Tuesdays With Kris: A Letter From a Yogi

One of my favorite Yoga instructors in Erica Mather at Pure Yoga. She's very inspirational, but also very grounded and relatable. She's a yogi, but talks like your best friend.  Her zen feels obtainable. I subscribe to her newsletter and thought this one was worth sharing! Happy Tuesday!

Whew!  The Dark Night of the Soul,

otherwise known as "winter",

seems to be drawing to a close. 

 

The days are longer.  Have you noticed?

I'm taking a break from the New York Winter,

in Arizona, attending a business training,

and a medical Qi Gong training.

Part of laws of life's natural cycles

requires that you hibernate,

contemplate, and gather energy to grow,

and that's what I'm doing here:

getting some new information before

moving forward with Spring, both literally,

and figuratively. 

 

Have you done this for yourself recently?

 

When Spring arrives, you're ready for new growth,

sometimes in directions that are unexpected,

and ways that are always fresh.

 

In that vein, stay tuned for some new offerings from me.

 

In the meantime, consider some of the following:

 

Spring is a terrific season to refresh,

recommit to your New Years intents,

to plant the seeds of personal "upgrade" that you

wish to harvest come fall and winter.

 

Where do you see yourself then?

 

Spring farmer's markets offer

a host of new spring vegetables. 

March may still be a little light,

but come April and May, it's

rhubarb, asparagus and spring pea time! 

 

Eating seasonally supports the natural,

seasonal cycles of your own body, and in the spring,

your body wants to clean! 

These vegetables I mentioned

are natural detoxifiers. 

 

Spring is, of course, also a great time

to clean, literally!

 

Make your external environment

reflect your internal one.

 

I'm a ruthless de-clutterer.

 

Get rid of things you've not used in a year.

Give books to the library,

Donate old clothes. 

Throw open the doors and windows and air out your environment,

and feel how much lighter you feel internally.

 

Happy Spring to you!  It's almost here...

 

in Beauty,

 

Erica

www.ericamather.com

I just love her attitude and think her message fits right in with us here! I'm still waiting patiently for spring. Come soon!!!

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Show and Tell - February Links

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Motivation Monday - Serious Spring Commitments

It's hard to believe today is the last day of February already! I've been seeing signs of spring popping up in posts here at TMS as well as the signs in my own backyard...

I think of spring in terms of flowers, sunshine, birds singing, and walks along the beach - but the very first thing that comes to mind for me when I think of spring is working out and getting back in shape.

I've completely let workouts along with eating healthy go right out the window over the last 5-6 months with so much going on in my life, and really haven't gone all out on workouts for probably a year. I can really feel a big difference, not only in how my clothes fit but also in my energy levels, my endurance, and my resistance levels - I've been sick constantly lately. As spring arrives I want to get back to some good healthy habits.

When I think of spring I also think of Lent since that always falls during the beginning of spring. Some of you may remember from previous years that even though I'm not Catholic I do participate in the tradition of giving up something for Lent. It's something my father always did and I joined him during all the years he was still with me - now I continue the tradition in his honor and memory as well as my mother's this year.

The one thing I've always given up no matter what is alcohol. Sometimes I also give up other things like fried food, sweets, red meat, all meat, etc. or sometimes I go for giving all of it up and use those 46 days as a total cleansing time. Along with what I commit to giving up I also usually commit to doing something healthy too - sometimes weight training, sometimes a daily walk, or something else health or fitness related. During Lent my commitments are taken very seriously, once I commit there is no turning back.

I'm sure you are all familiar with Fat Tuesday too - the last day to eat, drink and be merry before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Well, one day is not enough. As of today it's the 10 day count down - 10 days to go all out while deciding what my commitments will be this year.

Would you like to join me and make some Serious Spring Commitments? How about if I challenge you to do it with me this year? What do you say, are you in?

If so, take the next 10 days to indulge while thinking about at least one thing you can give up (make it the one you know you really need the most) and one healthy habit you can add. We will begin on Wednesday, March 9, with the final day on Saturday, April 23. Once again, you do not have to be Catholic to do this (I'm not), you don't have to connect it with anything religious if you don't want to, that's up to you. I do think when you make the commitment to God, or in honor or memory of a loved one it's a little more serious than just saying we'll do something and then finding excuses, procrastinating, and not following through.

Think about it and we'll meet back here next Monday to see who will be playing along and what our commitments will be.

Here's to a Motivated Monday!

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R & R for Sunday, February 27th, 2011

R and R Tip #38 : Rest repairs our souls.

