Carrot Spice Cookies

1/4 C sugar
1/4 C Splenda
1/2 butter substitute
1 1/2 C shredded carrots
3/4 C light brown Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 egg substitute
2 Tblsp molasses
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 C wheat germ
2 C flour
1 C quick oats
1/3 C ground flax seed

We spredded the carrots first and set aside.  We started by mixing the wet ingredients and then slowly mixed in the dry ingredients.  Once it's well mixed, put in the refrigerator for at least one hour. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, scoop by teaspoons onto cookie sheet, press out and flatten the cookies.  Bake fore about 12 mins.  They will be firm when done.  Cool for 10 mins and put on cookie rack. 

Enjoy!

Through My Eyes

This is a view from the "scenic outlook" across the way from San Quentin.  I drive here every day that I go work in the San Rafael store.

This is the bridge I drive across, I never realized just how long it is until I was standing there looking at it!  It's kind of really scary!

These are from a Catholic Cemetery that is across from the mall in San Rafael.  I will have to go back when I have more time and take more photos!  It's so beautiful and full of amazing statues and mausoleums.

Now you've seen a glimpse of life through my eyes.  I'm going to work on posting more photos, I really enjoy photography and just need to get out more, learn more and share more!

Feel like recipes? Here's a few I use!

Busy Day Casserole

1lbs of ground turkey
1 small onion
10oz of wheat paste (fusilli or corkscrew work best)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
12oz sour cream
6oz fat free cottage cheese
grated mozzarella
grated Parmesan
Parsley

Brown the ground turkey with the small onion chopped, until fully cooked, drain and stir in pasta sauce.  Bring water in a stock pot to a boil and cook pasta as directed.  Preheat oven to 350.  Once pasta is cooked, rinse and put in large bowl.  Add sour cream and cottage cheese to the pasta, mix in about a tablespoon of parsley.  In a 10X13 baking pan,  layer meat/sauce mixture with the pasta mixture, sprinkling in the Parmesan cheese.  Once you've made the final layer, cover with grated mozzarella cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.




Tamale Pie

1lbs ground turkey
1 package taco seasoning
2 boxes of cornbread muffin mix
1 can of sliced olives

Prepare both boxes of cornbead muffin mix, according to directions and preheat oven at 350, brown ground turkey and drain.  Mix the taco seasoning with meat according to directions.  Pour meat into 10X13 baking dish, cover with olives and pour cornbread muffin mix over the top, covering it completely.  Bake until the cornbread is cooked and browned.
Serve with sour cream and corn chips, if desired.




Grandma's Golash

1lbs ground turkey, brown and drained
1lbs wheat pasta, cooked and drained
1 to 2 jars of pasta sauce
1 onion, chopped and sauteed
1 green bell pepper, chopped and sauteed

Combine all of the ingredients, cook on low for about 1/2 an hour.  Serve with grated cheese.

Do you ever really feel your age?

Well as it's become very apparent to me, I'm growing up.  I think age is a state of mind, but realizing that your "baby" is turning 8 in less then a couple hours does tend to make one very aware of their age.  8 years ago right now, I was being prepped for a C-section.  My labor was induced and it did not progress in a timely manner, so I had to have the baby "by force" if you will.  So I have a special day planned for tomorrow.  I am going to get up, go get Rory his favorite breakfast and take him to school.  I am going to pick up cupcakes for the kids in his class and drop them off.  When he's out of school, we are going to do whatever he'd like to do.  I am making  him hamburgers for dinner and then we are going to open his gifts and have cake.  I know he's going to have a great day!!  I'm so excited for him!

My top 10 things I love about my son...
1. His smile
2. His crazy stories, that only make sense to him
3. His courage
4. His giant heart, he loves everyone
5. He wants to be anything he sees on TV when he grows up
6. His laugh
7. His desire to be mature beyond his years
8. He's gentle, a giant but gentle
9. His love for music
10. His love for kitties! 

Post Halloween, Pre Holiday Chit Chat

Can you believe that it's November already?  Where did this year go?  So Halloween was yesterday and was it just me or was this year kind of stressful?  We had a couple of really busy days at work and believe me, I'm not complaining we needed to make that money but sheesh I was over Halloween about 2 weeks ago!  Now, grant it I work every Halloween and that makes things really busy, that's no surprise.  I worked yesterday and came home to take Rory out to Trick or Treat.  We spent about an hour out getting candy.  Then we came home to have cake and presents with Marina.  Then I got into the shower, washed all the crap off of me and crawled in bed.  I did stay up a little and watch TV but then passed out.  I finally got some good sleep.  I got up this morning to clean up the house and get a jump on laundry.  It was so nice to get ready for work and not have to dress up or find a costume to put on! 

So we're having a birthday party for Marina and Rory, this coming Sunday.  We have asked everyone to dress up, it's great to have one last costume party!  We've invited family and friends, I do have a SIL that very pregnant, she was due yesterday.  I have a feeling she'll go into labor on Saturday night or Sunday.  I'm fine with that, I just can't wait to see what kind of baby they have!!  They've chose not to know.  How very exciting!!  I already bought the plates, napkins and stuff we need for the party.  We also left our decorations out and are going to put the dead body back on the lawn to scare our guests!

So I guess all that's left is to buy the food and get the rest of the house ready.  We're going to BBQ and have finger food.  I am going to order a cake, so I don't have to worry about making it.  Not to mention the kids love the cakes that we always order.  I'll be sure to post plenty of pics. 

First thing first.

I have to warn you, I'm new to this.  I love to write but it's all been with a pen and paper before now.  This should be a new experience for all of us!  I'm sure there will be days that I rant and days that I share too much., but that's what this is for. 

Today, I had to work.  The morning went so slow but the afternoon was busy and went really fast.  I did a little shopping and ordered something for my son's birthday.  I came home to dinner with the hubby and two sons.  The daughter is at a concert with her friend K.  I cleaned off part of my desk and updated my address book.  I'm going to have to find an easier way to store information.  My address book is handwritten in a little Hello Kitty book that Crystal gave to me.

I'm not sure what else to say right now, so I'll sign off.