Crossroads....

This economy situation that we are in right now just stinks. I have had sooooo many friends get laid off/fired from their jobs over the past 6 months. Last week, a major national broadcasting company laid off 1850 of their workers nation-wide in one day. Again, lots of friends and acquaintances are ‘on the beach’, as they say. I have some friends who work for Microsoft and IBM and this week both are laying off thousands of workers.

I think this is a great reminder to all workers that you gotta plan for things like this. You have to know what your financial game-plan will be if your paycheck disappears. That way you are not blind-sided and you don’t freak out in your bosses office. You will need them as a reference for your next gig, so don’t burn that bridge! By planning, you will be able to stay calm because you already have your “Plan B” mapped out in your head.

Let me tell you, being a Christian and putting my life in the hands of God has helped so much in this area. I know that if that day comes, it’s not because of me or my job performance, it’s because God’s use for me in that place, with those people, is done with. He has someplace else He needs me to be and something else I need to do. My pastor once told me about work—“work is not about your AFFLUENCE, it’s about your INFLUENCE”. If you are laid off, your ‘influence’ is needed elsewhere.

So, for my friends (and those I don’t know!) who are collecting un-employment right now, remember I love you and will certainly keep you in my prayers. Welcome to a new chapter of your life. I know it can be a little scary, but I hope you find it exciting too knowing that there’s a whole new adventure ahead of you. Remember that over-quoted saying—when one door closes another one opens. God has a BIG, new door about to open for you. Bless you and stay strong, my friends……

New, fresh beginnings....

We are getting snow today…it is just gorgeous to watch come down. Thankfully, I don't have to get out and drive in it anymore! I love that God brings us things this beautiful to look at…..simply gorgeous.....

The snow is an interesting metaphor for what is going on in our nation today, huh? Snow ‘cleanses’ our earth in a way, leaving behind a blanket of freshness and a clean slate……sort of like our swearing in of our new President today……

So today is Inauguration Day for Barack Obama. I love the energy, excitement, the sense of freshness that his administration brings to our country. I also love that he is reminding us all that these changes he wants to bring us will take time. My fear is that people think that all our problems will be gone as of tomorrow…..and that’s just not going to happen. Our economic problems will take time to fix……possibly a long time. I do love that people are charged up though and say they wanna help get us back on track. Let’s hope that enthusiasm lasts for the long haul!! Congratulations President Obama and to your family---welcome to the White House! We wish you the best of luck. I think you, President Obama, are gonna do a great job…..now let’s get to work!!!!

Bacon Explosion...and other recipes

So my husband knows my love for grilling out. If there is a flame, some wood chunks and a hunk of meat around, I am a happy girl. So yesterday he forwarded this recipe along to me. It’s called “Bacon Explosion” and anything with that name just has to be good. It is the most outrageously ‘bad-for-you’ recipe I’ve ever seen….but the bad girl in me longs to just try it once. It just made me laugh as I scrolled thru the recipe and the pictures. Actually, the funniest part is reading the "comments" section at the bottom of the guys blog. I think someone called it a "wrapped heart attack". Read them at your own risk, though! I can't vouch for the cleanliness of all the comments!!! Pork-tacular!!!

What I will also share with you is my Sausage Cheddar Ball recipe that always gets raves reviews. It’s sooooo simple, yet sooooo good tasting! But let's be honest--it's pork and cheese---not the healthiest recipe out there. You could use turkey sausage to make it a little better! These are great for football snacking, or even breakfast. They are great the next day (if you have leftovers!). Take them out of the fridge and put in the microwave for about a 1 minute, depending on your microwave. Here ya go:

SAUSAGE CHEDDAR BALLS

1 lb 'Hot' pork sausage
2-3 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 1/2 cups baking mix (I used Bisquick)
1/2-1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a rack on a cookie sheet and spray the rack well with non-stick cooking spray. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Form mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls--I use a small ice cream scoop. Place sausage balls on rack. Put enough water in cookie pan (under rack) to just cover the bottom. Bake for 20-22 minutes til cooked through.

Makes 12-15 depending on size

(NOTES: the rack is important because it lets the sausage balls brown all the way around, giving you all around crispiness and browning. Feel free to substitute your favorite cheese or whatever shredded cheese you have handy instead of cheddar. I used mozzarella once because it was what I had on hand and it was a nice different taste! Don't use a soft cheese, because it'll melt too fast and make a big, big mess!)