All of us face storms in our lives at some time or another. The following story is one I have read over and over again because it reminds me where true peace is found when the winds of trouble blow.

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. Are you a good farm hand? the farmer asked him. Well, I can sleep when the wind blows, answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows. Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Like the hired hand in the story, when you prepare yourself well before the storms of life arrive, you can face them with confidence knowing that ultimately you have nothing to fear

We certainly feel the burdens of life's storms; our path is often like an obstacle course of troubles.

Showers were forecast for the day, so I had my umbrella with me. After I had been walking for a while, the rain began, a light shower at first and then a drenching rain. Almost everyone ran for cover. I continued my walk, along with a couple of other brave souls, umbrellas in hand as the water splashed around our feet. I was prepared.

Rest and Relaxation are two very good ways to prepare yourself for those storms that may come along. If we are frayed and frazzled by the everyday tasks at hand then we will be too tired to take care of the unexpected . The storms of life come when we least expect them and we need to be the best we can be when they do.

Rest, Relax!

See you all next Sunday!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

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LET'S GET IT TOGETHER

It's been a while since we have done one of these here at TMS. For those of you who are somewhat new to TMS you may not know what a GIT Challenge is - GIT stands for Get It Together!

The idea with the GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

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Frugal Fridays With Jen- The Value of An Emergency Fund

Most popular financial gurus, like Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey, recommend having an emergency fund, although they tend to disagree about how much you should have: 9 months worth or only a $1000. My husband and I tend to fall at the "almost 9 months" end of the spectrum. We automatically pay ourselves first with every paycheck- and I am so glad we do.

Case in point:

We were discharged home with our new daughter on Saturday. I had planned on taking 8 weeks off, as I have had a c-section. I can go back at 6 weeks if I want to, but there is no way I can go back sooner than 6 weeks. I started working for this new company only 5 months ago, and they knew I was pregnant when they hired me. Here in the US, I am not eligible for any required paid leave. I was told when I was hired that my short-term disability should cover me for 6-8 weeks at 66% of my normal salary. I learned this past Tuesday, after calling the short-term disability company, that my claim would be denied because my pregnancy is a "pre-existing condition", and I had not worked for the company for 12 months before I became pregnant. Having worked in insurance for years now, I am not surprised. That means I will not receive pay for more than 1.5 weeks, after which I will run out of sick time. We hadn't planned on this- but we can afford this, thanks to our emergency fund.

If we hadn't lived beneath our means beforehand and saved for a rainy day, we may have had to put the expenses I usually cover on a credit card at high interest, or even worse, paid our bills late. Our greatest annoyance, instead, is taking money out of our savings. I can continue to enjoy my time with my daughter without worrying about putting food on the table.

Need some tips on how to build an emergency fund? Try this article.

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Thursdays With Linda: Signs of Spring…

 

"You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair."

~Chinese Proverb~

It’s still a bit chilly and they are predicting yet more rain…

But the trees are starting to bloom and the bulbs are pushing up through the earth…

So this week I am washing the birdfeeders…

And splurging on a bit of birdseed…

Happy Birds…

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Shower of Good Wishes

Please join me in a Shower of Good Wishes for our Motivation Station teammate, Mrs.Spock and her family, as they welcome their new little girl, "Miss E".

Today, I invite you to a "virtual baby shower", by sharing any favorite childrens' books for the Spock family.

I love childrens' literature and have so many favorites, it's hard to narrow my list. Our family especially loves Jamberry, Goodnight Gorilla, Mrs.Spider's New Car, Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel, Armadillo Rodeo, A Wrinkle in Time, the list goes on and on. It's like picking a favorite child, well, almost! ;o)

Please let us know what stories and books hold a special place in your heart and memories. Thank you so much, Martha @ A Sense of Humor is Essential


You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be -
I had a mother who read to me.

Author - Strickland Gillilan

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Tuesday's With Kris: Fighting the Winter Blahs

February and March are very tough months to get through when you live in seasonal areas. This year has been extra stressful with it being 60 degrees one day and 28 degrees and snowing the next. Such is the Northeast! It takes a lot to get up early to go to the gym, to come home and get your work done instead of immediately hopping into a bath and going to bed with a warm brownie... wait that sounds amazing! Some of us may have the luxury of going on vacation soon but for those of you, like me, who have to stick it out until April, lets take a quick warm trip and get a sneak peek of spring on this lovely Tuesday! We are close... hang in there!

