H L Topic of Week of Dec. 22-28~ Merry Christmas Eating Tips~

Hi girlies!

Dawn, sorry to hear Sam is sick - the flu you get the shot for isn't the one that has the vomiting, so maybe she already had that coming, I hear there are lots of blech germs out there. 

Our Christmas was good, nice and quiet, I didn't even really cook - we had leftover ham from my niece from XMAS Eve, so we just built a meal around that and it was good!  it was a relaxing day.  We didn't get a ton of snow, but it's still here so that's weird, usually it doesn't stay so cold here, but it's definitely COLD!

Now back to the real world, we have a GS sleepover/ Mom and Me spa night  on Friday, so I'm back to planning mode, making shopping lists etc.  We were planning to have a sandwich lunch on Saturday but because it's so cold I think we're going to switch to Taco Soup, nice and hot!

ok, have a great day all I seriously need more coffee

Morning

Debi it was in the 20's here too. Nothing on the ground. In my part of TX they had some snow and it was suppose to get in the teens.  And that old 2  story house with no insulation gets cold, especially when the wind is blowing. Huge drafty windows. I tried to get dh to have insulation blown in and he said it would just pack down, but not before we died.

Dawn sorry Sam is sick hope she is better fast. I made some soup Spicy Potato, been making it for years and like it. Guess what old man didn't like it? It is not just potatoes, ground beef, onions, tomato soup, hot sauce if you want it. I only made 1/2, because never know about the SOM.

Rebecca great you didn't have to do a lot of cooking, sounds good to me.

Have to go to commissary, out of milk, eggs and crackers. Mel eats crackers when he takes his meds, 1/2 a sleeve left.

Hugs and pray for our country.

Dusta - yes! I'll take the recipe, thank you :-)   I made the jalapeno parmesan recipe, Yum!!! They were part of the stuff I set out Christmas day to munch on. Mine weren't spongy, I used a can of Kraft parm/whatever mix with the black top & label, not the powder grated stuff (green can) but the shredded can you can buy. (how clear is that?!?!? LOL!!!!). We liked them a lot!!!

Dawn - so very sorry that little Sam is sick. My goodness a lot of that is going around. :(
Hope she is better soon.
We didn't have too much problems with the weather - but actually watched some twirly bird winds blowing through our land. Creepy. The big dogs loved it though - weird. Chased leaves.
dh is out repairing some minor fence damage right now.

Dusta - can you put down/in/up some of the insulation pads? That's what we have in our attics - - - also in our walls - but you couldn't do the walls now, huh?
I love old houses though - so much cool character !

Hi Rebecca and everyone !

I'm paying yucky bills and such - - - better get finished - - - ((hugs)) to all !


edit:  Dusta - I wouldn't mind having that soup recipe - sounds yummy to me......

Spicy Potato Soup

1 lb of ground beef

4 cups of potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 small onion chopped

3 8oz cans of tomato sauce OR  2 10 oz cans tomato soup (i use this)

4 cups of water

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 to 1 tsp hot pepper sauce

1 cup frozen green peas

In a dutch oven brown ground beef. Drain off fat. Add potatoes, onions and tomato soup. Stir in water, salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender and the soup has thickened. Add peas and heat. Makes about 2 quarts.  Let it sit a little while to combine the flavors.  Corn bread is needed with this. lol

I didn't put the hot sauce in the pot, put in my bowl. Mel eats LA hot sauce, I don't and I use tabosco pepper sauce.  Enough to make my nose run. Also I spray the pan and start the onions cooking, to bring out the oils and use some salt on the beef.

Got this off one of the TOH boards years ago. I don't use that much meat just becasue i don't care for it and have used the fake meat too. No matter I really like it .

Yes I know what cheese you are talking about and I used the one in the green jar, becasue that is what we had and I wanted to see what they taste like.  Did you use the fresh pepper? I didn't have that either, but was going to buy one today and forgot it.   Is Sammie girl better? Thank goodness most of the time the throwing up mess doesn't last long.Now the other flu fever, chills last much longer. My son in law that worked for NCIS retired and I wonder what he is going to do. I think he is 53. He had said that kind of work, 20 years was about it.  step-daughter sent a letter telling what all he had done while working there and dh was suppose to send it to me so I could read it. And that was several days ago.

