Official Day 1

We survived day one. We left homebase around 9:30a and after a quick lunch in Wells, NV we pushed through to arrive in Reno at 5:30 (Reno time.) A relatively uneventful day and much easier than we expected. We finished with a buffet at Circus Circus, a few midway games and that was it. Tomorrow we’ll stop at the Jelly Belly factory and then drive on down to Solvang.

Here we are taking off. I drove the first 3+ hrs.Our travel mates...

Here's the bean and her travel mates. :)
We stopped at a rest stop in Valmy (to clear the air in the car. :-))
Cam decided to join the other two in picking "flowers" but she gave them to their mom instead of us ... silly billy. more tomorrow.

Cinderella Brownies

1 cup Margarine or butter

1/3 cup cocoa

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. vanilla

1 pkg. marshmallows

Mix 1 egg at a time with butter, cocoa, and sugar. Then add the flour and vanilla. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 mins. Then place marshmallows on top and return to the oven for 1 min.

Frosting

1/2 cup margarine (softened)

1 2/3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

1/3 cup milk

Mix all together until well blended. Then frost the brownies.

Nopales...

This is one of my favorite taste of Mexico...Nopales.

You take 2 despiked, cleaned and despined cactus leaves...(I have been told that sometime you can find them in walmart). Wash and dice them. Saute in butter for 15 minutes. In same pan add 4 scrabbled eggs. Mix until eggs are cooked. Serve with warm tortillas and salsa. It is an amazing breakfast or anytime meal. YUMMY

Chicken Pasta Toss

We found this yummy dinner in Taste of Homes. It's one of our new favorites!

10 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1tsp. minced garlic
2Tbsp Butter
3/4 pound cubed chicken breast
1/3 c. chopped green onions
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried Thyme
1/4 tsp. onion powder, rubbed sage, white pepper, and black pepper
dash of cayenne pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

Cook spaghetti.
In a large pan saute garlic in butter. Add chicken, onions and seasoning. Cook until chicken is done. Stir in cream. Bring to boil. Reduce and simmer 4-5 minutes or until thickened. Drain spaghetti and toss in mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley.

Only one pound...

Hello, do you know me? If you don't you should. I'm a pound of fat, and I'm the happiest pound of fat that you would ever want to meet. Want to know why? It's because no one ever wants to lose me; I'm Only One Pound, just a pound. Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds or fifteen pounds, but never only one, so I just stick around and happily keep you fat. Then I add to myself ever so slyly so that you never seem to notice it, that is until I've grown to ten, twenty or even more pounds in weight. Yes, it's fun being Only One Pound of fat, left to do as I please. So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying "Oh, I only lost one pound." ( as if that were such a terrible thing!) For you see, if you do this you'll encourage others to keep me around because they will think I'm not worth losing. And I love being around you - your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips and every part of you. Happy Days!! After all, I'm Only One Pound of fat!!!

Beatitudes for a housewife...

Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labor of love; for her willing hand and happy heart translate duty into privilege, and her labor becomes a service to God and all mankind.

Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.

Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts, for her understanding is a balm to humanity.

Blessed is she who children love, for the love of a child is more to be valued that a fortune or fame.

Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.

Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.

Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.

Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the Christian home; for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.

crispy taco bowls...

Zucchini dough (1 large zucchini, shredded, 1 large egg, 1 cup pepper jack cheese)
Taco flavoring for the shell (add more or less to taste):
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

After mixing the dough, make three circles on a greased cookie sheet (you can make more if you use smaller bowls). Sprinkle either with your own taco seasoning mix, use what I've listed above as a recommendation, or use a scant amount of pre-prepared taco seasoning mix from the store (storetaco mix renders the recipe not induction friendly due to sugar).

Bake for 12 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.

Remove from oven.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease inverted bowls in a jelly roll pan (you don't want them to slide off of a cookie sheet and break). Flip the crusts over the bowls, so that the bottom of the crust is facing the ceiling (this will help the crust to cook evenly).

Bake these for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.

Let the bowls cool slightly.

Using a spoon, bowl-side of the spoon down, very gently run the spoon underneath the taco bowls to loosen them from the glass. Work your way carefully around the bowl. If you have to force the crust, it needs to rest slightly longer.

Once the bowls are separated from the crust, let the crusts rest on a cooling rack for several hours or overnight. I found that the longer these rest, the more crispy they become.


Makes 3 large shells.

Optional ideas for toppings.

chopped fresh spinach
broccoli sprouts
spicy hamburger meat
cheese
fresh tomato
black olives
sour cream