As a child, I remember my mother roasting cornish hens for supper and they would be so good. Well on my bucket list, I've wanted to roast cornish hens for supper for Doug and myself. At least do it once. Right? Oh, they were mouth watery good.

I'm having problems with Google loading my photos and yes, I've deleted several photos from my Picasa albums. So, I'm using Shutterfly to display today's post photos.


Roasted Cornish Hen Recipe
Lay hen(s) on roasting pan with the breast side facing up. Please note to be careful when purchasing a roasting pan. I wanted one with removable rack. I purchased an 18" pan from Target. Not thinking about the size of my oven, I wanted to get the 18" to place 2 cornish hens without worry that they both would fit on a 16" roasting pan. I found out very quickly that the 18" barely fit, at an angle, in my oven. Shew.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter. I melted mine in the microwave. Baste chickens often during roasting time.

I seasoned the hens with a little barbeque seasoning for flavor.

Cook the hens at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a cooking therometer registers 180 degrees. I basted every 30 minutes.

The outer skin was a crispy, golden brown, but the inside meat was nice and juicy.

PERFECT!

Serve it with steamed veggies, like shown, and would be delicious with mashed potatoes.  Yum.

Enjoy!

The other day, Doug and I were hungry for Frito Pie. I don't have a recipe, it's pretty much what I thought would be good in it.


Frito Pie Recipe

Ingredients:
2 lbs. Ground Chuck
small can of sliced black olives
1 can of petite diced tomatoes
1 envelope of Taco Seasoning
Sour Cream
container of Con Queso cheese dip (whatever color and heat you prefer)
Taco Sauce
Plain Frito Chips

Cook and drain meat; over low heat, add the taco seasoning with the recommended amount of water from seasoning packet to the meat. Stir to blend well. Once blended, add the tomatoes, olives and any other topping you would like. (I think mushrooms would be great). Stir and heat until warm.

Place a couple of handfuls of fritos in a soup bowl, top with meat mixture and put a couple of dollops of cheese sauce and heat it in the microwave. The time depends on the power of your microwave. I heated it for about 10 seconds. Doug didn't care for the cheese sauce as much as he liked shredded cheese. Shredded cheese is optional. Place a dollop of sour cream, taco sauce and your ready for a great warm meal. Yum!

Kitchen Belleicious has challenged all cooking bloggers to a 2011 Recipe Challenge.  I think I'm going to try it.  The rules are that we are to try a new recipe each month.  Whether it is something that we've always wanted to try, but were too intimidated to cook or never got around to doing it.  She will have a selection of new recipes available on her website . . .
                                                                HERE! or you can try one of your own.  No matter if the recipe turned out to be a flop or fab, take a picture and send it to her through the website.  She will go through the pictures and post them every 3rd Wednesday of each month. 

I'm really ahead of the game because I've always wanted to bake an apple pie from scratch, but never got the nerve to do it until this past Thanksgiving.  I used a Paula Deen recipe and I have to say that it was delicious.  I went home that night with an empty pie plate.  So there!  Now, I would like to make a homemade chicken pot pie, chocolate souffle and chocolate croissants.  Yum!  

If your interested in joining the fun each month, go over to Kitchen Belleicious and grab her button and post it on your blog. And let the party begin! 
 

The Summer heat may not be winding down, but Summer is slowly coming to an end. First signs of Autumn are every where - high school football has began along with the Pros, the leaves in the trees are being to change and fall. Sue told me that she saw a fuzzy worm this past week. Normally when you start to see them, Fall's a coming along with cooler temperatures. Y'all I'm getting the fever - AUTUMN is right around the corner. Normally, it doesn't start feeling good and cool during the day until around October, but the night in September are usually real nice. Stores are feeling the same fever because the magazine aisles are solid with the holiday books and magazines. I've mentioned before that I'm a big "Taste of Home" fan. Love, love, love their recipes. So, as I'm waiting in line at Walmart to check out. What should I see?   This . . .