{photos by me}

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Motivation Monday - The Bottom Line

What are you waiting for?

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R & R for Sunday, February 20th, 2011

R and R Tip # 37: Relish and rejoice in taking time for a SPRING break!

Spring Break = Time to Re-energize

Whether you are going somewhere or not for spring break...it can definitely be a time to refocus. For years our family took a day for Spring break and made it full of fun for the whole family. We went to places like the zoo and packed a picnic lunch.

Here are some ideas for frugal ways to spend a Spring Break:

Spend some time outdoors in the sun and fresh air. Be sure to wear UV sun protection. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate the body. Use your time outdoors to stretch and flex muscles that have been dormant.

Rather than listen to the television, listen to nature sounds or uplifting music. Make some time to take a rest. That is why it is called a break.

Check out your local library. Your local library has a wealth of resources and programs in your community. Attend live outdoor events. Community centers, town and village parks and local restaurants frequently host live outdoor concerts and events.

Plan a picnic. A picnic is a low-cost way to get a day out. Pack a basket with iced tea, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cookies and a blanket. Visit a lovely lake or park where you can relax, nosh and unwind

Visit museums. Local museums, arboretums and estates offer free and low-cost tours. I love spending the day in a historical, educational environment that offers something for everyone

Schedule a day-cation. Have fun for a day! A day-cation is better than no getaway at all. If you can’t afford to go away for several days, why not plan an unforgettable local day out?

Or create a stay-cation right at home. When you need to be really frugal, you can create a stay-cation right at home watching your favorite DVD movies with popcorn and soda. Pamper yourself a little and skip the kitchen for a day: order takeout so you don’t have to cook. Then cap the day by taking a warm bubble bath with candlelight and your favorite drink. Sounds great? Well, with a little creativity, you can easily turn your surroundings into an oasis and get that much needed break without breaking your budget.

A weekend retreat is another great idea. It gives a person time to take care of tasks that have been neglected, spend serious time thinking about goals, and developing plans for achieving those goals. Recharge yourself and do some serious thinking.

Shutting off your cell phoneand laptop frees you to focus on whatever you've decided to devote your retreat time to.

A retreat is simply a block of time set aside to focus solely on you. The goal of a retreat is to get your life as on track as you can possibly get it.

Get plenty of sleep so you’re well rested. Don’t set an alarm and go to bed when you actually feel tired. The goal is to not feel exhausted

When I take a break, I can just sit back and clear my mind and think about the things I’ve been putting off.

If you can’t take a complete break, just try to cut back on your hours for a week or so. Even this will help you refresh your mind and enjoy the good things in life.

Family and friends are the finest things in life and every thing else is the finer things.

See you all next Sunday!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

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The Big "C" and perspective

Many years ago when I first met my Rhuematologist, she refused to provide me with support groups for SLE (Systemic Lupus).  I was only 25 when I was diagnosed and quite honestly scared to death by the literature I had been reading.  I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Raynuad's Syndrome. In the blink of an eye I went from jogging 5 days a week, playing raquetball 2-3 times a week and living a carefree life to taking multiple prescriptions and cutting out most activity because of the pain it brought on and all just so I could make it from one day to the next.  This all seemed a lot to deal with and I thought wow, maybe a support a support group would help.  My doctor disagreed.  She believed my positive outlook would carry me farther than others sob stories and pity parties.  I didn't listen to her and sought out a support group anyway.  It didn't take me long into the meeting to realize that while it was nice to meet others with the same condition, the outcomes really depended on internal strengths and weaknesses and that my doctor was right, I needed to focus on the positives.

Shortly after my visit to the support group, I walked into her office and held out my hand.  In it was an entire day's worth of medications, something like 30 pills.  I told her I refused to live the rest of my life like this - taking all these pills each day and enduring not only the symptoms of the disease, but also the side affects of the medication, especially because they predicted it wouldn't be a long life.  I anticipated her telling me that it was just what it was and to learn to live with it.

I was wrong, she jumped at the chance to help me change my life, lifestyle and overall perspective!  My college training and background is medical in nature which makes for an unusual patient.  One that understands - sometimes too much or just enough to scare yourself because you anticipate what comes next.  

Ultimately, perspective and attitude travel hand in hand no matter the diagnosis.  Along with that culture, age and personality play into every attitude.  But, attitudes can be changed and updated, it's entirely up to us.

To refresh your memory these are the 5 stages:

The 5 stages of grief or acceptance:

DENIAL - "this can't be happening to me". Not accepting or even acknowledging the loss.

