Archive for March, 2009

It’s a cold, rainy day here in Greenville and I woke up dreaming about chicken and dumplings. I make mine in the slow cooker and it’s easy and delicious. You can probably change this up as needed but it’s pretty good the way it is here. I can smell it now wafting throughout our home and can’t wait to dig in later tonight!

Chicken and Dumplings

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 Tbl butter
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 onion, diced
1 package Onion Soup Mix
Chicken Stock
2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn or cut into pieces
1 package frozen mixed vegetables (if desired)

Place the chicken, butter, soups, onion and soup mix in slow cooker and add chicken stock until it’s all covered. Cover and cook on High for 5 hours. Add dough and vegetables. Cook until the dough is cooked, about 1 more hour.

We usually add the vegetables which definitely makes it more of a meal and gives the children some veggies. You can use any kind of biscuit dough or use the croissant dough which is easier to tear into flat pieces.

It smells divine and it’s a snap to throw into the cooker in the morning. I love my crock pot! Happy Eating!

The race is over. We didn’t win. But we didn’t disgrace ourselves either. There were a few tears (not mine!) and a very sad face but all is well now. We ended up “recycling” last year’s car. We painted it army green, covered it in military stickers and hot-glued an army man on the top. Colin named it “Special Ops”. Since our car didn’t win anything last year, I was pretty sure that we would not be in the trophies this year either, but my son is an eternal optimist and was convinced that everyone would “make a worse car” this year.

Being the wonderful and attentive mom that I am, I forgot my camera so you’ll just have to use your imagination! The winning car was a Wii remote. I’m convinced it was an actual Wii remote even though I believe the rules say the car must be made out of wood. If it wasn’t real, someone did a great job on it! There was also a car that looked like a huge pencil. Some of these dads kids are really creative!

So we are looking forward to next year. Hopefully we won’t be recycling the same car again!

My Favorite Spring Plants

Hyacinth My absolute favorite. Beautiful little blossoms and smells heavenly.

Tulips So regal and proud.

Creeping Phlox A great groundcover and such dainty little flowers.

Sweet Alyssum A great spreading perennial with beautiful white blossoms.

Lilac I don’t see them much down here but up north, they are everywhere and have the most beautiful scent.

Forsythia So beautiful when it’s blooming and especially when planted in a mass.

Tulip Tree I know this is technically a magnolia but I’ve always called it a tulip tree. They are blooming now here in South Carolina and are just gorgeous!

Daffodil I especially love the bright yellow ones with the dark orange center. They are just so cheerful.

Bradford Pear Tree They are so beautiful when in bloom.

My son is in Cub Scouts and this weekend is the big Pinewood Derby. I made the mistake of going to this chaotic event last year and all I can say is it’s a big gym full of testosterone. A sea of men, boys and cars trying to outdo each other with a little wooden car. It sounded like most Scouts and their Dads spend months perfecting their car, doing practice races, weighing it (it has to be exactly a certain weight but I don’t know what that is), and designing the winning pinewood derby car. It’s serious business. Colin and his Daddy did spend a lot of time on the car last year and it ended being a decent little car. All I remember about it is that they glued a bunch of foreign coins on the top of it. He didn’t win any of his heats but he did come in second each time which was enough for him. He has spent the past year telling everyone he came in second at the Pinewood Derby which technically is not the case but hey… he’s proud and I’m not going to burst his bubble.

Fast forward to this year…. my husband has been travelling every week on business for months and the Pinewood Derby car has not really been in the forefront of his thoughts. The race is in two days, we have no car and my son is determined to be there and for that, we need a car. I’ve tried all kinds of tricks and bribes to talk him out of going to the Race, but he hasn’t fallen for any of them. Dang kid… So my job today is to go try to buy a Pinewood Derby Car that is already made since I have no idea how to operate a lathe. The Den Leader told me I need a lathe to make the car and to be honest, not only do I not know how to operate one, I’m pretty sure I don’t even know what it is. He did say that I could go “buy” one already made (although the tone of voice made it obvious that this is certainly not how it should be done) and just decorate it. Now decorating is something I know how to do! Fingers crossed…

My little boy will be at his Pinewood Derby this Saturday hoping to win with the car that he made with his mom. I will be reminding him that morning that it’s not really whether you win or lose, it’s whether you have fun! And I will be praying the wheels stay on. God help us.

Today would have been my mom’s 69th birthday. March 10th is always a little sad for me. I always wonder what it would have been like to be an adult with my mom alive. It’s hard to believe that she has been gone for almost 18 years. Even though I was a grown woman (kind of) when she died, her mental state had been severely impaired for a long time prior to that and she always thought I was about 14. She also always thought my sister was me so I guess I had the better end of the deal.

She never met my husband. She never met my children. I like to think she knows I’m a mother and I really like to think she is proud of the job I’m doing. Most of the time I don’t really think about not having a mother. She had been in and out of my daily life since I was little so I suppose it’s just what’s normal to me. I do definitely feel little nuggets of envy when I see my friends with their mothers. Being a parent, I know that a mother loves her children no matter what. It’s such a strong and amazing bond. I miss having that bond with her. I miss her.

