Branding 2013'

It seems like it has only been a few months since I posted our branding photos from last year...I hate how fast time flies sometimes.  My dad always told me that as I got older time flew faster and I never really quite understood it until the last year or two.  When I was younger it sometimes felt like time would stand still and now with a blink of an eye a year has passed by.  I have to say that my dad is pretty wise...there are a lot of things that he would tell me when I was young and I don't think that I never believed him but I never understood how some of the things were possible.  For instance...my sisters and I fought like crazy when we were young...there were days that I hated them and I KNOW they hated me.  My dad would always say that one day we would be "Best Friends"...I honestly thought he was CRAZY!!  Now I know he just knew what he was talking about...I can't imagine life without my sisters and their friendship.  I find myself having the same conversations with my kids now...it is funny how life evolves and works sometimes. 

Branding is always one our favorite days with the family.  We meet up fairly early, gather and separate the cattle, vaccinate, brand and then my mama feeds us something delicious.  The weather was wonderful and that is not always the case...so that made the day even better.  Here are some of my favorite shots of the day...

Tater & Grader...

Papa Leo...man I love this guy...

Amus & GeeGee (aka Shelby)...

Dad & Aunt MeMe...

Uncle Greg & his princess Lori...

My sweet babies...

No Albertson function is complete without at least one dog...Ozzy...

Two of my favorite guys...

Grader working hard...

Dad & Darb...

Sweet Mama...

Grady & Shelby's baby...Peaches...

Branding time...

The only thing missing was my sister Jamus and her family.  It wasn't quite the same without them. 

 Sweet Spring-

Homemade Waffles...

My kids have been on a MAJOR waffle kick lately.  They have been eating them EVERY morning for breakfast, sometimes for lunch and even as a snack.  On our vacation both of them ate a waffle every.single.day!  In an effort to try to make you understand their newest obsession-we went through an entire container of Costco sized syrup in less than two weeks...now that's a whole lot of syrup!  The waffle iron is now permanently on the counter next to the coffee pot...never to return to the cupboard again.  I will admit that this is totally something they get from me and most of the time when the kids are doing things that I find crazy I blame it on their dad.  But I'm mildly obsessive about a lot of silly things...especially food items...sorry kids.

The best thing about it is that Tater has learned (and became an expert) at making them by himself.  When mom won't help and you want a waffle, what else can you do??  You have no choice!  So I figured since my son could whip up a batch of waffle mix in just a few minutes then I needed to share it.  A lot of waffle recipe's call for you to separate the eggs...whip the whites and fold them in but this one doesn't and yet they are light and fluffy.  No wonder my sweet babies are addicted.

To make them you will need 1 3/4 cup flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1 3/4 cup milk...

Combine the dry ingredients and whisk together...

In a separate bowl or pitcher mix the eggs, oil, and milk, stir until the eggs are incorporated well...

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir but make sure to not over mix...lumps are good.

Spray your preheated waffle iron with cooking spray and add 1/4-1/2 cup of batter (depending on your iron's circumference), close and wait a couple of minutes.  Avoid checking for at least 1 1/2 minutes.  Cook to desired doneness...

Add fresh fruit, powdered sugar, butter, syrup or whatever it is you like on your waffle...

These would be perfect for this weekend!  You could even create a fun waffle bar with a bunch of yummy toppings for your sweeties to pile on and enjoy.  Sweet waffles-

Weightloss Wednesday

First...I just have to say how in love with the weather I am.  You can all thank me later for bringing it back with me from California.  I didn't want all of you to feel left out so I decided to share.  It has definitely made getting back into the grove of life so much easier to have the warm weather at home but enough about the weather...

I had every intention of posting on Wednesday of last week but then as my vacation got going more and I continued to eat like crap...well, I decided it just wasn't going to happen!  Remember two weeks ago when I said that diet and Disneyland should NEVER go in the same sentence?  That is so much the truth that I can't EVEN believe it!!  Now I could have been better...MUCH better in fact but when you are eating at wonderful places like The Rainforest Cafe, The Cheesecake Factory (twice...so sinful), Bubba Gumps and ESPN Zone it is VERY HARD!! 

I had told myself on the plane ride home that I was NOT going to weigh until today but then when I woke up on Sunday I decided to just go ahead and get it over with...I had gained 4 pounds!!  That really sucks but I considering what I had shoved in my pie hole ALL week...lets just say that it could have totally been worse! 