So many great Halloween ideas to make for the kids

The graveyard is actually a veggie pizza

The spiders are actually ham 'n cheese melts ~ Katie will love 'em

Mexican taco dip ~ to make the ghost, cut out flour tortillas with a cookie cutter and bake in the oven. What a great idea!

Pumpkin carving templates

This sweet lion costume is made out of a sleeper, fleece material (mane) and infant boggan.

Handmade Autumn Note Cards

(above: Mi's Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry w/Sesame Soy Ginger Noodles)

Operation Remodel Bathroom is almost complete!  I worked on the room from 10AM-1AM yesterday.   It being my first day, I did all the repairs and prepped the room.  Luckily, I was able to get 2 coats of Kilz and paint on all 4 walls and ceiling.  Yay!  I was so tired, but the rewards were great. 

Some before pictures.  The walls are a cream color with cranberry trim and accents of dark green. 

Today (day 2), I spot painted and color washed the room.  I've never color washed a room before in my life.  I debated on doing it from the get go because I'm always afraid of doing something new or different that is this big.  I'm glad I did it though.  The clerk that helped me from Lowe's reminded me about starting the color wash behind a door in the corner first, until I got the hang of it.  Well, what if you don't have a wall behind your door?  I decided to chance it  start the color wash/lime wash behind my toilet and in that corner.  I have to tell you when I first started, I was thinking to myself, WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING?  I just knew that it was going to look awful and it's not a professional job by no means, but I was worried concerned a GREAT deal.  I just took my cheesecloth and dabbed and rubbed down in spots, to soften it.  I didn't get the softening brush because the directions stated that you could use either the brush or cheesecloth.  Here lately, I've been keeping a supply of cheesecloth.  Don't ask me why.  While I was texturing my newly painted walls thinking oh my gosh, I'm going to have to paint all of this over, I could see some glimmer of hope.  Thinking to myself, I wanted to paint a section of the room and then I would step back and see if I love it or hate it.  I'm glad I did because I nearly stopped and was about to repaint over it.  As I kept texturing, I could see the creation and really enjoyed doing it.  I was hoping Doug wouldn't come into the room until I got most of it done, but he slipped in when I got a small section finished and came unglued and was as concerned as I was.  LOL!  I just told him to leave and come back when I got more done.  We both really like the effect the color wash leaves on your walls.  We're glad we decided to do it now and it was so simple.  It's not hard to do, but you need to go by the directions of how to color wash/lime wash.  The wash dries really fast.  You apply a LIGHT (barely touch the wall - that light) coat with a 1'x1' "X" on the wall, followed by several small "x"s all over the wall until the glaze is gone from your brush.  Like I said, the glaze dries fast, so you'll have to brush those x's.  At one point, Doug thought I was beating the wall with the brush.  LOL!  Well, it's just that I was working fast, so the white glaze would lighten up and give the effect I wanted.  When we paint the Kitchen/Dining Room/Living Room areas, I think the color wash would look great.  I'm planning on painting these rooms in warm colors.  I haven't decided on a particular color, but it will be along the line of taupe or a type of coffee.  By the way when you pick up color wash it is naturally in the color white, but you can have it tinted in another color. 

Here's a sneak peek of yesterday's finished paint job.  You'll have to over look all the reflections bouncing all over the room. 

I don't have any pictures of the color wash today, but stay tuned. . .

Tomorrow, I plan to hang up our new bathroom wares (towel rack, hand towel holder, shower curtain rod and paper holder).  I have yet to find valances/panel to hang up in the window.  Ugh!  I thought about just making them, but mom informed me that her sewing machine is not working properly because dad tried using it.  So we're on to step 3, I'll have to go with another color for the curtains.  Since there are touches of antique white/off white, surely I can find some lace curtains.  Beings that I threw away the blinds that were in the room because I dropped a piece of hardware down the vent . . . oops, our curtains are currently a piece of newspaper taped on the glass.  HAHA! 

