Too Long of a Break....

Thank you for all your kind words and emails! I apologize for being out so much. I do read your blogs, even if I don't comment all the time.

Summer break started on the 19th for us. With that comes busier times at our house. Blogging has taken a major back seat to things like fingerpainting, water gun fights, frisbee, soccer, mini golf and swimming...and the summer has only begun....

I will be back in from time to time with recipes and pics. I hope you do not forget about me! I will be back full force when school begins!

Dana, I will be posting recipes soon!!

Debby, Here is the recipe for the carrots:

1 pound baby carrots
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
throw in parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper...i added italian seasoning too...bake on bakking sheet for 30-40 minutes in 350 degree oven..until carrots are tender

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Chop, Chop!

On the weekends hubby will cook dinner one night. Usually on Saturdays, since I work part of the day. (Isn't that sweet of him?) He likes to make pork chops. They are always so good and tender. He will change the seasonings up, sometime he makes up marinades. but it is always good. I help out by making the sides. This particular chop was rosemary, lemon and various other seasons he threw in. I made cornbread stuffing and roasted carrots to accompany it.

Awards I missed while MIA

It was nice to take a break from blogging and come back to find that not only had I not been forgotten, but I had been given awards!

The first from Dana at Just Talk is the You Make My Day Award. She has a fantastic blog. If you haven't read her yet, you should. I love her stories and her humor!

Thanks Dana!!
I'd like to pass this award to all the blogs listed in my blog roll on the right hand side. You are there because you make my day!

The second award I received was from HoneyB at The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch. She has awarded me with the Arte y Pico Award.
As a recipient of this award we are asked to carry on the tradition and give it to 5 deserving bloggers. It is hard to choose only 5 people we feel this award should go to!

1)You pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award with their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogger community, no matter what language.


2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.


3) Each award-winning, has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the ward itself.


4) Award-winning and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y pico" blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.


Choosing only five is too difficult! I have met interesting people and read so many wonderful blogs. Hopefully I do not offend anyone, but I cannot pick 5. If it is ok, I want to extend this one as well to my blogroll friends.

(if I read/comment on your blog and you are not listed...let me know! I don't want to leave anyone out!)

Sneaking in cabbage.....

I try hard to get the kids to eat veggies, without ketchup or dip. Sometimes I have to get creative. Like the spinach in lasagna. Well I found a recipe for ham steak with cabbage and apples. The purple color appeals to both kids and they love apples. It was hit! Very tasty, very different, and very quick...another keeper!


Sauteed Hamsteak with Cabbage and Apples
Barbarians At The Plate
4 servings

2 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
1 1 and half pound ham steak
1 10 oz bag shredded red cabbage, about 5 cups. (I just shred a medium head of red cabbage)
2 tart baking apples, cored and chopped (Granny Smiths are good in this)
1 cup apple cider or apple juice
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup or brown sugar (i use brown sugar)
salt and pepper

Heat a skillet large enough to hold hamsteak over medium-high heat. If ham is very lean, heat 1 Tbsp oil in the skillet. If there is some fat on the ham, put it in an ungreased skillet. Cook ham until beginning to brown on both sides. Discard any liquid. Transfer ham to a platter, cover to keep warm. Add 1 Tbsp oil to skillet and heat. Add cabbage and apples. Pour in apple cider and syrup.Stir to mix. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered until cabbage is tender. About 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve with ham.

Missing In Action

That's me!

I have taken an unscheduled and unannounced bloggy break. Sorry about that! I am feeling better and things on the home front are looking up. I plan to do some catch up this weekend and next week. I just checked my email and blog today for the first time since last Saturday. Thanks for not marking me off completely! Sometimes there is so much going on in the "real world" that blogland has to take backburner.
(the very nerve)

Talk to you all soon! And yes I actually have a list running of blogs to catch up on!

Cheers :)