"Shrimp in sauce"

Last weekend, when Mike and I went out on a date night, we ate at Bonefish Grill.  We were so please with the food, service, and restaurant.  Now, it was only our first time there, but we are going to go again!  Soon!

As we waited in their sitting area, which is cool in itself, a waitress came along and offered us a "Saucy Shrimp Appetizer" sample.  Both Mike and I loved it and the taste was great!!!  We don't near always order appetizers we go out to eat, but we just had to this time around!!!

We left the restaurant and I started googling for the shrimp recipe.  I found a few and tried one last night.  I loved the smell it gave to my kitchen and the taste was worth every effort.  I just wish Mike would, just once, rave about something good to eat!!!  It takes an awful lot to get Mike fussing about good food!  Just not a passion of his.  (I can't imagine how much more I would bake if he would rave!)  Anyway, he did enjoy the shrimp too but I guess I was looking for some extraordinary outburst of delight!!!  The kids even loved!  Thanks for the compliments guys!!!

If you are into some seafood for this weekend, try these!  So yum!!!

My version of ...

 

Saucy Shrimp

 

2 Tb. butter

2 cup shrimp, peeled and deveined

Kalamata Olives

2 oz. Sun-dried tomatoes

2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Saute shrimp in the butter and when the butter is melted, add the olive and

sun-dried tomatoes.  Saute until the shrimp are cooked.

 

While the shrimp are cooking, start with the awesome sauce ingredients!

 

1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 limes, juice of

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup water

5 Tb. sugar

1 cup heavy cream

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 Tb. butter

 

Put the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, lemon juice, lime juice, garlic, water

and sugar in a saucepan and cook until reduced in half. 

 

Add cream, salt and pepper.  Stir and simmer until the sauce thickens a bit. 

Add the Tb. butter and stir until it's melted.

 

Place your shrimp mixture on a dish and pour 1/4 of the sauce over top of it. 

Top with crumbled feta cheese and parsley.

Rinsing the shrimp ...

 My tomatoes ...

 The juices ...

 Garlic and starting to cook the sauce ...

 Sauteing the shrimp and adding the olives and sun-dried tomatoes ...

 Add the butter to the sauce ...

 Pour your shrimp mixture on a platter ...

Top with sauce and cheese and parsley!!!  Enjoy!!!

Ready for Fall???

I just love, love the weather we've been having the past few days!  (I do feel so sorry for those getting the heaps and bounds of rain from Hurricane Isaac.  I am watching the news the past few days and it just looks so sad to have New Orleans get another big storm! )  There is no other blue that fits the sky perfectly than the blue sky today!  A few pure, white clouds float in the air.  The sun is warm and bright, yet not over powering it's strength!  This is exactly why May and September (I know it's still August but we are close to flipping the calendar page.) are my two most favorite months.

Fall is coming.  Are you ready?  I am never ready to say good bye to summer, but when the nights get that cool feel and the brisk air in the mornings is just awesome!  It makes me eager to get out my long sleeve clothing and warm up some apple cider!

Another thing that seems like fall is just around the corner are the "fall foods".  Pumpkins, Squash, Gingerbread flavors ... Oh, yeah!!! 

When I got some tomatoes the other day for my salsa, I also picked up a "Spaghetti Squash".  I've had this vegetable before and loved it.  However, I just wish the same enthusiasm would be with the rest of my family.  When they see something "new" on the dinner table, for some reason it automatically makes their noses turn up.  Annoying!  They did each try some (well, Hadassah's helping was the size of a nickle if that even counts)!  I thought it was tasty and yummy!

You should try it yourself ... here's how!

First buy yourself a Spaghetti Squash.  Lay it on a baking sheet with some water.  Poke the squash a few times with a sharp knife.  This helps to escape steam.  Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour or until you can easily stab it with a sharp knife.  

 Let it cool, then slice it open and discard all the seeds.

Like this ...

Then use a fork and scrape the yummy, yellow veggie.  It is really stringy and looks kinda like spaghetti (hence it's name)! 

Add a small dab of butter (or a lot if you prefer :)  ) and sprinkle with salt.  Enjoy!

 

However, since the squash wasn't a huge hit, I opted to make some fresh, homegrown from our garden, green beans.  I planted a few short rows later this summer and we are now reaping the wonderful benefits.  So good.  If my kids eat veggies by the hands full ... then green beans it is!!!  Ashlyn (and the other two) just love these!