You've heard of the saying, "when it rains it pours."  Well, it came a down pouring these past couple of days and all I could do was laugh about it.  Day before yesterday, I kept running into brick walls when I was trying to get things lined up for my paint job.  Today with me painting the bathroom, it's been hard to use the sink because of all the stuff on the counter top.  So we've been using the Kitchen sink in it's place.  I was in the process of cleaning up my mess in the bathroom and went to wash my hands in the Kitchen sink when a nice fountain was pouring down onto my feet from below.  Yep!  You guessed it.  The Kitchen pipe busted. No, let me rephrase that it disintegrated and I've got the pictures to prove it.  Doug and I began laughing as soon as he pulled it out from underneath the sink.  We couldn't believe how it just fell apart.  Lowe's here we come.  While we were there, I went ahead and picked up the bathroom wares (towel holders and paper holder).  I haven't decided on the hooks on the back of the door.  I would like to have another 3 hooks, but I may have to get 3 or 4 individual ones.  {hmm} Decisions, decisions. 

By the end of the day, the bathroom got cleaned up and the sink was fixed, thanks to my handy wonderful husband. 

Tip of the Day: You may already know this tip, but I discovered it this afternoon when I needed some paint thinner.  Not having any paint thinner in the house, I thought "why not fingernail polish remover?"  It's basically a paint thinner just in a small container.  I had some paint on my skin and little droplets on the bathroom floor.  The polish remover worked really well.  I guess, I went through about 6 cotton pads with polish remover on it.  Now, before you think "my gosh Mirya, don't you believe in drop clothes?"  Hold on.  I did use drop clothes.  I've recently discovered that I have a mild case of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), I can't stay focused on one thing for very long and then I catch myself merging over into something else.  Luckily, I'm able to slap myself back into focus.  So, I started cleaning off the paint spots and discovered that the polish remover does good to get the stubborn residue that catches in the dimples and dents in your linoleum.  Before I know it, I'm down on my hands and knees working the cotton pad in the corner crack of the floor, trying to get this dark speck out.  Ugh!  Needless to say, after the labor I've been doing around here, I had to rub my neck and shoulders down with Aspercream (scentless of course).  Ahhh! 

Great Finds

I've been trying to fit some healthy ingredients to me and my family, you've read my past posts about Whole Grain, High Fiber Diets and all that.  So, I wanted to get us some oatmeal cookies.  Well, if you like oatmeal and chocolate chips, you might like "Chips Ahoy Oatmeal Chewy Cookies"  Oh, Colton and I love them.  Doug and Katie are birds of another species.  I think Colton is going to be a lot like me when it comes to chocolate.  He loves it!  Katie and Doug both prefer vanilla over chocolate.  Colton and I just don't understand that reasoning.

Cooking Suggestions
As you know, I've been mastering pizza.  BLAHAHA!  Bottomline, you can't mess up a pizza!  Last time I made pizza with pesto, Doug remarked how he didn't like the pesto at all.  I have to admit, it gave me terrible heartburn.  So this time around, I made sure to put just marinara sauce on the pizza crust.  I substituted the ground beef for ground turkey.  We really liked the ground turkey and will be adding it a lot more to my pizza creations.  I think this one I made was a big time winner because we (Doug, Katie and I) had to go back for seconds.  The toppings included: ground turkey, ground pork sausage, crumbled bacon, sliced black olives, sliced button mushrooms, ripe diced tomatoes, diced green peppers, diced onions and lots of mozzarella and provolone cheeses on a whole wheat crust.  YUM!



Movie Time
Katie's had a hard time controlling herself from all the excitement because she found out that "Toy Story 3" is out and her grandparents have agreed to take her this weekend, if nothing happens.  The movie is suppose to be in 3D, so Doug and I were trying to explain to Katie about having to keep her glasses on throughout the whole movie.  At first, she said she could watch the movie without glasses.  After we explained the way the movie would be, she told us "but it's not real it's just a movie."  Finally, she told us that she would keep the glasses on during the movie.  We'll see if she'll do it throughout the whole movie. 

