Show & Tell: Telling Tales...

True ones of course!!! And the best ones are about ME! I really get a kick out of myself. Come along and I'll tell you why...

I watched Oprah when Jessica Seinfeld shared her pureed veggies hidden in many yummy foods. I bought the cookbook. I made MANY things that the family wasn't aware of how healthy they were. The added pureed veggies really add a moistness. Then I packed up the book. AND we moved. AND I haven't unpacked it yet. Months passed.

SO, my mom had lots of spinach in her garden. I (being the Suzy Homemaker that I am) cut BAGS worth, brought it home, washed it (like Rachael Ray does), pureed it in my bullet, measured it, bagged it, and froze it flat. BEAUTIFUL green perfectly square bags stacked in the freezer. Go me!!

Stay with me here:

Then I decided to make some healthy oatmeal choc chip cookies for Taylor's (18 yo-last child in school) grab and go breakfast habit. I decided to add some pureed veggies, and didn't want to use sweet potato because I didn't want it to be orange-ish. I didn't want anything that tipped off Tay that these were healthy. I found a good healthy sounding recipe on the web.





So, I remembered Jessica used spinach for choc things. I mixed it up, and popped it in the oven (all done while Tay was at school so he wouldn't know. I'm not just Suzy Homemaker, I'm a little Donna Reed too;).





Imagine my surprise when this came out of the oven!!


Ready????


Yep, green!!! (they came out of the oven the prettiest emerald green, after freezing they turned more of a cow-patty green)
I was thinking choc chip=spinach use, NOT cocoa powder=spinach use.
Pureed spinach SHOULD be used with COCOA POWDER!!!
TO HIDE THE GREEN!!!

I immediately put them in the deep freeze to hide them from Tay's all seeing eye.
Later, my little girls and I ate them. I told the girls they were St. Paddy Day cookies-thanks mom:) Really no taste at all, except the white choc chips. That recipe (with or without puree veggies) might need more cinnamon:)

Green cookie anyone??? I have the recipe and will gladly share:)
LOL
I CRACK MY SELF UP!!
Usually I'm the only one who gets ME-so I might as well enjoy myself:)
(and you know I'm brave if I will share these with you crafty homemakers!!)

Lesson learned: Pureed Spinach Goes With Cocoa!!!

Below is Jessica's Brownie recipe. I recommend adding puree veggies to meals. A little fiber and nutrients never hurt ANYONE!!
(yes, Tay, that means you too:)
Later, Tay, saw them and asked what they were, I told him they were MY healthy cookies, and he could have one if he wanted.
Surprisingly, he did not want one.
He thought they were alfalia:)
I didn't correct him:).


Brownies (with Carrot and Spinach)
Created by Jessica Seinfeld

Brownies (with Carrot and Spinach)
These brownies fool everyone! You won't believe how scrumptious they are (or how good they are for you) until you make them yourself. Just don't serve them warm—it's not until they're completely cool that the spinach flavor totally disappears.

Ingredients:
Makes 12 brownies

* Nonstick cooking spray
* 3 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
* 1/2 cup carrot puree
* 1/2 cup spinach puree
* 1/2 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 2 tablespoons trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread
* 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 2 large egg whites
* 3/4 cup oat flour or all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350°. Coat an 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or over a very low flame.

In a large bowl, combine the melted chocolate, vegetable purees, sugar, cocoa powder, margarine and vanilla and whisk until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Whisk in egg whites. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt with a wooden spoon.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 bars.


Oh, yeah, Happy Birthday ERIC!
And Happy Halloween everyone:)
Hot! Myspace Comments




And for my partner in crime...

"Love is pooling your loose change for pizza the day before payday."
My sweet hubby rocks because he willingly stays on for the ride!!! No matter how silly I get, AND always laughs WITH me and not AT me! I love ya sweetie!! (want some green spinach cookies??? huh huh??? There good for you-HONEST!!) Well, maybe just (spinach) pizza then:)

Join KatyLin at for more "My Husband Rocks!"

