Little Busy

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I got a little busy and now because I am sick with a cold I am able to catch up a bit. Our Christmas was wonderful. I had made some of my gifts and my mother and aunt loved their bracelets and beaded bookmarks. I got some more beading tools and other crafty things including an origami book with pretty papers to make some of the wonderful things inside. I also got a video editing program which after making a video for youtube it came back as third party and I had to do it all over again. ( Ugh ) Hopefully with some practice I can figure it out more.
I got some makeup too and a pocketbook which I love. I will be posting either a video or pictures of what I got in a few days when I am feeling better. My aunt is here till New Year's Eve. Monday we are going to go to Kohl's to look for something to get my Mom as her birthday is Jan 2.

Since the weather has actually been pretty mild here for New York, I have been thinking about the garden alot and what to plant for next year. Beans, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes and green peppers. I would have done onions and garlic but got caught up in the holidays. I will be bringing you on my journey with the veggie garden next year and other crafts and recipes.

More Snow On The Way!

Today's forecast is more snow. About 3-4 inches by tomorrow morning. Should get heavy around this afternoon. Hasn't even started yet but boy is it cold. Yes 25 degrees to me is cold since I have lived in Florida for awhile.

Tomorrow we are supposed to go to a craft fair at the Legion that my grandfather belonged to when he was alive. Not sure if the weather is going to be ok for it. Even though it is inside it's the driving there that has me worried. And just as I finished that sentence the snow has commenced! Big flakes too. The shovel is right outside the back door so that makes me feel better. Right now I am still in pjs and sipping my warm coffee.
Mom might be home early because she won't drive too much in this stuff. If you don't have to drive or work in this, then it's quite pretty to look at from your window, right? lol

Tomorrow is also food shopping. Not alot just some stuff. I hope the roads are ok and people aren't driving like idiots. Hoping to have time to go to CVS so I can see what they have for nail stuff. Thinking of doing my own nails for the holidays. Might go to Dollar Tree and do a haul video too. Just depends where we end up tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great day!

Raw Milk?

I saw an article about raw milk. I found it very interesting. I did not know that milk, when processed and pasteurized loses alot of its protein and vitamins. But it is processed to destroy bacteria. Cows produce safe milk in an alkaline stomach. Depending what a cow is fed depends on the milk it produces. Acidic results in milk that may harbor bacteria. This I found while reading is produced when cows are fed corn and grain. Amazing, right? Here are some more facts about raw milk you may not now about:

Q: Is all raw milk the same?

A: No! There is a lot of variation due to the many factors that go into its formation. What the cow is fed, how and where it's raised, how the milk is collected all play important roles in its safety and quality. Cows pastured on organic green grass produce milk with amazing health benefits.

Q: Won't raw milk make me sick?
A: Not if it is properly collected from cows fed organic grass (and a minimum of grain). Heavy grain diets change the composition of the milk and hinder its ability to protect itself. Grass-fed milk has natural antibiotic properties that help protect it (and those lucky enough to drink it) from pathogenic bacteria. If you've been using pasteurized dairy products, you might want to eat small amounts of yogurt or kefir for a week or so, to give your digestive tract a pro-biotic boost, before switching to raw milk.

Q: What is pasteurization?
A: Adapted to partially sterilize raw foods (from a technique originally invented by French scientist Louis Pasteur for use on beer and wine), pasteurization is a heating process designed to destroy all bacteria and most enzyme activity. Along with partial sterility, the pasteurized product then has a much longer shelf life. UHT pasteurized milk (totally sterilized) can last for months without refrigeration. Just to be clear, milk that has been pasteurized can no longer be considered 'raw.' 

Q: What is homogenization?
A: Homogenization is the process of forcing whole milk through small orifices under very high pressure. This breaks the fat globules into much smaller particles and prevents the cream from rising to the top. The intense pressure also subjects the milk to high heat for a second time, alters color, flavor and, very likely, nutritional value of the end product.


Q: What about the saturated fat and cholesterol in milk?
A: These two very controversial but extremely essential substances are found in every cell membrane in our bodies. Without them, we'd soon die. There's far too much to discuss in a few sentences, so click on the two links above to learn more about why these two important ingredients of whole, raw milk are so crucial to your health.

