Spring Cleaning

I think I finally got my mojo back.  The week was mostly blah but yesterday I decided to make my spring cleaning list and get busy.  My list is pretty simple.  I list each room with the categories...purge, clean top to bottom and make a fix, get list.  I go through each and every cabinet, closet and drawer.  This year I am giving myself until the end of March to complete.

Saturday we went to the grocery store and were home by noon.  I spent the afternoon cleaning and prepping veggies, splitting and packaging meat and then cleaning out all of our kitchen cabinets and refrigerator, freezer.  We do not have a proper pantry so I have specific cabinets for our food. I am good about rotating stock and I am pretty proud of myself because only one thing was out of date that had to be thrown away.

First is the beverage cabinet.  It holds all of our tea, coffee, hot coco, etc.

The next cabinet holds all of our condiments and sauces.  I've tried to find a lazy susan for the 

sauces on the right side of this cabinet but I can't find one small enough to fit.

I have one lazy susan that holds the salt, pepper and the oils that I use frequently.  It sits on the counter.

I do from time to time use tinned beans and tomatoes.  This cabinet also holds tinned fruit, jelly and peanut butter.

Looking over my photos I can't believe I didn't get one of my baking cabinet.  It is the one I love the most. All of my sprinkles are lined up so nicely. I'll post that next time.

All cabinets have been emptied, cleaned, new liner put down and organized.  That feels so good.  So I can check purge off of the kitchen list.

One of my doctor's brought me my favorite cakes this week.  They are from Nothing Bundt cakes and are just amazing.  The cake is so flavorful and moist.  The cream cheese frosting brings just the right twang to balance the sweet.  They are delicious.

So today I have to do some laundry, pay the bills and continue with my list.  

Have you started your Spring Cleaning yet?

Blah, Blah, Blah

Valentines Day is not really a holiday that the big guy and I celebrate.  I'm of the theory that you shouldn't need a set day of the year to show the person you are with that you love them.  We usually do a Lady and The Tramp spaghetti dinner at home but a month ago I got the wild idea to make a reservation out that night at one of the local places.  Well when Friday arrived I really didn't feel like going out to a super crowded restaurant filled with people professing their love on this 'special day'.  It was freezing cold out and I had worked all week.  Luckily for me, the big guy was actually pretty surprised that I had made the reservation in the first place and I think he was a little happy that I was all too willing to cancel it.  Now that is LOVE.


The weekend went by with us watching more movies than we have watched together in probably the last six months.  Other than bathing, baking him a sweet potato pie, cooking meals and a few loads of laundry I did absolutely nothing else and it was wonderful!


It's already the middle of the second month of the New Year and I just feel like I have accomplished very little so far in this new decade.  I just feel BLAH!  No motivation at all!  But I think I am ok with that.  I mean, don't we all just need to shut down for a little while?  Isn't making it through the day enough sometimes?  I think so.  Maybe I'll start taking Vitamin D again just in case.


A couple of weeks ago I made this dish below on the fly and it was delish so I am making it again tonight.


Sautee your choice of meat in sesame oil or olive oil
(1 Pound Ground Beef or boneless Chicken, cut in strips or favorite steak cut in strips)


When meat is 1/2 way cooked add the ingredients below...
1 Onion, diced
4 large garlic cloves, diced
1 small green pepper, diced
1 inch fresh ginger, diced
1 small jalapeno, diced
Turmeric
Cumin
Coriander
Thai curry powder
Salt
Pepper
Simmer on low, stirring occasionally until meat is cooked through


Serve over basmati rice and garnish with fresh Cilantro, green onions and sliced Avocado.

Can anyone help me think of a name for this dish? 

This past week...

Last Sunday the weather was in the 60's here so I was able to grill without freezing.  We had baby back ribs for the big guy and a chicken breast for myself with a grilled 'baked' potato, corn and deviled eggs.

I also was able to get my hands on Florida Strawberries.  February is picking time for them in Florida which is one reason it was always my favorite month of the year there.  They are so sweet and delicious. 

Friday night was Pizza night.  I used ricotta, chopped garlic, an egg, a little parm., a little mozzarella, salt, pepper and oregano all combined and spread over the dough instead of a red sauce.  I topped with jalapeno spiced chicken sausage, red onions and green peppers and covered with mozzarella.  This pizza was amazing!

Saturday the big guy took me to my favorite Mexican restaurant here in town for lunch.  We hadn't been in a little over a month so I was craving their Chicken Fajita taco salad.  The ingredients are so fresh and perfectly spiced.  All of their food is tasty but this is one that I get more than anything else.

This morning I made popovers to warm the house and my soul up a little.  

I started Bringing It To The Table by Wendell Berry.  So far it is a very interesting read.  I'll post more on it when I finish.