Thankful Thursday: 10/30/08

Feeling a little 'funky' today, so I decided to BE THANKFUL before the 'funk' gets TOO stinky, and I end up with a headache (and possibly saying stuff I don't want to say I'm sorry for:)
She (Grace) did senses, I'm doing what I should be thankful for.
~my hubby-who can irritate me faster than anyone else, I am thankful that he loves me ANYWAY, I sure don't deserve it.
~my Visiting Teacher, Sis B, who loves me. And is coming to see me at 1:00 pm today to share her love with me.
~that my house is not TOO BIG OF A WRECK. And I will have it presentable before Sis B gets here. (and I am ABLE! my only limitation is procrastination:)
~my super wonderful Kirby vacuum who I can rely on to clean up the grass my bigfooted men brought in. (and the new bags I was able to buy for it:)
~my broom and dust pan, and that I actually know how to sweep a floor (thanks mom:)
~my dishwasher's brokenness-will be easily fixed (and is currently holding the dirty dishes I refuse to wash:)
~my oven is holding the rest of the dishes I refuse to wash (teenson-I love you!!)
~that I kind of know where the papers on the washing machine are so I can call today for a repair man. AND that it can wash what HAS to be done today (hubby's work clothes).
~I'm praying she, Sis B, won't want to use our bathroom, because teenson went on a fly killing spree, and I REFUSE to clean up the dead bodies. Love the boy HATE the mess!!
~my new screen door letting in the fresh air (and NOT the crazy amount of FLIES that hover by the door this time of year) that I am blessed to have today (I think stuffy-ness might send me over the edge:)
Thanks God! Help me pull my head out of this 'funk'!!! God bless you all!!!

More Than Just a Friend: Happy Birthday Navy Boy!

Yet another birthday!!!

This is a little early, because Eric was born on Halloween night. What an experience!!! He was my first born, my first everything. Eric is named Eric after his biological father, and Nelson after my maternal grandfather. These names fit him perfectly.



Eric is finishing up four years in the Navy, stationed in Virginia. (I am so thankful for myspace where I can keep in touch with him:) Eric plans on coming back to Texas and going to college locally. Of course, the whole world is open to him, but, I would LOVE it if he were nearby. Eric has blessed my life for twenty three years, come 9:20 pm October 31, 2008. Happy Birthday baby! I hope you and your friends have a blast (I'm sure you will:),

{love this picture of Eric hard at work}

and I look forward to seeing you next year!!!! I love you!!!

Eric is more than JUST my friend. He is my first. He stretched my heart in a way I would have never dreamed. Who knew you could love so big! Well, Heavenly Father did. Thank you, Father, for sending my Eric into my life! I love his spirit, his out look! His determination!

Thank you Eric, for trusting ME! YOU ROCK!!!

Barely Bloomin' Tuesday :( 10/28/08

So far, the Kodak program and I are still not working together.


So I wasn't going to Bloomin Tuesday, today:(

HOWEVER I came across these previous pictures of a pet of mine.

I love any plant from the Jew family (if you really want I can find all the Latin names). I stuck a whole bunch in one pot and really love it.

There are bunching types, with purple and green leaves. Some green on top, purple underneath, some striped leaves. All the leaves are fleshy.


The most showy and fastest growing one is a fat, fuzzy, light green leaf running type.
As these grow, they grow long, and up, until they get to heavy and drape.
She kind of reminds me of an octupus.

Or Medusa.


Last night was a freeze warning, so hubby, and Mike helped me bring my babies in.

We made the usual 'Midnight Run'. I live in the option that plant moving must be done by moonlight (or at least flashlight:)

I didn't know exactly who is precious, or a repeat, so they all came in for the night.

They are all in the kitchen floor. I need to go through and decide who REALLY needs to come in and WHERE I'm going to put them. UGH! SO, today everybody is going BACK outside, to be trimmed up and cleaned. Plus, now I'll HAVE to sweep and mop the kitchen floor. UGH! Double UGH! So imagine my small kitchen table area FULL TO THE RIM with lush tropical beauty, VERY Eden like, dirt and bugs and all.

We haven't even had a frost yet!!! And its already back up to 50/60 now. Tonight its suppose to dip back to possible freezing then 50/70 for the rest of the week. I might just leave them where they are til Thurs. Crazy. But that's Texas weather for ya! Hope none of your babies froze.