Q: How long will raw milk keep? 
A: When kept at the optimal temperature of 36-38° F. (2.2-3.3°C.) you can expect fresh raw milk to last from 7-10 days. Higher temperatures allow the normally occurring lactobacilli to get busy making lactic acid, which gives soured milk its characteristically tangy taste and reduces its shelf life. Bring a cooler bag and ice or gel packs with you when buying milk on hot summer days or if you have a long drive home - it'll stay fresher tasting longer.

Q: Can raw milk be used in cooking? 
A: Ideally, no. The whole idea behind not pasteurizing milk straight from the cow is to preserve the delicate bioactive factors it contains. When heated to cooking temperatures or poured into coffee or tea close to the boiling point, you're effectively pasteurizing it and thus depriving yourself of the beneficial enzymes, immunoglobulins and other factors it contains, as well as increasing its allergenicity. Hi-speed blending can physically damage raw milk as well, so if you like smoothies, puree the other ingredients first, then stir in the raw milk.

Q: I'm lactose intolerant. Can I drink raw milk?
A: Chances are good that you may, even if you're of African or Asian descent, assuming you can find a reliable source near your home. Unheated milk contains its full complement of enzymes and lactase-producing bacteria needed by our bodies to break down and assimilate the milk sugar lactose. These helpful bacteria are killed in the pasteurization/homogenization process. Fermented milk products, such as yogurt and kefir, naturally lower in lactose due to the actions of variousLactobacillus and other lactic acid-producing bacteria, may be better tolerated by some.

Q: I want to try raw milk! How can I get it?
A: The amazing folks at the Weston A. Price Foundation have an excellent site that lists raw dairy suppliers in almost every state and in several countries around the world. Click here to begin your search.

Comfort Food For A Rainy Day

Its really raining here in Florida. I shouldn't complain because we do need the rain. But when it does storm its usually for an hour than it's about over with. Not today...it's been raining all day. I think later I will be making some chicken and dumplings and some biscuits to go with them. It's just that yucky out. I even had to turn the lights on inside because it got that dark out.
What do you like to do on rainy days? What is your comfort food?

Once Again a Much Needed Trip

In the next few days I will be packing to spend some time with my aunt in Melbourne again. It's that time of year. I am so happy to be going to visit her. We get to dine at different places.  This time I promise I will be taking pictures of what I eat. Even if it's just at Perkins. There is also Christmas shopping to do. And she always has some place new to go to whether its a new place opened to eat at or a place I havent been to. I will be making some dishes for my other half to eat while I am gone. Both him and the animals will miss me immensely. But they will manage. I am hoping we will be eating lunch on the way out to her in St Auggie so we might just have the pleasure of doing lunch with my oldest who lives out that way. We will see. She is such a busy young woman. I will have some recipes to share when I get back. I just havent made anything from scratch lately. It's been all prepared stuff. Made quick.  Plus the holidays..good grief. I need to get organized.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful time at MeeMaw's house with family. The food was soooo good. Turkey, ham, dressing, giblet gravy, string beans, broccoli casserole. Great desserts. I actually didnt cook anything. Wish I had though. I asked my other half if we should bring something he said no. Next time I am going to make something and bring it.
I hope everyone else had a wonderful day. My oldest had to work so she didnt get to eat turkey. But next time she is free for a few days I am going to cook her a turkey dinner. I didn't hear from my youngest so not sure what she did. I feel I am so blessed with such a wonderful family and great friends. How did your Thanksgiving go?

It's What's Inside That Matters....

Things coming up.............

I am planning a trip to St. Auggie soon. Can't wait soooo excited!!! There will be a lunch review at a historic place and a recipe from a special someone..( I will have to get an ok first though )

Finally closer to uploading recipe videos on my youtube channel...have two wires i have to get. I updated the driver for my handycam. Now my laptop recognizes my camera!

And other places we will eating at and holiday recipes coming up...

Closer to Christmas I will be making my yearly trek to Melbourne for more fun pictures and places we eat at visiting my aunt.

Some craft things I might throw in.

