5 thing Friday - memory stone, Keurig, lunch out, cross stitchin', heels

I used a 40% off coupon at Joann to buy one of those stepping store kits as a memory stone for Sugar's burial spot underneath the crepe myrtle in the back yard.

I want to "edge" it with bricks so that it's a slightly larger square and more protected.  It will have Wandering Jew and grass all around it.

I made one about 8 years ago and it's in the front landscaping.  Though you can barely see it here it has held up well.  I need to get out here and clean out the landscaping if it ever stops raining.

This is the third Keurig we've had in as many years.  It decided to die last week.  The company is sending me another to replace it.  Does it seem to you that things are made to wear out and be replaced often?  Whatever happened to appliances that last for years?

I found a new place to take the boys for lunch next time the three of us have a day off together.  These are kimchi fries with soy-glazed chicken, monterrey jack and cheddar cheeses, sriracha sauce.  And they are opening a location close to our neighborhood.

One last snide cross stitch before I start a more "family blog appropriate" design. 

Hubby and I are still enjoying us some Happy Hours with apps and drinks.  It's about the only time I get to wear heels and a skirt - it's nice to dress pretty now and again.  And I have a lot of stuff I either need to start wearing or clear out of my closet 
(like these pink shoes!)

Gina

Thrift fun in April

I took advantage of being in the right area of town to visit a couple of thrift stores on Burnet Road.  It's good to bop around the thrift stores and eat lunch out.  I highly recommend the Kimchi Fries here.  I don't regret one bite.

Silk ties for $1 each at The Assistance League.  Wonder if Hubby realizes I am partial to buying him red ties?

 A crochet doily for $3, tiny frame for $1.50, Murano glass stopper for $2, and that strange cross stitch book mark - I have a mind to re-donate that.  I also found books for 50 cents each - until our neighborhood library re-opens I guess I will have to find paperbacks in the thrift stores.

At Savers I found a cute bunny couple, and a new pair of Keds for $10.  Never been worn!  These retail for $40 on Zappos - I know because I was on the wait list for these exact ones in black!

The little bunny couple cracked me up.  They will go into my Easter stash and come out to dance in my china cabinet next Spring.

Gina

Burritos with Chili

Last week I asked Bubbie to give me suggestions for what he wanted for dinner - it's tough to think of new things to make sometimes.  Turns out he wanted a tried and true recipe for a dish of burritos smothered in chili with lots of cheese.  And since it's not yet too hot to use the oven I agreed.

This is not a diet meal.  So stop reading right now if you are counting calories.

Burritos with Chili
8 small freezer burritos
1 can chili no beans
1 small can tomato sauce
fresh chopped onions (mine are a mix of green and white)
2 c. grated cheese, your choice

 Mix up the chili and tomato sauce.  taste it to see if you want to add more garlic, cumin, salt, etc.

 Lay your frozen burritos out in a greased 9x13 dish and grate up about 2 cups of cheese.

 Pour the chili over the burritos, top with cheese and onions.

 ...then bake at 350 for about 40 minutes.  I have a dish of frozen corn in there, too.  I topped it with a couple tablespoons of butter, a little salt, and a smidge of water so the corn won't scorch.  It will be ready when the burritos are.  You could also do a salad if you feel industrious.

You could top them with a little sour cream or guacamole or cilantro.  I sometimes do that, but I was lucky to remember the corn.  This one is a hit at my house - there are never any leftovers!

Gina

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Tutorial Tuesday

Salted Caramel Banana Poke Cake

It's been awhile since I made my peeps a dessert.  Um, OK....it's been a week or so...But a poke cake to store in the fridge sounds like something the boys will like.  Me?  No.  I've been making enough poor food choices lately.  I might taste test one piece, and that's IT. 

 It all started with banana cake mix, instant vanilla pudding, and a tub of Salted Caramel frosting.  I wanted a quick dessert - semi-homemade is OK with us!  The evaporated milk?  I like to use reconstituted evaporated milk in cooking - costs less, plus its richer than 2%, which is what I usually buy.  Anyhoo, mix up the cake according to the box directions and bake it in a 13x9 dish.

Warm cake smells so good and makes the house smell great, too!

Poke holes in the warm cake and mix the two boxes of vanilla pudding until soft set.  Pour it onto the cake.  Note: I didn't pour every bit of pudding on the cake - it would have overflowed!  So the little bit extra went into small tupperware cups for Bubbie's lunch.

 Cool it down on the counter, then chill completely in the fridge. 

 Uncover the frosting and nuke for about 35 seconds.  Stir well.  Then pour gently onto the cake.  I also did not use all of the frosting - but the rest went into the freezer for some other baking fun.

 Pretty layers!

Chill it completely before cutting to serve.  Store in fridge.

I tried a slice (like I do!) YUM.  The frosting is a little like ganache and the combo of banana and caramel is so good!  The frosting is plenty sweet, so a tiny piece is plenty for me.  I think the boys will approve!

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The Country Cook, Weekend Potluck

What the week holds: Hubby on the road

With his new job, Hubby will be travelin'.  It's been awhile since he's had to travel for business and this carry-on luggage was stored away inside some other luggage in the garage.  I bet he forgot he even owned it.  I brought it in from the garage and hung it up to air out. 

I'm just going to go ahead and say it:  P.U.  Word to the wise:  don't store soft luggage this way.  Let it breathe.  You will thank me later for this tip.  I sprayed with Lysol a couple of times and put a fan on it.  The funk did not dissipate. 

This is proof he hasn't used it in years - well, about 29 to be exact.  This was the address of our FIRST apartment as newlyweds!  I'm thinking some new luggage and tags are in order.  I like the ones from Shutterfly - I can use some photography from this guy.

It's in mint condition, because he probably only used it once or twice.  Too bad it smells so terrible - we don't have time to wait for it to get better, so I guess he will get new ones. Onward, to a new week with new adventures, even if they are job-related!

Gina

5 thing Friday - fruit, chocolate, laundry room, butterfly, new duds

The Girl sent Hubby a fruit bouquet for his last day at his old job.  It was colorful and tasty!

 

On Spring Break, my friend Carol and I were scheduled to meet in Round Top, but bad weather was threatening, so we postponed it.  I bought her some chocolate at IKEA since she forgot hers in my car last time she was in Austin.  We rescheduled for the end of April and hopefully we will have better luck with the weather. We both have venting to do.

Instead I spent time organizing and cleaning my laundry room.  There's something very wrong with that...and I'm not talking about the sideways photo! I actually did get rid of some stuff in here and put new shelf liner in.  Fun times.

Pretty new butterfly on my charm bracelet - a sussie from Hubby and a reminder that Spring is here and there is still so much to look forward to, no matter what life is throwing at us.

 

I am determined that I will look and feel my best, and not let the turkeys get me down! New shoes and scrub tops will add a little shine to my workday.

Gina

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