Stay warm!!! Stop and notice some of nature's wonders today!!!

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday to you all!
I'm joining MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Pumpkin Portrait

You can go here and have your photo turned into a pumpkin protait for free. I don't have a good picture, so I used the Ray Charles they suggested. (Love Ray:)



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Son-Day: "Don't Get Comfortable..."

What a comfort this song gives me today.
What an addition to my conviction earlier this week.
Right here, Right now, I reach out and accept Your New Song of LOVE!!!
Teach me to love me, and all in my path!!! Let's MOVE!!!
My trust, My hope, My dream is in You Father, and Your plan for me!!
Bless us and keep us all in the palm of Your loving hand.
In Jesus Name. Amen

Random Week In Review...

What an excitingly normal week!

Wednesday night: Primary Presentation Practice. (our little ones do the church service this Sunday-its going to be precious:) I'm in charge of reminding my kiddos (6/7 yo darlings:) when their turn is, what they say, and not to hog the microphone, or rock their chairs and fall off the stage! Fun fun!! Our leaders are so awesome! Love 'em.


Dr. Phil on Friday, asked if you would be ok with your ex-spouse moving on to a younger woman? Answer: NO! HECK NO!! Guess we need to stay together:)

Completely caught up with the new Battlestar Galatica series. My sweet brother has provided me with the DVDS. Little to much sex for my kids. GREAT story!!!


Was totally zapped by the holy ghost, and am looking forward to moving forward:)

Watched James A. Michener's 'Texas' movie on VHS, I borrowed it from mom. I was thoroughly enjoying it, THEN the last few minutes there is this frantic scene in the Mexican village, and out of the blue-I see B**BS bouncing across the screen!!! WHAT????? What was the point in that??? Really now Aaron Spelling! Was that necessary???
(Watch out, this movie is not rated)


Hubby and I went to the movies and saw HIS movie choice
(last week I insisted we see Beverly Hills Chihuahua-LOVED IT!),

not much to choose from. We picked Max Payne. I wonder if drug use enables users to see demons that others can't??? Hmmm, yet another reason to stay away from the stuff. Great action film. We knew nothing about it (hubby likes to know the whole story before we go, I like to be surprised), and Mark Wahlberg as angry action hero does not fail.

Came home and told Mike what we saw and he said it was a video game. I know so little about life. :)

Came home from movie, and Walmart, to Tay coming home 10 minutes before curfew (yea Tay).
He parked in the ditch, like always. So, Friday, the next day, a guy pulling a single wide mobile home in front of our house (we live on the main corner of our mobile home park-AND I DO NOT LIKE IT!!), needed to make a corner turn, and asked me to move Tay's truck. One, I can't drive it. Two, I don't have keys-Sorry.

Then I remembered where the spare was. So I go give it to the man out there (who starts fussing me out-which I quickly stopped) and had him move the truck. These must be new drivers, they took out my neighbor's stop sign. Missed her pretty brand new flower bed and water pipe thing-thank goodness. Oh the joy of a corner lot!

Friday night football! Little chilly, next week I'm wearing my long johns! My baby, Taylor had a good game. He plays hard no matter what. Sure is fun when you win. The next two games are going to be tough. Not impossible, just tough. (I forgot camera-plus the kodak program on my computer and I are still at odds)

I have my little girls today, they are busy watching Veggie Tales (on regular TV:) and holding patient kittens. (Sweet stuff) Hubby will be home early enough to go with me to Lowe's for home repair stuff. I'm excited! So I'm off to pay some bills, and balance the check book, so I'm ready at 3p.


HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!


From Oprah Friday:

Amazing Grace with bagpipes no less!!! (Il Divo, Amazing Grace, album The Promise)


{Prayer request-if you read this, and you don't mind, we could use prayers our way.
My step-son, Mike has a half-brother. Mike came to live with us when he was 5 1/2 yo. Half-brother stayed with the mother. The mom is emotionally imbalanced, and grandma was in charge. Now grandma is physically ill and mom is not doing well at all. Half-brother is 16 yo and that's hard enough without all this other stuff. Pray that the Lord will work His wonders. That His will be done, and we stay awake and hear HIS guidance. Thank you and bless you!}