Having Breakfast

I was woken up Sunday morning to "do you want some pancakes? " I thought oh breakfast in bed...lol..nope not today but off to IHOP we went. Now me and Gator haven't been to IHOP in awhile because first we really only like to have breakfast there and its usually on a Sunday morning. Which means its usually very busy by the time we get up, shower and get dressed. But he woke me up early and off we went. I am so glad we did as I was out of creamer and having a nice cup of coffee was great. But the pancakes. WOW!..I had the New York Cheese Cake pancakes which actually had bits of cheesecake in the batter...heaven..just heaven..
I really can say I went home and was stuffed for hours and didn't even feel like cooking anything...

Looking Back

It's been 10 years since that horrific day. I hope everyone stopped what they were doing if only for a second and said a prayer for those that were touched by 9/11......

Amazing...how God made his presence at such a sad time........faith....it's what keeps us going...

A Little Smokey

Woke up this morning to what I thought was some fog until I opened the door to let the cat in to eat. Very smokey outside so I looked online and found there is a fire which is actually coming from a 3,800 acre Big Gum Swamp fire in the Osceola National Forest and the 250 acre Long Tram fire in Union City.
This morning the news channel said the visibility was 2 miles. But the smoke conditions should improve later this afternoon.
We were going to go to Publix and the bread store this morning but we are going to wait till tomorrow. I really don't do well with alot of smoke. At least Gator stopped off on the way home from work this morning and got our meat package and coffee and creamer. He's the best.

Hurricane Irene

I just want to pass on my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by Hurricane Irene. I have family up in the New York area that has been without power since Saturday night. Word is power wont be back on for them till friday. I pray they will be safe and the days will pass by quick for them and others who are suffering.

School Memories

As we were looking at my niece's first day of school pictures ( I am so proud of her! ) my mom shared with me my first day. Both her and my best friend's mom Marie took us to our first day as kindergarteners. As we held hands and skipped into class both my mom and Marie started to cry. I am the oldest and only girl and my best friend Ronnie was the youngest. Our two mothers then went to the window and stared in still with tears in their eyes and that teacher quickly shut the blinds on them lol...As you can see everything turned out fine lol

Changed Back....

well....I didn't like the new layout so I changed it back. I am going to have to find something else. I just wanted something different. Yesterday we put a tomato cage on our tomato plant and lost 2 of the bigger tomatoes. They fell right off. So I am hoping they will ripen in the window sill in the kitchen. My Grandma used to do this and it worked so I am hoping I have the same luck. This is the first time I am growing tomatoes that have produced fruit.
I am going to be including some freebies that I get in the mail too. And some good freebies sites plus coupons. Coupons I use alot and definitely have to do with cooking lol. So does some of the freebie samples. I have gotten spice packets to try and I even won that Wholly Guacamole set! Been cleaning carpets and going through things. Made alot of headway. I will be working on my blog a little more during the upcoming week when Gator is back to work from his vacation. It would have been nice to go somewhere but we really didnt have the money this time. Last time we took a little weekend vacation was a few years ago to St. Augustine Florida. I would love to go again. And stay longer but we have 4 legged children and right now have no one to take care of them while we are gone.

I am melting.....

Could it be any hotter??? They said on the news that today is the hottest day since 1968 here. Whew...100 degrees but the heat index is making it hotter. Gator ( my hunny ) went to get his check. Without ac in the truck there was no way I was going to sit out in the truck while he gets his check. Last week when we got home I was so sick from the heat..it just knocked me out. So since he was doing all the running around I decided to work on my blog and change things a bit. Not sure if I like the new template but it may look better once I move some things around and edit it more. Haven't done editing in awhile. Have to really look and pay attention to what I'm doing. But way too hot to worry about that today. So sorry my friends if things seem a little out of place.
We may take a trip to the mailbox but even that's too hot. We have a community one in our development but it's down the street. Later I also have to water my tomato plant.