ANGER - "why me?", feelings of wanting to fight back or get even with spouse of divorce, for death, anger at the deceased, blaming them for leaving.

BARGAINING - bargaining often takes place before the loss. Attempting to make deals with the spouse who is leaving, or attempting to make deals with God to stop or change the loss. Begging, wishing, praying for them to come back.

DEPRESSION - overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self pity, mourning loss of person as well as the hopes, dreams and plans for the future. Feeling lack of control, feeling numb. Perhaps feeling suicidal.

ACCEPTANCE - there is a difference between resignation and acceptance. You have to accept the change or loss, not just try to bear it quietly. Realization that it takes two to make or break a marriage. Realization that the person is gone (in death) that it is not their fault, they didn't leave you on purpose. (even in cases of suicide, often the deceased person, was not in their right frame of mind) Finding the good that can come out of the pain of loss, finding comfort and healing. Our goals should turn toward personal growth.

Get help. You will survive. You will heal (at least emotionally), even if you cannot believe that now, just know that it is true. To feel pain after loss (loss can also be a chronic illness or even a situation where we do not have control) is normal. It proves that we are alive, human. But we can't stop living. We have to become stronger. Helping others through something we have experienced is a wonderful way to facilitate our healing and bring good out of something tragic.

And just to update your medical knowledge, here are some facts that most people are unaware of.

Each type of cancer looks different, most cancer tissues bear little resemblance to the tissue from which they originated.

Unless one obvious large tumor is found that looks like it is the primary tumor, it can still be hard to determine where the cancer came from in the first place and even then it is not always definitive.

Appropriate treatment for cancer depends on what kind of cancer you have. The type of cancer is determined by the organ the cancer starts in, the kind of cell from which it is derived, as well the appearance of the cancer cells.

Cancer begins when a cell begins dividing uncontrollably. Eventually these cells form a visible mass or tumor. This initial tumor is called the "primary" tumor. Cells from the primary tumor can break off and lodge elsewhere in the body where they then grow into secondary tumors. This process is called "metastasis" and a cancer which has spread to other organs is called "metastatic." When cancer spreads to another organ, the type of cancer remains the type of the primary tumor. Thus cancer that started in the colon and spread to the liver is still colon cancer. It is not "liver cancer". Similarly breast cancer that has spread to the bone is not "bone cancer", it is metastatic breast cancer.

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Frugal Fridays With Jen- My Favorite Personal Finance Blogs

Short and sweet this week- as it looks like Baby Girl is trying to come a little early!

Here's a list of personal finance blogs that I read on a regular basis, and feel are chock-full of good advice:

Get Rich Slowly

Wisebread

The Simple Dollar

Does anyone else have any recommendations?

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Thursdays With Linda: Mopping and A Quiz…

"The goal you set must be challenging. At the same time, it should be realistic and attainable, not impossible to reach. It should be challenging enough to make you stretch, but not so far that you break."

~Rick Hansen~

"Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines."

~Brian Tracy~

Son2 is having an After Birthday Get Together with his friends this weekend here at the house…

So besides the all important party planning and shopping for food…

I’m washing floors!

And I’ve been decluttering our shoes…

Above is an after shot of the ones left to wear

because the others are now in the bags below

to be donated…

What’s on your To Do List this week…

How about A Quiz: How Clean is my Home~

http://www.shelterpop.com/2010/09/01/how-clean-is-my-home/?icid=main|main|dl5|sec1_lnk3|169669

My results: You’re Just Right… Being middle of the road when it comes to cleaning is just fine but it wouldn’t kill you to try just a smidge harder. LOL!

Happy Mopping…

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Motivated by Others

Happy Humpday! Thank you for sharing the inspiration and support in helping me get organized and motivated. Here's a few projects among many that I've been working on, and even more importantly, finishing!!!

I purchased and assembled, (consists of the high tech procedure of screwing the 4 legs into the top), this foyer side table, to use as a small desk for our sons' backup computer. (I saved 25% of the price with a $10 off coupon and a sale discount. ;oD). This computer has been sitting in a box since the holidays and it was great to get it all set up and working again. When furniture, rug, and drapery shopping, a tape measure is your best friend, both at home and at the store. The salesperson also knows you are a serious shopper when you have a tape measure in hand.

My other big project is to continue to get ready for our yard sale in a few weeks. I usually am averse to yard sales, but our son came up with this idea to raise funds for his Show Choir fees, and we are trying to teach him the value of a dollar. Also, the idea of getting motivated to clean closets and drawers is another bonus.

