

Talking with some people from church, they really tried to convince me that I need to go over her head. That I should not have to work in an environment like that.  I know there are laws in place but sometimes it really is best to try and resolve in on the same playing field.  So they suggested that I get some instrumental christian cd's and play it in my office.  They even gave me a couple and to talk to my co-worker again but be more firm.

You would think as a social worker, this would be easy for me because I advocate for people everyday.  Well when it comes to myself, it's so much harder.  That assertiveness goes right out the door sometimes.   

So last Monday, I came into the office and played my cd's and thought to myself, what am I going to say, when will be a good time, how am I going to say it...My nervous were getting the best of me.  So my co-worker comes into my office and starts talking about how I'm such a good person and that I need kids because I would be a good mother and so much love to give and so on...Her demeanor was so different and I knew something was going on with her.  Later I go into her office because she needed help with something.  The she goes into out of nowhere that she doesn't cuss in front of her kids and I threw in there that I would appreciate it if you didn't cuss in front of me either.  She goes on to say that she knows she needs to watch her language and that she is a bad person and on and on...No, you are not a bad person I console her and we talk a little and back into my office I go.

Wow God!!  He just worked that situation out.  He changed her demeanor that day so she would be responsive to what needed to be done, he had her start the conversation, and he changed the atmosphere in the office.

We know God doesn't do anything little, right!  Well later on that day, it was just me and the part-time person in the office.  She yells from up front and ask what church I go to.  As I'm thinking to myself, What?  She comes back to my office and states that she needs to find a church to start going to...

Again, Wow God!  You are awesome.  Thank you for opening up doors and moving when I am weak.  There are so many times when I get tired of being the only light.  But this situation was a sign to show me that I am where I am suppose to be.  God said we must not get tired in doing good for we will see our reward if we stay steadfast.

You know Falls coming when...

You start craving Quik trip's cappie's that you start seeing faces in the coffee beans. Do you see it?

• You wake up in the morning and you can't get the blanket close enough to your body.
• You are a done with your shower, you stay behind the curtains a little longer because you know when you open them what will happen.
• You put a pair of socks in your purse "just in case" because you still want to wear your flip flops.
• You pull out the hoodie to wear but you are still wearing shorts.
• You start pricing fire pits for the back yard.
• You sit outside and have thoughts about getting a blanket.
• You start craving soups and stews! Yum, comfort food!
• Football is on every channel! (Boomer Sooner!)
• When you think about where the heater is in the garage, storage, or closet.
• It's too cold to move!

What are you looking forward to this coming Fall?

Happy Fall and enjoy the weather and football.

Things you see at a NFL Football game

Some friends and I went to the Chiefs game Aug 26th.  We got tickets for $4 on stubhub but tickets were starting at $1.  Parking was $27, crazy that our tickets were cheaper than parking.

I love my boys in red but they are not shining so bright yet.  During the dull moments, there was always something going on and gave me a laugh.  Well it started at tailgating.

This kid was on top of their SUV, his parents had no clue where he was.  Later some younger kids join him and they all finally got in trouble.

This chick was sporting her boots, not mad at her. She was walking way better than me and I had sneakers on.

This brought chills to my body.  Seeing the boys run out of the locker room to the corner of the endzone and pray.  On top of that, with the American flag.  So proud to be an American.

If they would have played this song, I would have been no good for the rest of the game or I would have tumbled all the way to the ground from jumping and crying so much.

Okay, got a little side track there.

I'm all about wearing old players jersey.  I still sport my Holmes jersey and if I had a Tony Gonzales one, I would wear that one too.  But Larry Johnson-time to get a new jersey hon.  We don't support women abusers and people who spit on people.  Eww! 

  These peanuts I bought at the dollar store so I could take with me inside.  Well I had planned on not taking a purse, so one of the girls I went with said I could put them in her purse but if she gets in trouble, it's on me.  Sure enough when they checked her purse, they told her she couldn't have them and she turned to me and restated what I just heard.  Making sure everyone knew that they were my peanuts.  I took the peanuts out of her purse and put them on the ground by the trash can.  I normally don't eat peanuts but something about a sporting event that makes me crave them.  Then some guys behind us said, what are you doing and I told them that we weren't allowed to bring them in.  They said along with some other people in line, put them in your pocket and go through a different line.  That's what I did and Bam!  Look at me know.