It's doing pretty good now. Some of the leaves are starting to turn yellow though and fall off, but the tomatoes are doing good. I have three so far but there are more flowers. With the heat even some of those are falling off. I just want me some BLTs..I might just go and buy the stuff to make them tomorrow which will be food shopping for sides. Gator went and stopped at the meat market and got a $33 meat package with alot of stuff which should last us a month. We did this at the beginning of the year and was able to just get meat if it was on sale at a really good price at Foodlion. Seems lately I am finding their meat to be not up to par. Small cuts at high prices and some really not looking to appetizing. Can't wait till hunting season so we can stock up our freezer with deer and pork. Plus Gator loves to go hunting. Even if he doesn't catch anything. Just the time spent being out there where it's peaceful and quiet. I might ( but not sure)  start my vlog tonight. Depends how much the house has cooled off. The ac just can't keep up....

National Hug Day!

                                                          Today is National Hug Day!

               Give the ones you care about a hug. Give a stranger a hug. Ask for a hug yourself.

Plannings....

Planning for this holiday....making my BBQ Coleslaw. Of course I will share better pictures of my recipe. I will also try to take some pictures at our get together. We are going to our friend's house. It will be nice to sit and relax. Last night I made crab alfredo which I just threw together. Foodlion had imitation crab on sale buy one get one free so I boiled up some large macaroni and a jar of alfredo sauce and some milk and parm cheese and added the crab. Was very good. Then today I added some mayo and some salt and dill and a little bit of lemon juice and minced celery and it became crab pasta salad. It was just to hot to eat it warm again. Very refreshing and very good if I must say so myself. I love repurposing a meal. Tomorrow I will make sure we have what clothes we are going to wear and what we are bringing.

A Celebration!!!

These are two very special people in my heart. Brother and sister. I truly love them both. I have been blessed with having a friendship that has lasted 41 years. Wow. I met my friend when I first moved to my hometown. I was 5. She came running up to me and said " My name is Veronica, but you can call me Ronnie and we are going to be best friends forever". I will never forget those words. And even though time has marched on and she moved and I moved, had families, lost contact...we still thought about each other...and after many years we picked up...caught up from where we left off.
   The celebration is for her son Danny and his beautiful fiance....I am so very happy for them. And for the proud parents. And their beautiful family. I wish I could be there to celebrate. Would have been great if our children had grown up together. But I am thankful for what I have with my dear friend now. And I treasure that. How proud you and Danny Sr. must be. I know I am. I love you Ronnie and God Bless <3

We Are Melting......

Nothing is worse than a hot day in Florida....oh wait ...yes there is..a hot day in Florida and your central air takes a crap. Nothing better than the inside temp reading at 96 degrees. Wow. So off to the store to get a window unit for now. 4 days of no sleep because of the heat. Now we can sleep. It almost cools off the whole house. But not quite. I will see how it is in the morning. Can I say "I love Walmart"! Sure I can. AC on sale. Great! So as I am sitting here I have a little dog that is begging to go to bed in a nice cool room. I don't blame him. My other half is at work in air conditioning. Lucky him. LOL. Living paycheck to paycheck something has got to give. Hope to get it fixed soon though. I have a Mom's Meet coming up soon. Trying yogurt and laundry detergent. Heat and yogurt...not good...Wish us luck.

Happy Father's Day!

It's Father's Day and I am so missing mine. My dad passed away in 1994 and it seems like it was yesterday. You could say I am jealous of people who get to share moments with their fathers...moments I will never have as memories. I don't let this get me too depressed as I know he is proud of me. Proud of his grandchildren. Proud of us all. Although we try to do our best sometimes we slip up. Thinking about my dad I have come to realize that life is too short. Procrastination is one of life's many downfalls....I know, I have procrastinated many times. We all have at one point or another. So get going and do something...finish a project...in fact finish a project with your dad. If your dad is not here like mine than do something in memory of him. I am making one of his favorites today. Just for him...and because I love him and I always will....

I am making Cheese Toast....very simple...and I thank my Mom for telling me the story that goes with this recipe...and my dad..lol. Mom was always trying to come up with different stuff for us kids to eat and one night she made broiled cheese on toast...that was it...very simple. Well my dad took one bite and he loved it. ( he ate more than one lol ). Make sure though when you broil the cheese on the bread to watch it carefully so it doesn't burn.

Love you Daddy and here's to you and all the other Daddys out there...Have a Happy Father's Day!