dear february

dear february,

aye aye aye!

can I just close my eyes and dream you away?



yes, that's better. 





happy weekend!

don't forget to tag your weekend photos #howweweekend

the weekly juice

Still juicing like a maniac over here--it has officially become part of our after school routine....

get home

throw stuff on floor

yell at tell them nicely to take stuff to their rooms

juice and snack

homework

yell at tell them ever so sweetly to stop goofing around and just get their homework done.....(this part goes on forever)

all while drinking our juice.



This juice has quickly

Pepper Boats and Dips

Para Chuparse Los Dedos=Eat It Like You Mean It

Hola Amigos! Late post today. I had planned a completely different post but as it turns out, errands, traffic and weather got the best of me and I almost went post less today! The saving grace...I ate the last bit of my hubs horseradish dip!!! This is not good when the first thing my poor hubs looks for when he gets home after a hard day at work is a couple of chips, dip and a cold one!...So...manos a la obra, like we say in Spanish or Let's get down to it!

I got to think that these dips would be perfect for super bowl sunday! The last thing I want to do on the weekend is cook and do dishes. With these dips I kill to birds with one stone.

Nothing sophisticated here. I want to keep it simple, easy to prepare and tasty for the football watching crowd. For my first "boat" I made a Classic Vegetable Dip. Use your favorite Ranch Dip/Salad Dressing Mix (1 packet), 4 oz cream cheese, 8 oz sour cream, chopped orange, yellow and red peppers ( like 1/2 cup all together) and add to the mix. Chopped olives and smoked paprika for that earthy flavor. Refrigerate a couple of hours and ready. Garnish with some green onions and more paprika. Serve it it's own pepper boat and pepper slices. Listo!

Next I made and Zesty Italian Dip. Again, use your favorite Italian Salad Dressing Mix. 4 oz cream cheese, 8 oz sour cream, 1/8 tsp. basil and my favorite ingredient fine cubed Prosciutto! Now tell me your guy is not going to love anything with bacon on! Serve with with some Ritz Vegetable crackers and listo.

Last but not least, a South of the Border Dip. You will need 4 oz cream cheese, 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa, 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 tsp chilli powder and another favorite of mine, Chorizo. Cook your chorizo thoroughly. Once is done, put it on paper towel to absorb some of the grease and add it to your salsa, cheese mix. Refrigerate, garnish it with some Pimentos and Queso Quesadilla and  serve with blue corn tortilla chips in its own pepper boat! This particular one is my teen's favorite!

Not only they are colorful but everybody could be watching the game with their own bowl of dip at hand!..no dishes to do at the end of the game and everybody happy.

I hope you liked my last minute dips, easy to do but full of flavor!

Remember my friends...everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,

Lizy,

Joining these Fabulous Parties
Beyond The Picket Fence
The Growing Patch
Confessions of an ADD Housewife
Embracing Change
Turnips 2 Tangerines
Food Done Light
Frieflies and Jellybeans
Designed Decor
Rattlebridge Farm
Miss Information
Chic on a Shoestring
Debbiedoo's
Dear Creative
Consider Me Inspired
USS Crafty
A Pinch of Joy
This and That

A Mother's Agony

- Heartbreaking aerial view of some of our stranded cattle on the breached storage banks -
Photo taken by Mitch Gates from the helicopter 

Inland communities have been largely overlooked in the media as the focus remains on coastal towns and cities during the latest floods. Scenes with water lapping around the roofs of homes, businesses and services dominate the tele screen. People being plucked in the air by helicopter - incredible.

Personally for me it's all been a fog. My focus has been on our property in Gundy, which is a unique place for capturing water, so in the bad times it's a good thing. But in times of flood, where the three rivers meet, our place is potentially frightening. The river rose by six metres. That hadn't happened in over twenty years. The huge volume of water coming from three directions left us wondering how this would turn out. The river had already risen last week. How much more could it take? 

I don't care. I don't care about the machinery. I don't care about the house. Or when it really boils down to it - even about the cattle. When my son's life is at risk, that is all this mother can think about. 

So when I woke up yesterday morning to Hubby telling me we have an emergency on the place; I entered a foggy zone. I'm here on the coast while my son is OUT THERE and no one can make contact with him. Last communication was with the property manager to say he was walking across to the cultivation to see what he could 'save' and check the cattle. He didn't bank on the water rising so quickly and spreading across the place in that time. He couldn't go back home. Onto the two-way in the tractor to tell the property manager he would sleep in the tractor that night and assess the situation in the morning. 

I'm not going into the events and the poor communication or the lack of total communication that ensued the next day. There was my son in the middle of a flood zone up to three kilometres from the house. And he was stuck in the truck shed with no way of getting back. The SES were called to rescue him. They decided boating up there would be the way to go. It was that or the helicopter.  But was my son at the shed waiting to be rescued.  No. In his mind he was 'fine'. So with the water waist high, he decided to swim and walk through the flood to get home. 