Since Sunday I have got back at it and am glad to report that 2+ of 4 pounds I had gained are gone.  So now I am pretty much right back where I started which totally sucks but that is life!  I am constantly reminding myself everyday that I am after progress...not instant results.  Little steps to become healthy eventually turn into big ones and that is how I am going to make it happen.

We walked our little legs off while we were gone but I missed running.  It was so nice on Monday to get out on the pavement and bust out a few miles but I will admit that it hurt.  I hate that it has taken me months to get to where I can run 3 miles fairly comfortably but only a week to make it feel like you are starting over.  I guess it is kind of like weight...I can gain 3 pounds in a weekend but it takes me weeks to get it back off.  So unfair!!

This morning I met my sweet cousin Amanda for a hike at 5:50...YEP...you read that right.  I have a bit of a crazy week so I am going to try and get my lazy buns out of bed and exercise in the morning, which is so much easier when you have someone waiting for you (I can't be a complete flake).  The weather is supposed to be great so a nice early morning run, walk or hike is a great way to start my day.  Exercising in the morning is kind of like a double edge sword...I love having my workout done and I love the energy that it gives me throughout the day but I hate getting up early!  Before 6a.m. I can pretty much talk myself out of anything that involves me rolling out of my warm bed but I'm determined to get out there. 

My biggest excitement of the week is using my grill.  I got it all filled up and ready to go on Sunday, so it is GAME ON.  We have had fajitas, pork loin and steaks are on the menu tonight...can you say YUM?  I think that everything tastes better when it is cooked outside.  I'm so excited to go camping...I'm so excited for summer...Sweet grillin'-


   

Strawberry Shortcakes

On Saturday I arrived home from my family vacation in sunny southern California.  We hit up Disneyland, Universal Studios, Sea World and New Port beach...it was wonderful and warm (which is wonderful all by itself)!!  My sister and her two babies joined Taters, Tales & I...I'm not sure I have laughed until I cry that many times in my entire life...SO MUCH FUN!!  The one thing that I don't enjoy toward the end of any vacation is the eating out...it is amazing for a while but then I am ready for a home cooked meal.  Yesterday when I went to the store to replenish my fridge and pantry I really didn't have a plan of what I was going to make for our "first meal" at home...that was until I saw a huge flat of strawberries for $5.00.  Then I still didn't know what I was going to make for dinner but I ABSOLUTELY knew what I was making for dessert. 

I love the sponge cake cups that they sell next to the strawberries but I wanted something a little more dense and so I started playing around with my biscuit recipe.  My boys decided the biscuit was perfect without strawberries and just a little cool whip...so I would say that means they are pretty good.

To make them you will need 8 oz. of softened cream cheese, 2/3 cup softened butter, 2 cups self-rising flour (or 2 cups of flour, 3 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt) 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup milk.

My recipe calls for self-rising flour but instead of going to the store and buying some...I just make it.  The ratio for every cup of self-rising flour needed is 1 cup of flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Combine well and you will never know the difference...

Next combine the cream cheese, butter, sugar and the flour mixture together with a pastry cutter or two knives until it is crumbly.  Then add the milk 1/4 cup at a time.  This will bring the dough together.  Roll out onto a floured surface and cut into desired shape...

I kept the thickness of the dough to about 1/2 inch because I wanted them to be nice and thick biscuits...

Brush with a little melted butter and sprinkle with additional sugar...

Bake in a preheated 425° oven for 10-12 minutes or until they begin to brown.  Serve warm or cold with fresh strawberries and cool whip.  They were a perfect "welcome home" dessert!  Sweet strawberries-

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Shortcake Biscuits-Yield 12, 2" round biscuits

8 oz. softened cream cheese

2/3 cup softened butter

2 cups self rising flour (or 2 cups flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder & 1/2 teaspoons salt)

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

Topping- 2 tablespoons butter & 2 tablespoons sugar

Using a pastry cutter combine the cream cheese, butter, flour and sugar until the mixture is crumbly.  Next add the milk 1/4 cup at a time until the dough forms a ball.  Roll out onto a floured surface to about 1/2" thick and cut into desired shapes.  To the tops of each biscuit brush a little melted butter and sugar.  Bake in a preheated 425° oven for 10-12 minutes or until they begin to brown.  Serve warm or cold with strawberries and cool whip.

Budget Beef-Meatloaf

I realized the other day that I had not posted a recipe using ground beef in quite a while.  Some of you may look at this and think "MEATLOAF", Yuck!  I can understand that mind frame, I used to be one of those people...that is until I discovered how to make meatloaf well.  I don't care for meatloaf that uses 10 different fillers to make it go further.  I want a flavorful and moist meatloaf that uses ground beef as the main ingredient.  I will admit that up until my sweet Mama gave me this recipe...I had only made it a handful of times but now it will be on my monthly menu.

