Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Z is for Zucchini


I love Zucchini

My two favorites dishes are
Italian Stuffed Zucchini
and Zucchini Bread



Zucchini Bread
3 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
3 c, grated zucchini (usually equal to one enormous zucchini from the garden, or two average grocery-store sized zucchinis)
3 c. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
½ tsp, ground nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F and lightly spray 2 loaf pans with cooking spray.
Beat together eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Stir in grated zucchini.
In a separate bowl, sift together your remaining dry ingredients, then beat them into your wet mixture until well-mixed.
Pour into two loaf pans and bake for 55-65 minutes. (You can check for doneness with the toothpick test.)
Cool fully, slice and serve. You can also freeze extra bread if you’re trying to use up LOTS of zucchini!






Stuffed Zucchini Italiano

4 Medium Zucchini
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 jar Marinara Sauce
½ cup Italian style bread crumbs
1/3-cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Oregano 
½ tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Pepper
1 egg beaten
1/3-cup mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven 375 degrees
Trim ends of zucchini cut in half lengthwise. 
Carefully scoop out centers leaving ¼ inch thick shells.
In skillet brown beef and drain
Add zucchini pulp ½ cup marinara sauce bread crumbs Parmesan cheese oregano, salt, pepper, and egg to ground beef mix well.
Place zucchini shells in shallow baking pan spoon mixture into shells
Pour remaining Marinara Sauce over Zucchini cover
Bake 30 40 minutes remove cover top with Mozzarella cheese and bake 5 minutes more.


Z is for Zucchini

Monday, April 29, 2013

Y is for YELLOW



 I would love this YELLOW chair for the corner of my family room




I just ordered this YELLOW necklace



I could walk out this gorgeous YELLOW door everyday and say..



Or how about this exotic YELLOW door!





I need some YELLOW pillows!


 On the hunt for some fun YELLOW shoes this summer!



Who doesn't love YELLOW flowers!

Say YELLOW to A to Z

Saturday, April 27, 2013

X is for eXcuse me?

X is for eXcuse me



Does anyone say this anymore?
Seriously missing from the english language.
I don't have eyes in the back of my head
if you want to get by me just say it
if I'm on the phone or talking to someone else
and you need to talk to me just say it

Okay rant done!

X is for eXcuse me!

W is for WHY

WHY?
Would you ever need to accessorize your vehicle this way?
WHY?
Cars, Trucks, ATV really need a testosterone boost?
WHY?

W is for WHY?

Friday, April 26, 2013

V is for Voyage


It's been a long time since I've been on a Voyage


I'm dreaming of my next voyage
Nothing is planned 
But I'm dreaming


How about you any Voyages in your future?

V is for Voyage!

U is for Uncle Sam


I like the cute Uncle Sam in the parade instead of the Uncle Sam that takes all my money! 

U is for Uncle Sam! 

T is for Today


Today is a beautiful day!
I'm watching all my neighbors open their pools...

Today I'm missing our old house in Utah.
Today I'm missing the fun times we had in our pool.

Today I'm thinking about that chapter closing...
As our house finally goes on sale...
Today the reality that we are not moving back to Utah
anytime soon hits hard.

T is for Today! 

Today I'm sad that my reality is changing

Monday, April 22, 2013

S is for Stairs

I have never been a fan of climbing stairs
It's a lot of effort and what if it's not worth the hike
Yup call me lazy
I see a set of stairs and the complaining starts!
Here I am in Barcelona
My sister's are ahead of me....
I'm pretty sure I'm asking if it's worth the view?

It always is!


In Florence after walking and walking all day
and now you want me to walk stairs
Is is worth it?


I begrudgingly go
Never the first up 
Most certainly the last!


I'm pretty sure I'm cursing with every step!


The Spanish Steps- Rome, Italy
I do like the kind of steps you sit awhile
and steal a kiss


My favorite steps
Scala Sancta
The Holy Stairs


So if we are ever together and there are stairs involved
I will surely say go ahead without me I'll meet you at the top
I'll get there eventually !