 

 

Canned Salsa!

Oh yummy!!!  Today Mom and I canned homemade salsa!

Mike is so into his nachos right now, so I did a triple batch!  It smells so delicious and looks nice!

If you didn't do your salsa yet for this summer, consider this recipe!  So good!
Yield: 10 pints

Everything is chopped up and ready to cook!

 Our third batch is ready for mixing and cooking.

 I cooked some 'just tomatoes' and juiced them.  Now I have fresh tomato juice for tomato soup!

Salsa in pint jars and then cook in boiling water for 10 minutes to seal the lids.

Rodeo Time!!!

Every year, my Aunt and Uncle have a "Rodeo" at their house.  They start the Spring with having "Arena Night" every Monday night in their very own arena.  Horse riders from all around come to ride.  It's a night filled with horses and cows and great food!!!  It's a good time!

They then plan a date for their annual "Rodeo".  This is like the grand finale of their riding fun!  Tons, tons of people come and ride.  Some come to watch.  Some come for the awesome food.  Some come to enjoy the clown and fun give aways!  (They always have a drawing for the kids to win a free colt.  This year the winner was a baby boy!!!  His parents entered his name and it seemed a bit odd to present the cute colt to an infant ... but hey, it should be trained and ready for good riding when this baby grows to be the age to ride!!!  :)  )  Some even say to themselves, "And why did I come to this packed out occasion?"  (That's Mike's point of view!)

The kids were asked to help by going through the crowd with drinks and snacks and sell it.  They weaved in and out through the large audience and did a good.

Thanks Alvin and Ruth for the delicious food, horse rides, and gifts!!!  You guys know how to plan a big event in class!

Here's Matthew riding my brother, John Micheal's, horse.

This is the little colt that the 6 week old baby won!!!

 Just her size ...

My dad doing the barrel races ...

Matthew is all geared up and ready to face the crowd!  Cotton Candy!

Here's my nephew Ryan and Tyler helping too.  Drinks and popcorn!  Hadassah helped give back change if it was needed.

We spied this little turtle going right through the arena.  It will be lucky if it makes it across alive!

Here's my Uncle Alvin with his adorable grand daughter, Sierra.  Lovin the big crowd!

Cowgirl!!!

Another one of my dad doing the "egg on a spoon" race.  They put an egg on a plastic spoon and rode around the arena.  If and when your egg feel off the spoon, you were disqualified.

 Got the cows in the arena and ready for the next act.

Dad, giving Ashlyn a horse ride.  This is rare because Ashlyn still has this little frown every time she sees my dad.?.?

  Uncle Alvin is fixing the timer and looking a bit warm.  The night was perfect for this event.

 This is a unique photograph and not at all what it looks like.  This is my brother John Mike and brother LaVern on their horses doing the relay race.  One rider goes around the arena and then needs to pass it on to the next rider.  The best time wins.

Well, here's LaVern taking off with great speed to finish the last round!  My camera clicked just at the take off.  He does not have a wild horse and it was nothing scary about it.  (Well now, if I were on that horse ... it would be horrifying!!!  :)  )

Hadassah loves hanging out with friends!!!

 

 

The night was fun. 

 

Thanks again Beiler Family for the great show and wonderful foods!!! 

 

A toddler interview ...

Our baby is not much of a baby anymore ... she's now a toddler!  Ashlyn is at the age that is my all time favorite stage!!!  I enjoyed the 16 - 18 month stage with our other children very much!!!  They are learning, imitating, showing personality traits, talking and just being so lovable at this stage!!!!

Here are some facts about Ashlyn in her little life stages right now:

What are her favorite foods?
She figured out a while back how to open the pantry door.  She thinks it's a 'free for all at all times'.  Right now her favorite snack is salt-n-vinegar chips.  She licks it and makes a funny face but seems to enjoy them.  After a few chips, her lips turn a white color from the salt.  She also still loves cucumbers and blueberries!  Always happy to have your kids like veggies and fruit!  Most times she eats 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast.  She knows that there are Popsicles in the freezer and loves that treat every now and then.  Matthew is her hero for getting her that snack!!!  Hershey's chocolate makes her smile!

Favorite Toy?
She loves real babies and so playing with dolls is a new beginning for her.  Yesterday, Hadassah brought the small doll bed and some dolls upstairs for Ashlyn to play with.  As I type, she is pushing a doll around on one of Matthew's big toy trucks.  She adores babies and so watching her play doll is darling!