This recipe is awesome because the addition of milk and water will help keep your meatloaf super moist...cause who wants to eat a piece of meatloaf that you could use as a hockey puck?  Adding the stuffing mix not only gives it wonderful texture but also some additional spices that make is very tasty.  I will NEVER make another meatloaf recipe...EVER!!  Try this and I promise you will feel the same.

There are few ingredients in this recipe which is so nice.  All you need is 2lbs. of hamburger (lean), 1 box of chicken stuffing mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup heavy cream (or milk that you have on hand), 1/4 cup water, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper...

All you do is add all of your ingredients to one large bowl...

Mix it together using your hands but be sure not to over mix...

Dump onto a foil lined and greased cookie sheet and form into a long loaf...

Bake at 350° for 1 hour.  Cover and let it sit for about 5 minutes before cutting...

So yummy!!!



I served it with scalloped potatoes and green beans but anything would work great...macaroni and cheese, rice pilaf, baked potatoes, whatever your heart desires.  Then tomorrow you can have a meatloaf sandwich for lunch...which is a reason to make meatloaf all by itself.  Sweet loaf-

Just a reminder that next week I will be visiting Mickey & Minnie Mouse, so there won't be anything new posted here but just remember...I love ya anyway!!

Weightloss Wednesday-Week 2...

Good News...in the last week I have lost 2.2 pounds...not the best but I will take it!!  I wasn't perfect by any means...I splurged on the occasional sinful item but all in all I felt like I stuck to my guns (or at least tried to).  The weekend was harder for me then I thought it would be...I wasn't as good as I had hoped.  When you are given the chance to eat Papa Leo's hot cakes...well let just say...you can't eat just one.  Knowing that I have to check in with all of you is a pretty good motivator...along with the fact that if I want to wear any of my summer clothes during summer...I had better get on track.

This next week I am going to be on vacation, which is so hard when you are trying to loose weight!!  I am going to make a conscious effort to choose foods that I can feel good about BUT...I will just tell you right now that I am NOT going to pass up a Mickey shaped ice cream bar when the moment presents itself!!  Dieting and Disneyland should NEVER go into the same sentence but I'm going to do my best.  Honestly, I will be happy if I don't loose a pound on my vacation...as long as I don't gain any!  The only saving grace will be the miles of walking that I will be doing.

These are a few things that I am trying to do (but haven't been completely successful):

1.  Not eat ANY carbs after lunch.  So that leaves protein and veggies for dinner.

2.  Increase my water intake.  I'm a long-time Diet Coke lover, so I allow myself 1 a day...not 4. 

3.  Continue moving, this last week I moved 6 days for at least 30 minutes in the form of walking, jogging or exercise video.

4.  To write EVERY item I put in my mouth into a journal.  It is harder to stuff your face when you have to write it down and be accountable for it.
5.  Snack when I need to...if I let myself get too hungry then I overeat.  My favorite snacks of the week were...Mandarin oranges and pistachios...YUM!!
6.  Prep food on Sunday.  I cooked up a huge batch of quinoa.  Cut up fruit & veggies and packaged them into individual serving size portions.  This way snacks and lunch are a no-brainer. 

We all know that this isn't going to happen over night.  It is about making healthy decisions each day.  Instead of calling up the local burger joint for burgers & fries to go...I headed to the grocery store and pickup a few chicken breasts to grill.  Add a salad and some veggies sauteed in olive oil and garlic...you've got yourself a healthy and delicious meal for half the calories and less money.  It may be more work but when I lay my head down on my pillow at night I feel good about it.  Progress is what we all need to strive for...not instant results because lets face it...NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!

One of my new favorite things to eat for lunch is a quinoa salad.  It is filling and full of veggies, add a little leftover chicken or steak and it is a perfect mid-day pick me up.  Here is how I make mine...

1 serving of cooked quinoa (I cook mine in water & chicken stock)

leftover meat from dinner

veggies of choice-I love grape tomatoes, cucumber, shredded carrots, avocado and spinach

1 Tablespoon of vinaigrette dressing

NOTE:  I buy my quinoa at Costco, you can get a huge bag for about $8.00 and here at Safeway it is ridiculous!!!

The best part about it is that I don't feel deprived when I eat this.  I love it and it is good for me.  Dieting is so much easier when that happens.  Wish me luck this next week...I think I may need it.  Sweet progress-

Spring morning...