Never has a season been so prolific with snakes in Gundy. The numbers are staggering. They would of been swimming everywhere, spiders bigger than the palm of your hand, fencing wire that easily could of snagged his feet, floating logs and debris, the scenario just too horrendous to think about. 

So when I'm frantically calling the homestead for the latest update, you could of knocked me down with a feather when a voice casually says 'hi ma'. As calm as can be. No alarm in the voice. Same ole same ole. I wish I could of flown through the phone line and hugged him. And then I would of thumped the hell out of him - how could you do that?  There have been cattle found washed up against the fence line and here you are SWIMMING and WALKING for kilometres through this disaster as though it were a puddle. 

Hubby spent the morning stressing of his whereabouts and then when 'supposed' contact was made, organising the rescue. I spent the morning, cleaning the fallen palm fronds around the place crying, angry, ready to leave if anything happened to my son; screaming at my husband, frantically yanking out weeds in the pool area, racing back in the garage balling my eyes out. Where is he, where is he!!! Thoughts of him being washed away; god always takes the good ones young; for sure he'll want Mitch.  I can't describe the agony. It's too painful.

Not sure who the angel was that saw him get home in mostly one piece; but thank you. Please keep watch over him.

PS. And to the bastard who stole our boat from the river, I hope you rot in hell!

The Numinbah Valley property was fairly disasterous too.
That's our gate in the far right hand corner.
The only way in was to walk and the picture in the top left hand corner is the river -
 bridge is totally under and no way to get across.
 The cows on this land have lots of hills so no risk of them getting washed away- the gates to the river are locked - the only way through is if the top fence is destroyed.
With the roaring torrent of water coming downstream from Upper Springbrook,
there will definitely be fences ripped away.
 Upper Springbrook received over 1400mls in less than 48 hours.
 This place capped the highest rainfall in that time anywhere in Queensland over the flood period.
The soils are highly unstable and hazardous in Numinbah.
 We along with many landowners have copped heaps of landslides.
It's going to take ages to settle and stabilize.

Photos taken and compiled by Nicole Gates.

between a rock and a........rock

literally. 



rock climbing.

a first for me.



We have been climbing at an indoor wall the last few months with the kids, and it has quickly become one of our new favorite ways to spend time as a family. It's something we can all do together, it's a great way to be active in the winter, and I have found it to be an excellent workout for my (lack of) upper body.



When we went south last week

Semlor

Semla (plural - semlor)) is probably one of the most typical Swedish pastries (and princess cake of course) I can think of. It's made out of a wheat flour bun seasoned with cardamom, filled with almond paste and whipped cream. Traditionally they're eaten on "Fat Tuesday" (the last day before the lenten fast) but nowadays you can find them in pretty much any café or bakery in Sweden from new years until easter. I can honestly say I don't know much about their history, but I do know that they're delicious! Some people like to eat them from a bowl of hot milk - this is called "hetvägg" ("hot wall", I know, weird!) but I prefer eating them the way they are.

I also made som untraditional ones - chocolate with Nutella filling. I prefer the regular ones though, but if you feel like making chocolate semlor, just replace 4 tbsp of the flour with cocoa powder and add some cocoa powder to the whipped cream.

The video below shows how I make them!

Click image below to view recipe!

Sin Comentarios=Caption This One

Hola Amigos: I seriously don't get it with the weather lately! One minute is snowing, the next all the snow melts in less than 6 hours and now pouring rain! Noticed something...No Sun! I'm gloominess sick today, so looking back at my picture gallery I found this picture taking only  a few months ago and thought..well she's got the look and spirit I want to be in!

Let this cute fellow inspire you today into feeling even more fabulous than you already are! Have a wonderful  Tuesday... be the judge and Caption This One!

Besitos,

Lizy

Last week we had some hilarious captions to Tango's display of Valentine's affection. Here are some funny ones in no particular order:
"Hmmm.... I wonder if this will make up for giving her fleas?" by Leisa
"Maybe now she won't notice the mess in the next room. (that was not me lol)" by +ARod Rodriguez
"I gotta eat this quick before anyone sees me!" by +Paula Miller

"Shhhh! What happened to you is our little secret!" by J

Tango wants to Thank all" Caption This One" friends for stopping by!...we can't wait to see what you guys come up this week!