Diva
Ya know, I thought I would have a couple more years down the road before I had to deal with "The Miss Know It All."  You know her or him, if you have sons.  You have a dear sweet child, who holds on to every word that you say as the gospel.  Then before you know it "MKIA" creeps into your sweet angels life and as time marches on the "MKIA" takes over completely until they reach about 14 years old and then it morphes into "I Da Know" kid. I've probably posted about this before, but guess what?  I'm venting again.  Katie is an overall great kid and the sweetest thing you'll ever know, she just likes to keep that person locked up and I'm still trying to find where she's hiding her.  She has to have the hardest head {figuratively speaking} and will do just about anything to get a charge out of me.  What's so bad is Colton is falling right in line behind her.  What sister does; therefore, he shall do as well and she loves it.  Ugh!  When we go to Walmart, I never take the same route and all I hear from the back seat driver is "momma, do you know where you're going?  I don't think this is where Walmart's at?  Momma, are you sure?  Oh no, we're lost!"  Now, I'm sure you reading this can find lots of humor, I can too NOW.  At the moment, all I can think of is my happy place.  Like Jim Carey in "Dumb and Dumber" when they stopped off at a gas station and the truck driver arrived.  "Think of a happy place."  Yeah, it can start to get next to ya.  It's amazing, I've had my driver's license for 20 years, lived in the same town for over 30 years and never knew I was lost because I was once one of those . . . (tada) "Miss Know It All".  She doesn't limit herself to just directions to Walmart.  Oh, no!  This is a constant thing about everything, even washing my hands.  We were getting ready to eat, I washed my hands and I told her to wash hers.  She didn't see me washing mine and asked me if I washed my hands.  When I said "yes," she went as far as asking "are you sure?"  I try not to tell her where we are going.  She'll ask where we are going, but I try to tell her "just sit back and enjoy the ride."  She doesn't like it when I tell her that.  Sometimes, she aggravates me so much that I have a tendency to cave and finally tell her.  Ugh!   Lord, give me patience. 

I had a fantastic Mother's Day, like every other year. It's just a time for me to appreciate and be thankful of all my many many blessings, God has granted me. I'm so thankful to be able to celebrate/share another Mother's Day with my mother. I appreciate the fact my mother is able to spend another year with her grandchildren, so they will build memories. I'm grantful to have a husband that truly appreciates me and more importantly loves me for being ME. I thank God for listening to my many many (tearful at times)prayers for a family. I still can't believe he has entrusted me with these two beautiful children, more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. It is an honor everyday I wake to try to take care of these two precious gems. Being a full-time mom has got to be the hardest job. I run into road blocks, climbed some steep mountains, held my breath through some difficult times, but I continue to survive and the rewards are rich and make it well worth it.

Katie Story
For the past several days, Katie's been asking me how much longer before Mother's Day.  Well this morning, Katie asked me if it was Sunday.  As soon as I confirmed, she asked if it was Mother's Day.  I told her "yes."  "Happy Mother's Day, mom!" she told me.  She not only told me "Happy Mother's Day," but she told Doug, Colton, and my mother, when I was on the phone with her.  I guess Katie thinks Mother's Day is a holiday like Easter or Christmas because she expected me to tell her "Happy Mother's Day" back to her, Colton and dad (Doug).  I tried to explain to her that she wasn't a mother yet and daddy and Colton were boys, not mommas.  She giggled and suggested I wish them a "Happy Mother's Day" anyway.  So, I told her what if I wish her "Happy Daughter Day," Colton a "Happy Son Day" and daddy a "Happy Daddy Day."  She began giggling because she thought that was funny, but liked the idea, especially "Happy Daughter Day." 