If you still have your mother, give her a hug and thank God that she’s still here for you to love and to love you. And if you don’t, well… here’s a hug from me.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I hope you and Grandma are having a big time up there. And say hi to Dad for me if you see him.

The warm weather this week has knocked me over the head with two things: it’s almost spring which means shorts and sleeveless shirts and it’s just three weeks until we go to Curacao which means a bathing suit. Yikes! I’ve been hiding my muffin top for a few months now but it’s time to get serious. My daughter is seemingly fascinated with muffin tops ever since she heard me on the phone discussing mine. I’ve assured her that it is not something sweet to eat. Unfortunately I pointed out my muffin top to her and she has since proceeded to show total strangers her nonexistent muffin top which of course involves her lifting up her shirt. But she does still have her little baby belly which is too cute for words.

Anyway…. back to my muffin top. My friend Leisa just told me about the Flat Belly Diet. The cover of the book says you can lose 15 lbs in just 32 days! So now I am on the Flat Belly Diet… at least for the 4-day anti-bloat jumpstart. I figure that will be better than nothing at this point! I don’t really need to lost 15 lbs but I’d definitely be happier with a flatter belly. Today is day one and so far… so good. It says no coffee but I did have half a cup which I guess didn’t get me off to the best start! Nothing like changing the rules with the very first bite. But come on… it’s my coffee. There’s only so much I’m willing to give up for a flat belly.

Breakfast was cornflakes, skim milk, applesauce and sunflower seeds and that’s a lot more than I usually eat for breakfast. Plus the Sassy Water. I’m pretty sure that all you really lose the first 4 days is a gob of water weight due to the large amount of Sassy Water you have to drink but I’m good with that. And the water is pretty good (cucumbers, lemons, ginger and mint mixed with water). It’s hard to go anywhere since I need to powder my nose quite frequently (Mrs. Blumer very much frowns on any term relating to pee). Lunch was turkey, one cheese stick and a pint of cherry tomatoes (and trust me… that’s a lot of tomatoes!). I think I get a “smoothie” this afternoon and then dinner. It’s actually a lot of food. I did however notice the Pinot Grigio is not on the list. Hmmm…..

I’ll keep you posted about the success/failure of the Flat Belly Diet and if I actually stick with it. I just keep telling myself… 3 weeks until bathing suit… 3 weeks until bathing suit… to which the part of me that isn’t terribly interested in the Flat Belly Diet responds…. but you’ll be in Curacao and no one knows you there. So far the good me is winning but it’s only been 1/2 a day. The book has a lot of recipes and a pretty thorough explanation of what’s going on but I haven’t read it yet. I saw 15 lbs in 32 days and just started doing it.

In the meantime, I’m back to walking and Pilates (or my version of Pilates since my very long body doesn’t really want to do some of those moves). And if nothing works, there’s always a Miracle Bathing Suit and vacation pictures from the neck up.

I didn’t grow up learning to cook. My mom had Multiple Sclerosis while I was a child and physically wasn’t able to do much cooking. Beyond that, I’m not sure she was actually a good cook. I spent years telling everyone, including my husband, that I hated to cook. That was until I actually started to try it and realized that I love to cook! Imagine that! I’ll never forget the first time I improvised a recipe (either due to lack of an ingredient or just plain inspiration) and my sweetie said “Now you’re a cook.”  I think I still am (fingers crossed that no one will contradict me on that one!).

There was one thing my mom actually did make and it was yummy. It was pretty much the only thing she ever brought to holiday dinners and thanks to my sister, I have the recipe. With Easter coming soon, I thought it might be a good time to share it.

24-Hour Fruit Salad

1 20-ounce can pineapple chunks (juice pack)
3 slightly beaten egg yolks
2 Tbl sugar
1 Tbl butter
1 1/2 cups tiny marshmallows (isn’t everything just better with marshmallows?)
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained (or 2 oranges, peeled, sectioned and drained – the first one is easier)
1 cup seedless grapes
1 can dark cherries, drained & rinsed well or you will have a purple salad
1/2 cup whipping cream

Drain pineapples, reserving 1/4 cup juice. For the custard, in a small heavy saucepan combine reserved juice, egg yolks, sugar and butter. Cook and stir over low heat about 6 minutes or till mixture thickens slightly and coats a metal spoon. Don’t burn them! You have to babysit the custard while it’s cooking. Cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in a bowl combine pineapples, marshmallows, oranges and grapes. Whip cream till soft peaks form. Fold into the custard. Pour over the fruit and mix gently. Transfer everything to a pretty serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 4-24 hours. Stir gently before serving. Makes 8 side-dish servings.

We’ve tried to cut down on the “refrigerator” time but it is a fruitless effort (pun intended). It doesn’t turn out the same at all and if you’re going to use this recipe, I insist that it be exactly like I remember! Enjoy!!!

My name is Susanne and I love makeup. I love buying makeup. I love playing with makeup. Unfortunately I think I’ve passed this down to my 4-year old daughter. She wants to wear everything I do and sneaks into my makeup stash on a consistent basis.