Whispering gently at these Fabulous Parties:
Sincerely, Paula
Marvelous Mommy
Coupon Saving Family
Do Small Things with Love
Judy H-J's Thoughts
Create With Joy
The Crumby Mummy
Cookin' for My Captain
Potato Chip Cat
Makin My Apt a Home

how we weekend : january

Can you believe we just went through our last weekend in January?! I was lucky enough to be celebrating my birthday all weekend. Friday Robby took me to Cooper Onion (mmmmm). Saturday we spent some time downtown, ate Ruby Snap  until we burst, and stayed cozy all evening by the fire. Sunday we welcomed a blanket of fresh fluffy snow that washed away our dirty air and painted our world white. It

Lunes de Chocolate=Sweet Monday

Hola Amigos! Brand new week and world of opportunities are all at our fingertips! Let's start this week on a sweet note and give the best of us to make each day count!

Do you remember your first kiss? Perhaps you remember the sweetheart who stole it from you, perhaps you remember the place or even what you were wearing that day..what I'm sure deep inside you don't want to remember are the feelings of adolescence awkwardness of that important moment in life, Not quite knowing what to do or how to react, all those emotions were most likely summarized in one word "wow", but you didn't show it...cool as a cucumber you went on with your date while your heart was doing Olympic flips!

My dessert today in many ways resembles that first kiss. It's sweet, leaves you wanting more...but it's sloppy! No matter how you cut it, serve it, photograph it...it's just a sloppy mess! Let;s get the recipe.

Strawberry and Chocolate Sloppy Pie

50 oz of Semisweet Chocolate

1 3/4 cups of white or wheat bread crumbs

2 cups chocolate milk

2 eggs separated

1/2 cup super fine sugar

3 Tablespoons Strawberry Preserves

Heat up your oven at 360F. In a saucepan, melt your chocolate and chocolate milk until almost boiling. Move from heat and set aside. Temper the 2 egg yolks with a bit of the chocolate mix. Add the tempered egg yolks and chocolate mix to the bread crumbs. Mix and add 5 Tablespoons of the super fine sugar. Pour this mix into a deep pie dish and bake for 25 minutes or firm to the touch. 

In the meantime, whip the egg whites with the remaining sugar until forming soft glistening peaks.

Once the pie is firm, remove from oven and top it first with the strawberry preserves and then the Meringue. Place in the oven and bake for another 15 minutes.

Listo!

Serve it warm or cold and enjoy it!..

It's a sweet mess...it's slippery sweet texture won't allow you to have a picture perfect shot or the perfect first time serving!

Probably you will be coming back for extra meringue because you didn't get enough the first time.

And you can only eat it with a spoon and lots and lots of napkins!

What I suggest is just do what you did on that first date, the moment you got that first kiss...Close Your Eyes and Enjoy it!

Remember, everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,

Lizy

Bringing Sweet Wishes to these Fabulous Parties
Mom's Test Kitchen
Bloom Designs
Alderberry Hill
The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
Frugal Foodie Mama
Claire Justine oxox
Pint Sized Baker
Sugar Bee Crafts
Naptime Creations
Feeding Big and More
Confessions of an ADD Housewife
Rattlebridge Farm

Chocolate mascarpone cake with berries

As usual, I have so much more important things to do than making blogposts and recording videos. Therefore, I made two new blogposts and two new videos (because I love making them!). Of course.
I'm a huge procrastinator. I think I need to write more notes.

Anyway, this cake was actually a practice round for an episode of a tv show I'm going to be on. So in about a week or so I will be going to Finland for the first time in my life. Very exciting!

Video by me (Linda Lomelino)
Music by Death in the afternoon

An Update

 

I haven't been around here much lately, as you might have noticed. I've been going through a lot of changes lately. I've had migraines most of my life. I mean the debilitating can't get out of bed kind. I've tried almost everything in the world to get rid of them. Western medicine, alternative medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture etc. While some of those methods worked for a time, I am still struggling to get rid of them for good. Lately they had just been super out of control. Then I read an article that said how many migraines come from food intolerances, and it gave a list of the top foods that gave people migraines. So finally I found myself at a place where I would do anything to make them stop. So I eliminated all of those foods from my diet and it's helped. But here's the deal. Those foods are almost everything I use for baking. Wheat, sugar, dairy and even eggs. So this has left me at a place where I am still adapting to my new life, (I've also been sick with the flu) and I'm not sure where I stand with my blog. I know I will bake again for others, so do I blog when I bake for them even though I can't really taste it or enjoy it? Or do I change my blog completely and only blog about super healthy gluten free and sugar free stuff? Or do I not blog at all? I'm still getting healthy and figuring it out, so thank you for bearing with me while I sort it all out.

 

 

Edited to add: I've recieved many sweet words of encouragement from you all, thank you so much, I appreciate it!

Kielbasa on Beer and Fresh Apples Sauce

Rapidito en Viernes=Quicky Friday

Hola Amigos! Up here in Michigan we are getting hit with the low temperatures of the Arctic Blast! and according the the weatherman the situation is not abut to change any time soon....sigh , Cold weather screams to me Electric Blanket and Comfort Food!