A few family members were able to come over for a good ol' Country Boil. If you've never had a Country Boil, they are a great one pot dinner. Depending on how many people you're cooking for, you would fill your pot full of water, but not too full. Once your water begins to boil, you add corn on the cob, onion, sausage and potatoes. Doug likes to add a little "O-Bay Seasoning." I think he put in 1 tablespoon for every gallon of water. Once your corn and potatoes get soft and tender, add your shrimp. Since Nicholas is allergic to shrimp, we boiled the shrimp in a separate pot from the corn and potatoes. Normally, we would have added them in with the veggie mix. Doug knows how much I LOVE crab legs, so he added about 2 pounds with the shrimp. Everything was so GOOD!
Prayer Request
I've had the opportunity to become friends with a very special lady, a few years back.  I can't mention any names right now, but she needs your prayers.  She let us know that she was just diagnosed as having Colon Cancer.  I have no idea what she might be going through emotionally or physically, I just can't imagine.  She will have to undergo surgery to remove the cancer, I don't know how much of her colon will be removed.  She will also have to go through Chemo as well.  Her doctors seem very optimist and her spirits are high.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers that God will not only heal her disease, but lift her up and give her the strength to carry her through this ordeal. 

Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Last Thursday, Millard & Doug got Katie's new activity set all set up outside. She seems to like it pretty good. It's taking her awhile to warm up to it. Right now, I'm having a problem with her roaming over to the neighbor's house. Of course, she has selective hearing and she can't hear me holler her name several times. That night, we grilled out pork chops from Smith Farms - they are soooo good! If you have access to Smith Farms' store, I recommend their smoked pork chops.

Doug was off work Friday, so we went off galavanting. He found a set of phones that he had to have. After he got them all set up and working, I didn't like it because one of the phones wouldn't answer when the phone rang. We set off Saturday morning to trade the phones for a different type. Well, he didn't find any in Cullman, so we headed to Decatur. While Katie and I were shopping at Hobby Lobby, Doug went to Staples and got the phones. That night, Doug decided he didn't like it. Needless to say, we went back to Decatur yesterday and got another different brand from Staples.

I finally watched "One Night with the King" (story of Esther). It was good. It is one of these movies that you have to really pay attention (even if you know the story) because I had to watch it twice. I watched "The Holiday" with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law (gorgeous!) & Jack Black. I thought it was a real nice chic flick. I'm going to have to watch it again before I turn it in. I didn't care for "Little Miss Sunshine" at all. The language is terrible! I guess that's what they consider comedy. Movie Gallery also had "The Nativity Story" and "St. Peter." I went ahead and rented them because I really wanted to see them and any other time, they would be rented out.

This week, I plan to finish cleaning up my last flowerbed, spread mulch in the beds, and pick up some bedding flowers. Nicholas told me tonight, he and Leslie were out on Spring Break. I told him to come by and spend some time with me one day, if they had nothing else to do. I also need to clean house and the inside of the truck (dirty!). My Aunt Sherry & Uncle Roger are suppose to come visit this week. Mom said Sherry wanted to get together and have lunch, which always sounds nice.

Next Saturday, we are invited to take Katie up to Friendship Methodist for an Easter Egg Hunt. I've been so excited! I got Katie a smaller basket, so it would be easier to handle. I thought it was cute - flower. I need to get her a slip for the dress I want her to wear that day. Peggy said they are having a little refreshments afterwards. I was really hoping our church would have an Egg Hunt, but we're not. Instead, we are having an Easter Pageant on Easter Eve and Easter Day. I've volunteered to greet for Easter Eve night. I hated that I missed the Christmas Pageant because Katie was sick, so Lord willing I hope to see the Easter program.

Motivational Quote of the Day
"There is no limit to what you can imagine. And with commitment, with effort, what you can imagine you can become. Put your mind to work for you. Believe that you can do it. The world will tell you that you can't. Yet, in your belief you'll find the strength, you'll find the ability, to do it anyway." - Ralph Marston

Take care & God Bless You!