Good night

Morning!!

Dusta - thanks for the recipe, I may substitute beans for the meat. Or use half meat & a can of beans. I think that would be ok? I'm going to try the green can stuff next time I make these, just to see. Like you, I used what was in the fridge at the time LOL!!!  I hope you get the letter, sounds like it would be a very interesting read! Can't even begin to imagine what his job was like :-)

Debi - sounds like you had a great time with DS/DIL :-) Yay!!  How is the NH crew doing? I had to giggle at the dogs, that had to be entertaining to watch LOL!!!

Morning everyone!!

Sam is better - dh said she threw up once then her temp went down. It never got over 99.6, and she was fine after that. So I really don't know what the heck it was! Vaccine reaction or stomach flu.... But she's better so all is good :-)

Yesterday got so crazy here! The one co-owner of the office is semi-retired. He's a great guy, and great to work for. But he's the kind of person that says "do this" and that's it. No discussion, doesn't care how it's done or what hoops you have to jump thru. Just do it.  Fine. But yesterday he really put me in a bind with my end-of-the year stuff. He kept saying "this is why you're here, do it". Um yeah, but you know, sometimes I really do need more time for things!!!  I simply cannot get it done before dec 31 LOL!!!!   It's financial stuff, and it's not really "me" per se, it's the fact that the bank & other factors involved need that physical time of 3, 4 or 5 days!!!!!!  As my Grandma used to say "you can't put 10 lbs of sugar in a 5 lb bag".  And that's pretty much where I"m stuck

oh well.... i think I'll go get more . Coffee cures everything, right?!? LOL!!!!

((((hugs))))

dawn

Morning Healthy Beauties!

I am still working on feeling human again. LOL

Dusta, it's the real old fashioned flu- chills, aches and pains.

Dawn, glad Sam is feeling better. Mom got sick once after getting a flu shot- she got very sick- never got another flu shot. :(  But, they think she was already getting sick and it just happened-but of course Mom blames it on the flu shot. 

Thank you so much Debi for agreeing to start us up tomorrow.

We are postponing our Christmas until me and little Kelsie get well(she has the flu as well, please pray for her). Kelsie is getting tamiflu and they are giving it to Macie as well just in case- since they are very close.

Hugs, Waves and Love to all!

Good Morning Friends!

Muril, hope you and Kelsie both feel better soon *hugs*

Dawn, so glad Sam is doing better!Sometimes people can be so thick when it comes to reality on getting things done LOL

Dusta, hope you get the letter soon.

Debi, yuck on bills. I feel ya, I just made our first mortgage payment LOL. Which is extra stressful, as my company has not yet given me my money they owe me from moving off site. My rate was supposed to go up, but it hasnt. Waiting for my retro pay... almost 500 dollars.

Im so thankful Ive never had the flu, any flu. Not true influenze even when my brothers had it around me, and not just a stomach flu. Im a lucky girl when it comes to my immune system from stuff like that.

Breakfast - 2 eggs, english muffin, 2 sausage links
Lunch - Salad, yogurt
Dinner - Leftover chicken sandwiches, baked fries

Sorry so many of you have the flu.

I did things around here yesterday but didn't go anywhere so will have to do a bit of running today then come back and work on laundry

The 26th was just as bad a day at work and yesterday they called and asked if I would work an extra shift today....um, NO!!!!! It would take me more than 2 days to completely recover from those two nasty days and I have to work Saturday. 4 of 5 days with the acuity there is right now is not something I care to do unless they force me to. There are like 30 nurses on days and only 2 can be off on vacation per week so I am not sure how they are having so much trouble coming up with 6 nurses for 1 day when they all work 3 shifts a week. That is like 90 shifts divided among 7 days so not sure what the problem is....but anyway, I didn't volunteer! 