This particular dish will bring comfort to all, but especially to the guy in your life. I know the key to my hubs heart is anything with either bacon or sausage and yes...Beer! So I think a have a winner here:
Lets get on with the recipe!

Kielbasa on Beer and Fresh Apples Sauce

1 pd. Fresh Kielbasa links

1/2 pd Smoked Kielbasa 

1 Belgian Style Wheat Beer 

2 apples (green and red)

1/2 cup apple juice (optional)

1 onion

nutmeg

a pinch of lemon zest

1 Tablespoon Red Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Honey 

Pepper to taste

In a frying pan, saute the fresh kielbasa until firm enough to slice in even pieces. Also chopped the smoked kielbasa in pieces. Once these sliced place them both back on the frying pan,  medium heat. Brown and add half the bottle of beer. Cook until most the beer has evaporated stirring often. Set aside 

In the same frying pan, add chopped apples, nutmeg and onions. Cook until apples are tender. 

Bring the browned kielbasa into the apple and onion mix. Add the rest of the beer, 1.2 cup apple juice (optional),  red vinegar, honey, lemon  zest and pepper to taste. Cook for 5 minutes until the sauce is slightly thicken. Will serve 4

Listo,

I love cooking with beer, it brings certain aroma to the food without the overpowering taste.

But I think my hubs loves it even more because he gets to enjoy his meal with a cold one too!

Hope you liked this weekend's recipe...remember everything tastes better with a Pinch Of Love!

Besitos,

Lizy

Joining these Fabulous Parties:
A 'lil Country Sugar
Frugal Foodie Mama
Claire Justine oxox
Shaffer Sisters

here we go

a happy happy moment riding on a bike path through Zion National Park with my kiddos....I know I look a little crazy....but I was pretty excited to be in Zion.

 

Here I sit.

I write this with only a few hours left in my twenties.

My hair is pulled up, I'm sporting one of Robby's Ts (oh, and his socks), and I feel the green face mask starting to dry on my cheeks.

Glamorous. 

I'm drinking

Very Berry Kool Aid Cheesecake

Amor Es=Sugar Rush

Hola Amigos...usually I bring you a craft on Thursdays  but today I'm sharing with you this surprisingly delicious and quick dessert which main ingredient is the humble Kool Aid!

For a couple of days now, while trying to organize my pantry, my little 4 yo helper found a few forgotten, maybe on purpose, packets of Kool Aid! I still don't know what possessed me to by them on the first place..is nothing we drink at this household anyways...but I couldn't just trow them away. I did a little online research and found a recipe using Kool Aid. I changed it a little bit and this Cheesecake was born.

Very Berry Kool Aid Cheesecake

1 .14 oz packet of Balck Cherry Kool Aid

1 .14oz packet of Grape Kool Aid

1 8oz container of Cool Whip

1 can Condensed Milk

8 ounces Strawberry Cream Cheese

3 Tablespoon Milk

1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Strawberries, Blackberries and Blackberry Preserves for Garnish

 Yes, that is Little Helper Mixing Everything and "Berry" excited to try his new favorite treat! Can you blame him, what is not to like about this one!

Put the Cool Whip, Kool Aid, Condensed Milk, Cream Cheese and Milk in a Bowl, mix with a spatula until you can't see any traces of the Kool Aid. Once everything is mixed, refrigerate for 2 hours until firm. Decorate with strawberry slices, whole blackberries and drizzle some blackberry preserve preciously heated up in the microwave.

Listo!

I've got to tell you guys, this tastes better than I expected. 

I think it's because I cut some of the sweetness of the ingredients with the strawberry cream cheese.

Not only it gave it texture where you can actually sink your fork in, but it also goes well with the blackberry preserves and Graham Cracker Crust!

Claire Justine oxox

It's Valentine's, It's O.k to have a little sugar rush to keep the Love Going!

After all everything tastes better with a spoonful of sweetness and a  Pinch of Love!

Also friends, remember the Red Cross needs your help, not only this Valentine's but everyday of the year, not only by donating blood or funds, but also you can volunteer your time assisting staff and donors on blood drives or perhaps encouraging other people to get involved and donate! Whatever it is your call, give the gift of life this February 14th!

Besitos,

Lizy

Bringing some Sweetness to these Fabulous Parties:
Rate the Plate Utah
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Chic on a Shoestring
My Turn (for us)
This and That
Rattlebridge Farm
Miss Information
Designed Decor
Sew-licious Home Decor
Pamela's Heavenly Treats
Life on Lakeshore Drive
Flamingo Toes
The Naptime Review
Pint Sized Baker
Kathe with an E
Ginger Snap Craft
Crazy for Crust