I had heard about this amazing blush from Smashbox that works with your personal chemistry to make the perfect “blush” for your skin. I’ve always loved cheek stains, especially if they are long-lasting and natural looking. And a makeup that changes color on your skin…. very enticing and let’s face it, hard to resist for a girl like me. Of course I used to LOVE mood lipstick and was totally convinced that my mood would change the color on my lips. Gosh… remember those? They were so cool and there was just something very naughty feeling about putting on blue lipstick. I had every color… blue, green, orange…

Smashbox says, The first intuitive blush, this clear gel reacts with your personal skin chemistry to turn cheeks the color you blush naturally, in just seconds! O-GLOW works on every skin tone, from the lightest to the darkest, to give everyone a customized flush of color. When applied, your skin’s moisture activates the innovative formula, producing a rosy blush that lasts all day.

The reviews on O-Glow are generally positive so I decided to give it a whirl. Okay… I would have tried it anyway because I’m a sucker for something new. I do really like it. Part of why I like it is that it’s just really cool. It’s a clear gel that magically turns into a blush when you put in on your skin. Just use a little though! It goes a long way. The color is definitely pink but it works on my skin. If you have fair skin, it might be a little bright but you can always throw some powder on it to tone it down. I think it will be great during the summer in place of a powder blush. I find it to be fairly long-lasting. It’s not perfect but it’s a fun product to try and works great as a lip stain too. Speaking of lips….

They also have the same concept for lips. I haven’t personally tried this because I don’t care for gloss but after looking at the reviews for it around the web, it seems to be well-loved. Same concept… goes on clear and works with your body chemistry to become the perfect shade.

But I digress from the cheek stains…

My very, very favorite cheek stain is apparently no longer made. It is L’Oreal Translucide Sheer Blush. My personal choice is Blushing Glow. Went on perfectly and lasted forever. Adored it! I still have a little left but I can’t bear to use it up so I just gaze at it lovingly every now and then. L’Oreal also discontinued my absolute favorite mascara a few years ago, Le Grand Curl. It was perfect! Curled your lashes without having to use a lash curler, didn’t clump, cool container…. I obviously have a love/hate relationship with L’Oreal. I fall in love and then they take it away.

A close second is Benetint by Benefit cosmetics. If you can get past the smell (roses!), it’s a great product and totally versatile. Works just as well on the cheeks as it does on the lips. Plus the little bottle lasts forever.

It gives you a lovely rose color (which I guess is why it smells like roses) and is super long-lasting. Claims to be waterproof but I haven’t actually tried that out. This Belle does not like to go underwater and I generally do not stick my cheeks up in the rain so I’ll just have to trust their claim. The applicator is like a nail polish brush so it takes a bit of practice to get it right but totally worth it. Again… a little goes a long way.

It’s Spring. Put a little color on those white cheeks!

I love to read. I mean, I LOVE to read. I especially love long books and I really love them if they are part of a series. I just adore living with the characters for awhile. They begin to feel familiar and you start to know them like family. The best books are the ones that you finish and are immediately engulfed in a sense of sadness because it’s done. There’s nothing like it.

I am currently working my way through a series that I have read five other times. I love it that much. Some of you know it but if you don’t, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s called the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It is a love story, an historical romance, time travel, war, botany… it has it all. But the main thing is the love of the two main characters, Claire and Jamie. Jamie is a Scottish Highlander and…. seriously anything I say at this point makes it sound like something it’s not. I’ve tried to explain this series to people and always fall short. You just have to read it for yourselves. I love it so much, I even suggested Jamie as a name for our son, but my husband didn’t go along with that. I’m hoping hoping hoping that there is another book and I believe there is one coming soon. I just can’t wait! The people I have recommended this series to love it and I have other friends that have read it and are equally enamored.

If you’re looking for a good book, please start reading this series. The first book is called Outlander. Amazon has it for a great price and if you buy more of the series, you can probably get free shipping. Let me know if you like it!

Southerners do love their pecans. There is a running debate on the proper way to say pecan in the South. All I can say is in my husband’s family, they say “puh – con” with the emphasis on the second syllable. I know Paula Deen has her own version but she’s from Georgia and adorable, so I’m forgiving her. We love pecan pie and Magnolia makes a wonderful one. If I can coax the recipe out of her, I’ll put it up another day. For now, here are two wonderful pecans recipes courtesy of my sister-in-law, another beautiful and wonderful Belle.

Spiced Pecans

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 Tbl butter
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups whole pecans

Mix sugar, water, butter, & cinnamon in a saucepan. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. When mixture starts to boil, cook exactly 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour in pecans & stir quickly until all syrup is absorbed. Pour onto waxed paper. Cool & serve.

Peppered Pecans

1 stick of butter
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cup pecan halves
salt & cayenne pepper to taste

Melt butter in baking pan and add Worcestershire sauce. Mix well. Add pecan halves and stir well. Place in 250 degree oven and bake slowly, stirring every few minutes until pecans have absorbed all the liquid. Remove from oven and sprinkle with salt & cayenne pepper. Stir.

Now I’m hungry. Off to find some pecans.