Spring has arrived...although you wouldn't know it!!  We woke up to snow this morning!?!?  What the heck is that all about??  I leave for vacation on Friday and with weather like this...I'm wishing is was right now!!  Honestly, this is how spring works in Lake County.  One day you are basking in 60+° sunshine and the next you are waking up to a snow covered yard.  YUCK to the snow...not the sunshine!!  just saying

One of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday spring morning is with my Dad and his baby calves.  Yesterday I was lucky enough to do just that.  Tater and I headed out early (so early that Tater was too tired to drive & that hasn't happened since the day he got his permit) to my Papa Leo and Mamu's for breakfast.  I can't quite describe what an amazing treat that is.  Breakfast at their house is the highlight of my day/month/year...home made buttermilk pancakes...fried eggs...bacon...fried potatoes & the best company anyone could ask for.  I wish I could do it everyday but my weight is glad that I don't.

After breakfast it was time to go and feed the babies (cattle).  We headed over to the hay stack with my Dad and watched him load the truck (great help, I know but in my defense...he was using a tractor).  Then it was over to the field...Dad on the back of the truck bucking bales and me in driver's seat (Tater was co-pilot).  The great part of being the "driver" is that you just put it in low and go...that is until you get stuck and your dad has to get off the flat bed to help you and you start laughing so hard that you cry because you can't believe what terrible help you are.  I did get a few pictures taken though...I just love the new babies and how darn cute they are...so stinkin precious!!

Love the pink nose...



This little guy was our favorite...

Buckin' and runnin' in front of the truck...



Windy...like always in Lake County...



I love how the babies find the warm hay to take a little nap...

The snow geese that joined us...

I'm determined to not wait until next year before I go out and help again...although after my "awesome" driving skills, I'm not sure that my Dad will have me back.  Sweet babies-

Chicken Cordon Blue Pasta...

So what do you do when you have two chicken breasts and leftover Easter ham in the fridge???  You make a pasta dish of course...or at least if you are me that is what you do.  Pasta is a staple at my house (& yes, my hips show it), I'm not sure if it is the Italian in me or just a love but I can.not.get.enough!!  I love that pasta is so versatile...you can literally dress it up however you want and dinner is served.   The problem with this dish is that it isn't exactly figure friendly.  I had thought about trying to cut some of the fat out but then I reconsidered...who has time for that!!  I'd rather go for a walk after dinner then sacrifice the tastiness of this dish.

To begin I started cooking a box of pasta and cooked my cubed chicken breasts over medium/high heat in a pan with olive oil.  I seasoned them with salt and pepper.

  Once cooked through I added 1 tablespoon of Dijon Mustard to the chicken and stirred well to coat...

What is Chicken Cordon Blue without a little mustard?

I then added about a cup of chopped leftover ham...

Your pasta should be almost ready.  Once it has finished cooking drain it and add it to the chicken and ham.  You are also going to add 3 tablespoons of butter, 3/4 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese...sinful...I know!  Stir together well and then pour it into a greased 9x13 pan...

For the topping you need to melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in the microwave (it only take a few seconds)...

To the melted butter add 1/4 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs and mix together...



Add it to the top of the pasta mixture and bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbly...

The next step is the best of all...consumption!!  A little fork to mouth action and your taste buds will be dancing.  My boys especially loved it...two different meats in one dish...boys dig that.   If you don't have fresh chicken breasts then a couple of defrosted chicken strips from the freezer would work perfectly.  Enjoy!!  Sweet pasta-

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Chicken Cordon Blue Pasta

1 box pasta

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 Chicken breasts-cubed

1 cup of chopped ham

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

3/4 cup heavy cream

3 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Topping

2 Tablespoons butter (melted)

1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Begin by boiling the pasta.  Cook the chicken over medium heat in a pan with about 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, season with salt and pepper.  Once cooked through then add 1 Tablespoon of Dijon Mustard and mix well.  To that add the ham and stir.  Then you are going to add the cooked pasta, 3/4 cup heavy cream, 3 Tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup of Parmesan Cheese.  Mix together and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.  For the topping melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in the microwave and add 1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs, mix together and pour over the casserole.  Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 20-25 minutes or until the topping is starting to brown.

Weightloss Wednesday...

My blog isn't a weight related blog.  However, it is a blog about my life and right now I am in MAJOR need of some weight loss!!  For those of you who don't know me, I am a happiness eater.  The happier I am the heavier I tend to be...so yes you are right...I AM HAPPY (which is awesome) but not with my weight!  Even though I am not judgmental about other peoples weight...I am terrible when it comes to my own.  So much so, that it starts to interfere with every aspect of my life.