I have been making great strides on both my closet and my younger son's room. I channeled my inner "Stacy and Clinton", hosts of What Not To Wear, and went through every article of clothing and if it didn't fit right, was out of date, not worn x years, then Adios! I have 3 boxes, over 9 cubic feet each, filled with clothes, toys, and books ready to be priced and tagged. I am using some of the suggestions from dear Tamy's yard sale experiences, including preparation, pricing, and promotion. I am fortunate that the yard sale is well attended, having been a tradition x 35 years in the neigborhood with dozens of families hosting sales. It is a lot of fun to see friends and neighbors come out to swap their "junque"!

Have you been motivated lately by others to get organized or change behavior?

Thank you so much, Martha @ Sense of Humor is Essential

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Tuesdays With Kris: Make-up Mayhem!

My love for make-up has turned into, well has always been, a disaster! Traveling doesn't help as I usually throw everything into a plastic bag to avoid airport shenanigans, and then that bag remains as my way of organizing my belongings for the face until the next trip! See...

Yeah, not pretty! I went ahead and bought an organizer off of Amazon with a gift card I still had. While I wish it maybe had one more tier for my individual eyeshadow sets (I'm a make-up freak) this size will at least prevent me from binges at Sephora, or will encourage me to purge what I don't use.

Not bad! This bathroom is also shared with a boy!

I need to thank all of you ladies here for inspiring me to do this. I love the Decluttering posts and am glad that I can FINALLY contribute! Next stop... the Closet. My love for clothes is an even more dangerous addiction!

Also, not sure if she is in your area but a lovely lady named Nikki has a business: Simplify Your Space. She de-clutters, reorganizes, and will just make your life better! I just created her website and brand creative. Check it out!

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Motivation Monday - Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo credit - Google Images

The only thing I want to motivate you to do today is to focus on love. Not the commercialized, frilly heart kind of stuff, but the everyday things.

Sure most of us still have to work today but let's try to focus on the things we love about it - come on, you can find at least one thing can't you?

Do you have to clean the house, go grocery shopping, run errands today? No problem. Even those tasks are ways you are loving your home and your family - look at these things as a way to display your love and you just might approach them with a different attitude.

Planning to workout today? Do it! This is the biggest way we show love to ourselves.

Do you have to pay bills? Do you love having electricity, a roof over your head, running water, a car to drive? Pay those bills with thoughts of thankfulness and appreciation.

Hug your loved ones, brush the pets (you know they love it), enjoy a good meal. Take a walk without the headphones and appreciate the beautiful sights and sounds of nature along the way.

At some point today take a few minutes to kick off your shoes, grab a special treat - some yummy chocolates, a glass of champagne, some chocolate covered strawberries maybe - whatever you really enjoy. Put your feet up and spend some time with special people in your life whether in person, on the phone, or even on the computer.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!

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R & R for Sunday, February 13th, 2011

Nothing beats love. Love is the greatest healing power

there is; nothing else comes close. Not ancient cures,

modern medicines and technologies, or all the interesting

books we read or the wise things we say and think.

Love has a transformational power.

Naomi Judd

R and R tip #36: the power of L-O-V-E.

Love is a very powerful, beautiful thing. It’s something that we take for granted as much as we do the air we breathe. When we find ourselves filled with love, it's always easy to SMILE. And we all know that SMILES can relieve a lot of stress

When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective. The ability to bring your emotions into balance helps you bounce back from adversity.

Despite all our labor-saving devices, leisure is still an elusive commodity for most people. Take some time to make a list of the things you love. Do you have a special hobby you love? Does a particular subject enthrall you? What about a friend you love to talk to? List as many items as you can, and keep the list handy so you can refer to it for instant relief when you’re stressed or tense.

Breathe in love and freshness and let go off negativity..This simple but powerful strategy can give you many moments of Rest and Relaxation.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

See you all next Sunday!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

More about → R & R for Sunday, February 13th, 2011

SNEAK PEEK at OKK's VALENTINE MENU

Later today, we're rolling out the Valentine's Day of Romance Menu for 2011 over at OUR KrAzY kitchen, but you get a sneak peek because I needed to write about something fun and upbeat.  So what are you doing for Valentine's Day this year?