Imitating?
Very much!  She tries to say words ... lots of words.  She's got a vocabulary of about 30 words.  Way too cute when the kids say, "Ashlyn, say ________," and she does!  She likes to say "No" when she doesn't want something.  Another thing she loves to imitate is putting on shoes.  I am not sure what intrigues toddlers to do this but she looovvees to put on and off our shoes on her feet!  She makes the garage a mess in no time by pulling off shoes from the shoe rack.  Crocs, boots, flips, Mike's big work shoes, etc..  Last week, I bought her a pair of rain boots and she looks way to cute trotting around the back yard in them!!!

"I can do it myself"?
I can see her entering this stage really fast.  She gets so frustrating at times when she can't quite do something on her own, but it doesn't stop her from trying!  She wants to buckle herself in her car seat.  She wants to put her shoes on alone.  She brushes her own teeth all the time.

Nuk?  Blanket?
Yes, she still has her nuk and blanket for nap times.  I am still happy for the contentment it gives to her, but I also realize that the time is coming up fast to take away her nuk.  Soon ..... maybe?

Naps?
She needs a nap every day ... even if she thinks she can do without!  Sometimes she still takes an hour nap in the morning, but most days it's just a long afternoon nap.  She sleeps the best when it's totally quit.  As soon as she hears noises, she's awake.  School started for the older kids and that now means she is back to getting up at 7:00 AM.  Her and Matthew are in the same bedroom, so when he's waking up and getting dressed for school, she wakes up.  Oh, well!

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Training children is not near the same for each child.  Sometimes I wish that there would be a book written that works for all kids.  I am very thankful that we have the Bible as a great guide!!!  One child can be reprimanded by just stern words and then the next child needs a time out for days!!!  Ashlyn is getting pretty good at throwing little tantrums and we need to get a stop to that!  Trying.  Training.  Believing God will guide us through the toddler and 'terrible two' stages.  (You know ... personally I think us adults seem to use that phrase as a cope out or excuse for lack of disciple.  It does seem to be an easy way out at times.  It never seems to work in the long run though.)

I love Ashlyn's age right now.  I am sure you agree by looking at this sweetie!!!

She loves it outside!!!

 Her new rain puppy boots!!!

 "Now you listen here!  These are my boots and no one else's!!!!!"

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About the rest of this family ...

Mike's in his allergy season right now.  All the doors and windows MUST be shut!!!  Yesterday morning, as we were getting ready for church, I just couldn't help but open all the bedroom windows and let some fresh, breezy air come in!  It was a matter of minutes until Mike came to me and looked at me in disbelief!!!  How could I do that to him?  OK, I turned right around and closed them all again.  I can feel fall in the air and I am so ready to air out the house and turn off the AC.  That will have to wait just a bit longer yet.  Allergy season for Mike only last for a few weeks.  Please pray for him and that his allergies will be gone and out of here!!!

Me ... I started running again.  I left myself slack off big time during the summer.  I just don't have to put myself in that hot heat and torture myself by running.  Yep ... torture is still how I feel sometimes when running.  I wish I could train my thinking to be "exercise is good for me.  It has great health benefits.  You actually have more energy when you burn calories and fat!  Enjoy running instead of dreading it."  I run this little message through my mind a lot.  I told myself that when school starts ... so will my running routine!  Well, school began and I am starting out slow.  Only one mile a run for now.  I am still warming up to the fact of doing this again.  Once I am in the routine, I actually do like it!  It's a big mind game for me.  God is my strength and my helper! 

We went for a family run yesterday afternoon.  It's amazing what your kids pick up by what us parents do.  Our habits become their habits in no time!  Well, both Hadassah and Matthew enjoy running (they get that from their dad!).  We strapped Ashlyn in the jogging stroller and off we went ... all five of us!  Matthew, Ashlyn and I went only one mile.  Hadassah went 2 1/2 miles and Mike went 4-5.  This morning both the kids were saying they have sore leg muscles but didn't complain!  :)

Hadassah is in the 5th grade and very excited about her year and teacher!  She's practicing sign language that her teacher is teaching them.  They already did two art projects.  She loves her school friends!

Matthew is now in 2nd grade and he too is excited about his new teacher and learning.  He asked me on Friday if I know how to home school?  "Well, buddy, I never did home school before.  I guess I don't really know how."  His response, "Oh, bummer.  I was hoping you could home school me tomorrow."  (School on Saturdays???)