Good morning girls -
It's almost noon here -
The weather is grey and gloomy - but I really need to stay in and mop (bleck) among other things - and I have the lazies !!!!!
I did get in a good workout - had my Chocolate Coffee Protein drink - so I should be good to go - but I just want to sit. LOL

You girls who have never had the flu - - - are very lucky. That stuff is very YUCK !
One time I had it - and even my hair hurt. No kidding - - - it makes you feel horrible.
Hope everyone is getting better and feeling better.
Especially the little ones. :(

We will be going to visit dh's dad this weekend - he turns 95 today. :)

Dawn - yes these dogs can be entertaining most of the time. haha   We love them.
You should see us trying to workout with the dogs in the shop - - - as far as they are concerned - it's all about them.
The NH crew are doing good, thanks for asking. They had a fun and good Christmas. The NH did a great job this year keeping them busy the month of Dec.  They gave a really good Christmas party too.
On the down side - my 3 have made up a story about how one of my dogs bit my cousin - not true. Stressful - but expected........ they believe it,and that is why it bothers me.   This too shall pass.....
My New Years resolution is to figure out how to let things go in one ear - and straight out the other LOL
I used to have a boss like you were talking about - - - - his attitude also, was - - - - just do it.
I don't mind the NIKE commercial telling me to 'just do it' - - - but the boss........................ ummmmmm - Ya do what ya can.........

Sherry - enjoy your time off - that way you'll be ready to go back when it's time. I guess they are having trouble cause of the holiday's ???? You did work on Christmas day didn't you.
Would you come over and do my laundry while you are at it? ;)

Natasha - when you get your retro pay - it will be like a nice bonus ! Hope you get it soon.
Sorry they are dragging their feet on that. :(

(((MURIL))) - rest, sip on soup and tea. Hope you are feeling better and like your old self soon.
The flu is rough !

Dusta - thanks so much for that recipe - I'm going to try it. I LOVE hot stuff. ;) I was sort of thinking along the same line as Dawn - was going to substitute beans for the peas - do you think it would be good? I like green peas - but dh would balk on that ingred. LOL
I didn't get to try that recipe you sent - for Christmas - - - but I did buy the ingredients - even bought fresh parmesan - - - so probably will be making them for NY eve. yum !

Well, I'm going to scoot - - - everyone have a great day ((hugs))) to all - - - Everyone get well ! there sure is a lot of that flu stuff going around - all over !

Muril glad you are better, but that stuff hangs on. Saw on fb that Kelsie was sick, hope she is better. Your dh shouldn't get it, right? He had a flu shot?

Dawn glad Sam is better. They can throw up then in a little while be better. I has dh about the letter from his daughter and he said he had just forgotten it. I will ask him everyday until he does. lol

Sherry 2 stressful days is enough. 

Natasha that first morgage payment, well it is worth it to be in your home and your fur baby can be free and look outside.

Don't get out anymore than I have to. Don't want to bring something back to Mel. I don't know what the flu would do to him and his sorry lungs.

Got another box from Mel's daughter, had to reorder. It is something called a Kringle and it is such a sinful thing.One is pecan and the other rasberry and we are going to give some of it away. Then someone brought a big box of cookies and they had brought a box like that last year, some of those were still here. Too much sweet stuff.

Rained all night and glad it didn't get  into the 20's like night before.

I think the kids or one of them is throwing rocks on the house. The ones Mel wouldn't let play football in his yard. Of course I don't know for sure but there didn't use to be rocks on the house. Sean found them the other day and he had cleaned up there a couple of months ago. The younger one is a little high tempered. But neither one liked it when I told them they couldn't play out there.  I still don't get people thinking it is okay to just play in your yard. Now if it was a family that had children there age I get it. But Mel is weird about his yard, he said he didn't let his sons do that. He had his drive way widen and put a basket ball goal out there and they could do that.  They also could go to the base and play golf, which they all did. He said his youngest son was good.

Mel doesn't like my sweet potato pie. Like I care. My mil made it like this just nutmeg, no cinnamon and he said it needed it.

Going to call my sil and see how their Christmas went.

hugs and pray for our country

Debbi we must have been typing away about the same time. I put frozen corn in it one time. I think what you like would be fine. I really couldn't taste the peas, you know spicy took over. lol I think when I made the whole recipe I put less than 1/2 pound of the meat.

later