On another food subject, the Presidential Inauguration is Tuesday and I happen to run across the menu for the Inaugural Luncheon that will follow Obama’s swearing in. Quite a delicious menu! The Seafood Stew looks yummy---expensive, but yummy! I’m not a big duck or pheasant eater, but you could easily try those recipes substituting chicken or turkey. I am sooooo gonna try the Molasses Sweet Potatoes though. If you try any of them before I do…..let me know how they are and I’ll do the same!

Here’s the link to download the recipes!

Good news!

So my Mom had her lumpectomy last week and Friday we found out from the doctor that the cancer was .3 (point 3) centimeters. That is a tiny little thing. And it was tiny because of early detection. Because of that, she will get localized radiation twice a day, five days this week and then she is done. No more surgeries, no reconstruction and through the radiation she will suffer no side-effects. She is sooooo lucky and sooooo thankful!

What a blessing and some serious prayers were answered. Thank you, God!

EARLY DETECTION!!!! This teeeeeny little cancer that was found in my Mom before Christmas, could have turned into something completely huge and ugly by the time her next mammogram came around. I congratulated her on being someone who gets her mammograms every year…..and that’s when she admitted that it had been 3 years since she had had one. I have to admit---I gave my Mom a little talkin’ too! Y ou just can’t miss these. I know it’s not pleasant, it’s not fun and yes, it can be painful sometimes, but compared to what NOT getting one might lead too, I’ll take that 10 minutes of uncomfortable anytime!

Please, please, please…….get your mammogram every single year. And do your self-checks every month. Use your birthday as a reminder, or your anniversary or whatever reminds you to get it done. I do mine every October because it’s “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” and that is a BIG reminder to me to make that appointment. If you haven’t had yours in the past year or the past 10…..make that appointment now!!!! And thank you so much for all your wonderful emails about my Mom!

Ever have one of those moments?

…..that makes you feel like everything around you is moving in slow motion? Those moments that make you stop and take account for the stuff in your life that really matter? I had one of those moments this week.

I found out that my Mom has breast cancer.

She had her yearly mammogram last week, that turned into a biopsy last Friday, a lumpectomy yesterday and, I guess what could be called ‘the verdict’, will come from the doctors as to what happens next, set up for this Friday. Early thoughts are that it’s so small and found early enough that radiation can be given locally instead of the massive ‘zap’ to the whole body. That would be great if that happens.

I have been sooooo surrounded by breast cancer over the past few years. Relatives, friends, acquaintances....and now, my Mom. But, having seen so many survive, prevail and beat this, I’m entering into this with a positive attitude. And I think she is too. My Mom is all of about 5 ft tall, but is no one to trifle with!

So I ask you, my friends, for a few extra prayers, please!!!

Jessica Simpson cooks!

I know it’s too easy to 'go there', but the first thing I thought about when I saw that Jessica Simpson was featured in the 2008 Dallas Cowboys Family Cookbook, was her comment about Chicken of the Sea tuna during her old reality show. I was happy to see her two submissions to the cookbook contain NO tuna….or chicken. ; ) How interesting that a cookbook that is reserved for the players wives includes Jessica, girlfriend to Cowboys QB Tony Romo??? A little foreshadowing maybe???

Anyway, the cookbook benefits an at-risk children’s home in Dallas, so it’s for a good cause if you wanna add another cookbook to your collection. From the reviews I’ve read the wives are quite good cooks!

Here are the two recipes from Jessica. Nothing ground breaking, but maybe something you've never tried. (Note from me: Jessica’s ‘smoothie’ recipe below reads like a milkshake recipe to me. Wanna make it lighter and healthier? Substitute some plain or vanilla yogurt or milk instead of that ice cream.) If you try ‘em before I do, let me know how they are!

Banana Breakfast Fruit Smoothie

1 banana, peeled, cut into chunks, and frozen
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1 cup ice
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend, until smooth.


No-Fat Broccoli and Cherry Tomatoes

4 cups fresh broccoli florets
12 ounces (1 pint) cherry tomatoes, stems removed
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon each salt and coarsely-ground black pepper

Wash broccoli and tomatoes under running water. Cut broccoli into 3/4-inch pieces. Bring broth to a boil, in a 12-inch skillet, over high heat. Add broccoli, salt, and pepper; cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Push broccoli to edges of skillet, and add tomatoes to center. Cook for 2 minutes, to heat through, shaking pan gently to turn tomatoes. Do not overcook tomatoes, if skin split, tomatoes will be too soft. Season, to taste, and serve.