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Have a great day and for a lot of kids today is their first day in school.  Enjoy the moment and see the small details in your life today.  Count your blessings!  Thank God for christian education!  Live out "real life" today!

Still dating!!!

After being married for 11 1/2 years to Mike, I still look so forward to our date nights.  So forward!!!

We usually talk about it for a few days and then finally just say, "Let's go!"

Mike called me on Friday afternoon and asked me out on a date!  I love it when he does that to me!  He even called a babysitter and asked if the kids can come over!  We dropped the kids off at their destinations.  (We made a slight adjustment after the kids realized what's happening.  They love their Aunt Lena, but this time they wanted to stay with friends their ages.  Thanks Lena for watching Ashlyn and thanks Rosa for letting the kids join in on your clan for the evening!!!)

Mike and I went to Bonefish Grill for the first and really fell in love with their "Saucy Shrimp"!!!  The shrimp were swimming in this such delicious sauce, that I could have taken the plate and lick it off after all the shrimp were eaten!  I thought about taking my straw and drinking it!!!  Thought it! :)  Our entrees were great too and I think we will be back very soon for more great seafood!  I googled the recipe for the shrimp and can't wait to make it here at home!

We left the restaurant with coffee and desert.  So, we stopped at the McDonald's drive through for decaf coffee with cream.  I had a laugh with this stop!!!  Mike pulled up to the drive through and put it in park!  I got such a laugh out of that because who on earth puts their vehicle in park while ordering?  At McDonald's?  We are most times in a huge hurry in life and drive thoughs are for those quick stops.  Not stop and park stops!!!  I just love it when my hubby gets me laughing like that!  Anyway, we got our coffee's and went to a local park to walk around and chat.  Chat about life.  No certain topic.  Nothing serious.  Just time out being together and loving every minute of it!!!  The time went so fast and before we knew it, it was time to pick up the kids and head home.

Nights like these are such a blessing!!!  We said last night that we would love "to do it all over again".  Mike teased Hadassah that we were going to just go and have another date!  I know that it doesn't always take a night out or spending money for food, but that dates can happen every day if you love the one you are married too!!!  Thanks, Mike, for the great date and night out with you!  XOXO!

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Today, marks an interesting date for us!!!  12 years ago, today, Mike asked me to marry him!!!  It was a Saturday and we were at a wedding together.  We had planned to go to the cabin with some of our friends later that afternoon.

During the wedding, Mike and I were sitting in the front of the church with all the other "servers".  We were helping serve the food at the reception.  My dad opens the small door that leads to the church sanctuary in the front of the church.  He looked at us and just smiled.  I was clueless.  Didn't get it at all but thought that was rather strange of dad to do something like that.

We served and had fun at the wedding.  We had so many people make comments to us like:  "Well, you guys are next."  Or, "It'll be you soon."

We got to the cabin where we were going to stay and Mike really wanted to go to the place where he hunts and watch the deer come out in the fields.  OK.  We traveled a bit more and went to his hunting spot.  Up the hill we climbed and into his tree stand we went.  Funny ... when were finally up there and eager to see some deer, we realized that there were so many corn fields all around us.  Only a few open fields that were off in the distance for us to watch for the deer.  I was leaning on the side of his tree stand and just looking out toward the fields, when Mike said, "Lori."  I looked and then he said, "Will you marry me?"

My heart started pounding so hard!  Really?  Now?  My shock and excitement brought out this ... "No, are you serious?"  I could tell real fast that he was serious and I turned my "No" into a BIG "YES"!!!  "Yes, I will marry you!!!"  We were so excited and then I asked if my parents knew he was going to ask me?  Yep. 

Mike had made a visit to dad earlier that week and asked if he can ask me to marry him.  No wonder my dad was acting so weird!!!?

We got back out to Mike's truck (after not seeing many deer, but who cares then right?).  Mike was at his worst with his fall allergies and couldn't wait to get back in the truck!!!  I wanted to call my parents right away and tell them the wonderful news!!!  When they answered the phone, they just laughed.  They were excited for us!

The wedding plans began, the date was set, and even though we are happily married now ... I still love to date my boyfriend/ husband!!!  Love you Babe!!!  Thanks for the great years together and I hope we have many, many more years "in love with each other"!!!