When I am thin it is usually because something has happened in my life to completely stress me out.  I don't eat and therefore I am skinnier but by no means healthy!  Although there is something to be said for being able to fit into EVERYTHING in your closet...I can't even tell you how nice it is to have endless options because almost everything looks good on.  Unfortunately because I tend to be stressed when I have this luxury...I don't always enjoy it or even realize that it is happening.  It isn't until I have gained 10, 20 or even 30 pounds that I look back and remember how easy getting dressed was and that is only because it isn't anymore.

Last week I had dinner with some friends and although we were all at different stages in our lives...we weren't happy with our bodies for various reasons.  Now I have to admit that I don't know if I will EVER truly be happy with my body.  I'm not sure if any woman really ever is.  We always tend to be more critical of ourselves, which I will admit is sad.  Each and every one of us should be happy with our bodies...no matter what shape or size we are!!  The fact is that the older we get the harder it is to loose weight and the easier it is to gain it.  It is also harder to maintain your weight because as we age our metabolism slows down and if you are like me and don't lower your caloric intake...you gain weight. 

For me the problem isn't exercise...it is portion control, portion control, portion control!!  I exercise 4-6 times a week pretty religiously in the form of walking or running (jogging).  I love getting outside and moving my body...in fact I am scared to think of where I would be (weight wise) right now if I didn't...I truly don't EVEN want to think about it.  UGGHHH.

To say the least I am fed up with where I am at!  I am determined to get HEALTHY and set both long and short term goals for myself.  For a while Wednesday's at Sweet Taters and Tales are going to be dedicated to weight loss and the struggles that I feel like so many of us face.  I realize that this might not be for everyone who so graciously reads by blog but right now I feel like I need to be able to use my blog for accountability.  There will still be fatty and delicious recipes on here and I will still be eating them...in moderation.  Join me in on my journey...email me at junebugnlkv@hotmail.com  Sweet weight (not)-

Cinnamon Roll Cookies...

I have a lot of favorite things...my Tater's & Tale's, my family & friends, my Darb & his sweet girls, my home, Diet Coke, Haribo gummy bears, the Happy Horse, Disneyland, blush wine, the beach, flip flops, chocolate covered pretzels, 3 day weekends, Papa Leo's hotcakes, girls night out, a brisk walk, sunshine, Albertson Reservoir, baking...I could go on...but I will save you & I won't.  The point is that I have a ton of things that I consider to be my favorites and one of my favorite baked food items is...Cinnamon Rolls with icing.  So when I came across this recipe on Pinterest I was intrigued.  Would a cookie version of one of my favorite foods be delicious?  The answer to that question is...YES...YES they can!!

I made these over the weekend for my families Easter Sunday dinner and they were a fabulous addition to the dessert table.  In fact, I'm glad that I had sampled a couple at home because I didn't get one at dinner...they were a hit. 

To make them I made my favorite (I know...how many times can I say this word in one post) sugar cookie dough recipe but you could use the one that you love or make it even easier and buy it pre-made.  The key is to chill the dough before you start rolling it out.  I divided my dough into two discs and refrigerated it over night but a couple of hours would be good.

For the filling you are going to need 8 Tablespoons of softened butter, 1 1/3 cups of brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon...

I divided each disc of dough in half and on a floured surface I rolled each half out into a rectangle shaped piece.  You are going to want to roll it to about 1/4" thickness...trust me...they don't bake up well if it is any thinner.  To each rectangle you want to spread out 2 Tablespoons of butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon...

Take the longest edge and roll toward yourself until it tightly rolled.  Cut into 1/2" cookies using a sharp knife...

Place onto a greased baking sheet (my SILPAT worked great)...

Using your fingers press the flap at the end of the cookie tight against the side of the cookie and bake in a preheated 375° oven for 10-12 minutes or until the bottom of the cookie begins to turn light brown.  Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before to transfer them to a cooling rack.

Now it is on to the frosting...YUM...you will need 2 Tablespoons of butter, 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 4 Tablespoons of milk...

Mix all of the ingredients together.  You may need to add a few more drops of milk to make the frosting the consistency that you are after. 

I put my frosting into a Ziploc bag, cut the corner off and drizzled it over each cooled cookie but you could frost them while they are still warm if you would rather...

They were amazing...maybe even my favorite sugar cookie!!  See now I have a new favorite. 

Sweet cinnamon-