Sunday, April 21, 2013

R is for Rowdy in Rome

R is for...
Rowdy girl in Rome

Day after Day 
Museum after Museum 
Tour after Tour
Some silliness started 
Katelyn and I are not serious history buffs like Craig
He reads every place card under a picture in a museum 
Listen through the headset tours....

We get rowdy and take silly pictures..










R is for Rowdy


Q is for.....

At first when I thought of Q for my A to Z challenge I dreaded it....
Couldn't come up with a single Q !
Once google and I sat down and had a little chat the Q's started flowing!


Q is for Quiet
Oh how I enjoy quiet 
there was a time I hated it
Now that I'm older I appreciate it!


Q is for Queasy 
As of lately pretzels are making me queasy
Makes me sad because I really love pretzels
I wish ice cream and candy made me queasy
But that makes me queasy just thinking of that nonsense!


Q is for Quarters
Back in the day we played quarters
This one time my friend swallowed the quarter
Why were we drinking from the same cup as the quarter
Who knows....gross though! 


Q is for Quilts
I once made a lap quilt
It took a long time
It was expensive to make
But I did it!

Q is for Quads
When I think of the word quad many things come to mind
One being I should work them more
Two is the part in the Will Ferrell movie "Old School"
where they go streaking down to the Quad..
or he goes streaking down to the Quad...makes me laugh! 


Q was actually the easiest letter yet!
Happy Sunday! 

Saturday, April 20, 2013

P is for Pictures



I love taking pictures...
I use to take them all the time...
But lately I can't find my picture taking mojo!


I don't know why?
Life is busier now
Maybe I'm busy living life rather than photographing life?
I don't stop and enjoy or see the art around me?
I long to do the things I enjoyed once
but struggle to put into action....
Maybe it was a long dreary winter?
I hope this change in season brings more than allergies
I hope it brings me back to my camera.


Some of my faces!


A to Z

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

N, O and Hodgepodge

Joining Joyce at From this side of the Pond


1. April 15th is the deadline for Americans to file their state and federal income tax returns.  What's a job you do on a regular basis that could be described as 'taxing'? 

Poop scooping

2. I'm participating in the April A-Z blog challenge, and the Hodgepodge happens to fall on Day O this week. In keeping with that theme...olives, onions, oysters, okra...of the foods mentioned, what's your favorite O food?

Olives.....love them on my pizza...green ones especially 

3.  What is something memorable you experienced as a child that your own children (or future children/nieces/nephews) will not get to experience? 

Always feeling safe

4. Term limits for our elected officials...your thoughts? 

Yes I believe in limits....in Utah Senator Orin Hatch is on his 7th term thats about four too many! 

5. On April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere made his famous 'midnight ride'...when did you last make a midnight ride?  Perhaps the fate of a nation wasn't hanging in the balance, but tell us where you were headed anyway.

I'm not a big night driver....can't even recall the last middle of the night ride...probably when Katelyn was a baby and I was trying to get her to sleep. 

6.  What would freak you out more...a mouse running across your floor or a big fat hairy spider? 

A mouse...at least a spider you can stomp on.

7. I love it when people ask me________________________?

how I like living in WNY

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

I will NEVER get use to the amount of violence and disregard for human life that happening in today's world.  OH how my heart is aching for all those lives forever changed....praying for Boston


Monday, April 15, 2013

M is for Mint



I'm loving the color Mint for Spring

 Love these Mint Vans
Am I too old for Vans?


Cute earrings.... I think Katelyn has these
Wonder if she will let me borrow?


 These babies look so good....
Yum!


Love Navy and Mint together!



Cute with anything....
Love! 



A to Z



Saturday, April 13, 2013

L is for London



L is for London
I love London
We have been lucky enough to go there several times
Unfortunately never when the weather is good
I've gone in November, December and March
It's always been cold and rainy
But despite the weather, it's always been an amazing time




Katelyn outside Buckingham Palace
No Harry or William sightings this time




 Minding the Gap

The Tower Bridge






A to Z