This guy slept for at least 45 mins.  It was so funny.  What better place to get your sleep on.  There was a good breeze!

So this guys text was the big hit of the night.  Girl writes: Should I be getting ready for you to pick me up tonight?  Man writes: I'm at the game, since we haven't talked in a while. So go have a happy life...

And the conversation just goes down hill after that.  We (Ang) and I think the girl cheated on him and he wants nothing to do with her.  Evidently I missed that part of the text but Ang got it.  He breaks up with her by text.  So sad.

What better place to braid hair.  The live field action is better than the TV, great space and fresh air.  Um, can I be next.  I need a hair cut and highlights?!!

I can't believe KC Wolf made it to our section.  I barely made it to our section.  I had to stop at mid-point to take a break. 

Overall all such a great night and can't wait for 9/11, home opener.  Sitting with the Navel base crew, maybe my future husband will be there, wink, wink.  Can't wait to see the awesome fly over!  Oh can I say, I love my camera.  It's not one of those high class ones but it can sure zoom in really good.

Eggplant Parmigiana

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the City Market (Farmer's Market) and feel in Love!  I forgot how amazing that place is.  It's been a couple of years since I've been.  My women's bible study had a day there and I got there and looked around a little because I was so excited and then met at the meeting place.  I was still the first one there.

I left when I ran out of cash and this is what I brought home...Bing cherries, $2 per pound compared to the store $5; grapes; spinch dip mix (which was a hit at work-love it when people ask ME for the recipe); roasted eggplant; roasted anaheim peppers (which I was told they were not spicy and bit into those bad boys-WRONG); and mini pumpkin bread.

As I was walking around, they had free samples and you were able to tried the fruits before you bought them.  At first I didn't but they were pretty persistent that you try.  I was hooked!  However, I thought, this is why people and children go into the grocery store and think they can try food before they purchase.  It can be a little confusing but I don't think the grocery stores honor the same system at the City Market, but maybe.

I bought a eggplant, in hopes of fixing it for the first time.  As I stood in front of the vendor with a friend talking, I said, I've always wanted to cook an eggplant but I don't know how.  A young lady that was behind us said I do and proceeds to tell us how to cook one.  We were both SOLD!  I so loved that people were so friendly and after talking with her, she too was a fellow blogger.  The Adventuresome Kitchen is the name of her blog.  She warned me that she hasn't blogged since May due to homeschooling, summer, and life (I added).  Can't we all relate to life!  

Well weeks have went by and I was getting nerveous about fixing the eggplant.  I had eggplant parmigiana at Olive Garden some years back and still think about that wonderful meal.  It's finally GO time.  I decided to make my own version.  This was not how Jennifer told us to make it but it's all good.

I used:

*please note, I didn't measure anything before I started, so I'm just guessing on measurements

1 eggplant, cut in 1 inch slices (I didn't remove the skin but I suggest it)

1 roasted anaheim pepper

A pinch of garlic/onion mixture (I would say a tsp per eggplant slice)

A couple slices of pepperoni

3 cups of shredded cheese (I used cheddar but you can use your favorite)

1 T. of oil (to coat the dish but you could probably put on eggplant-I used veg. oil)

3 cups spaghetti sauce (not pictured)

This is before the oven.  You can preheat the oven to 450 degree and cook until cheese is starting to brown. I only put pepperoni on a couple of eggplants just in case it was a flop and the same with the anaheim peppers.

After it was done.  It was so good that I almost forgot to take a done picture.  I would suggest using pepperoni on all of them and remove the skin on the eggplant.  You could also serve over pasta but I was so hungry that I just went at it!

Overall, not bad for my first time.  Also, get out there and support your local farmer's market.  The prices for fruits and veggies were way cheaper than the stores.