Valentine's Day is a truly subjective menu.  Not everyone wants or dreams of the same foods.  So  awhile back when we were just sitting around I quizzed hubby in a round about way and was able to come up with his favorite romantic menu to create a romantic meal. At that time I obviously planned on doing the cooking, but unfortunately since I'm still not allowed to cook, he'll be the one preparing the recipes, but all is good and we'll make it work.  I did borrow a few photos from google images since hubby has yet to make the meal, the rest are from my archives, but the recipes are all ours.

STRAWBERRY MARGARITAS  

2 cups crushed ice 

1/2 cup fresh strawberry puree

1 cup tequila 

2 limes, juiced 

Splash Triple Sec 

Splash simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves completely and then cooled)

• Combine in a blender, ice, strawberry water, tequila, lime juice, Triple Sec and simple syrup. 
• Puree until smooth. 
• Pour into rocks glasses, garnish and serve.

CAJUN SHRIMP COCKTAIL
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup chili sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons finely minced onion
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
Juice of 1 lemon (save your rind to make the cute serving dish)
2 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon Frank's red pepper hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
salt to taste

plenty of fresh medium-large shrimp, cleaned and chilled

• I use my mini food processor to mix it all in until well blended.
• Chill for a day or so before needed to allow flavors to meld together.

CAESAR SALAD DRESSING
6 cloves garlic, mashed and minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Champagne Vinegar
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/3 cup canola oil
Sea Salt
White Pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
Minced anchovy fillets (optional - I usually leave them out)

• Combine garlic, mustard, vinegar and two pinches of salt in a blender and mix thoroughly. 
• Add mayonnaise and blend together to form a thick base. 
• In a slow stream add oil. 
• Scrape dressing with spatula into a bowl and season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice. 
• Optional - Add anchovies to dressing to create a deeper, saltier taste. 
  

PARMESAN CHEESE CROUTONS
6 slices thick sourdough bread
butter, melted, enough to coat bread
½ cup Fontina Cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Place bread slices on oven rack and bake until dry and golden. 
• Melt butter in flat bowl. 
• Combine cheeses in flat bowl. 
• Dip first in butter and the cheese mixture. 
• Bake on cookie sheet 8-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and melted. 
• Cut to desired size*
  

*If I'm in a hurry I will sometimes cut these ahead of time and toss with the butter and cheese which coats all the sides better.

GARLIC STEAK

Steak of choice (hubby choose T-bones)

2 cloves of garlic per steak, minced fine

1 tablespoon champagne vinegar per steak

1/2 tablespoon canola oil

sea salt

white pepper

• Pierce each steak with a marinater.
• Whisk together the garlic, oil, salt and pepper to taste.
• Place steak side by side of a large plate.
• Pour marinade over top.
• Turn steak and make sure each is well coated.
• Cover and marinate overnight.
• Take steak out of refrigerator an hour before grilling, turn several times making sure still well coated in marinade.
• Firmly press garlic pieces into the steak.
• Grilled to desired doneness - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, medium rare....
  

TWICE BAKED POTATOES 

4 large baking potatoes

8 slices bacon

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup milk

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

8 green onions (tops and all), sliced and divided 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  
• Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour or until done through. 
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. 
• When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; saving skins. 
• To the potato pieces add the sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon. 
• Bake for another 15 minutes. 

SOUR CREAM DUTCH APPLE PIE
PIE
3+ cups apples, cored, peeled and chopped
lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
1 small egg, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream (not light)
9 inch pastry shell, pre-baked and cooled
TOPPING
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter, sliced extremely thin

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  
• Chop the apples and combine with just enough lemon juice to coat and prevent browning in large bowl.
• In a small bowl sift together the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt.
• Fold in the sour cream, egg, vanilla and maple extract until well blended.
• Fold the sour cream mixture into the apples until well coated.
• Carefully pour into the pie shell, mounding towards the center.
• Toss together the topping ingredients until well blended.
• Sprinkle topping evenly over the apple mound.
• Lay the pieces of butter all over the top.
• Bake 30 minutes or until apples are tender.
• Best served with ice cream or fresh whipped cream. If you want to be really decadent try it with Caramel Sauce.

HOMEMADE VANILLA ICE CREAM
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 jumbo eggs
2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons real vanilla extract

• Warm the milk in a small pan. 
• Whisk the eggs with the sugar in a separate bowl. 
• Slowly add the warm milk to the egg mixture while continuously whisking the mixture. 
• Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and heat slowly, stirring continuously until mixture thickens to loose pudding texture. DO NOT BOIL! Let it cool to room temperature. 
• Whisk in the cream and vanilla. 
• Follow your ice cream maker directions for freezing.

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