Lazy Sunday? I think not!

I was pretty busy today, although I always wish for a lazy Sunday which involves watching a favorite show or a movie and staying in my pajamas.

But today I was up early and managed to hang a load of laundry out on the line before the rain came.

In the collage above is a collection of what I accomplished in the kitchen. From left to right: Cheesy ground beef bake, frozen veggies and provolone cheese I chopped with my food processor, deviled eggs (my paprika kind of had a mind of its own), and lastly a simple white cake with vanilla icing.

I pretty much make the Cheesy Ground Beef Bake differently every time depending what I have on hand. I make a huge bake and then freeze most of it in individual containers. It is quick to grab and take to work for lunch. Recipe is posted below.

With regards to the frozen vegetables, I will take a day with my food processor and chop up some veggies that I know I can safely freeze, spread them out on cookie sheets with parchment paper, freeze them, and then store them in freezer bags. So quick and simple for future use in sauces, bakes, casseroles, etc. This comes in handy during harvesting season, and I have found I can freeze quite a few things: minced garlic(must be in oil), peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheese, and tomatoes. I am sure there is so much more.

My deviled eggs got a thumbs down, too much relish was added and it became too watery. They were quite tangy and will remember my mistake next time.

The vanilla cake turned out well, it was a simple white cake recipe from here.

All in all it was a productive day, now I am off to do some pampering (face mask, hair mask, eyebrow waxing).

CHEESY GROUND BEEF BAKE

Ingredients:
3 cups of uncooked noodles (whatever type you prefer, elbow, curly noodles)
1 lb of ground beef
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of chopped onions
1/2 cup of chopped green pepper
1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
1 1/2 cups of provolone cheese
1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese
Please note as I stated above I make this differently every time, measurements change, ingredients change and may not be exact to the above. Have fun mixing it up too your own taste :)

Instructions:
1) Heat oven to 350°.
1) Boil water and start frying hamburger.
2) As the hamburger browns add salt and pepper, garlic, chopped onions, green pepper, and mushrooms. Let that all cook together.
3) Add noodles when your water is boiled. Follow the instructions on your noodle package.
4) When hamburger and noodles are done strain both and place in a large bowl.
5) Add 1 can of diced tomato and 1 can of tomato paste.
6) Add 1 cup of the provolone and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese
7) Mix all ingredients together and scoop into oven safe bake ware.
8) Top off the bake with the rest of the cheese. Place in the oven for approx 10 minutes. Then use broiler until cheese is done to your liking.

Best Bread Machine Pretzels EVER!

This is the best recipe ever for making pretzel dough in your bread machine, of course you can also make by hand if you have a good understanding of dough making. I do not, so I get a lot of use out of my bread machine for just making dough.

The real true trick, that even my recipe book for my bread machine failed to point out is the use of simmering water mixed with baking soda. From now on I will only make my pretzels this way.

I just simple mixed 5 cups of water with 1/3 cup of baking soda, mixed it really well, brought it to a simmer and put the pretzels in for a few seconds on each side.

Pictured above are the pretzels I made, regular salted pretzels, some yummy garlic ones, and cinnamon sugar. I will admit the cinnamon sugar stick type pretzel did not have much taste.

They taste just like you got them at a pretzel stand!!

You have to try this recipe Soft Pretzels (For Bread Machines),

I'm In Love

I'm in love........with my NAILS!!

Well I have FINALLY done it! I changed my nail shape for the first time. Typing and pressing buttons seems to be a tad difficult but nothing I can't manage. Honestly, I can't stop looking at them LOL.

You would never think a girl with nails like this, tends to vegetable gardens, flower gardens, feeding and cleaning laying hens, and mowing the lawn.

I feel like this shape may have less lifting, but time will tell, I will update about that when I get my next set.

No Nails, No Problem

Such a beautiful color, the picture does not do it justice. This feels a lot better than what they did. I have had my nails done with gel nails for about 8 years at least, and Laura, my nail tech, has done them for at least 5 years. Well this time they lifted and I mean 2 weeks in they were weak, and then at 2.5 weeks I had squeaked so much glue underneath them they they wouldn't stay down anymore. So I removed them and painted them myself. I must add painting your own nails is tedious and it took forever to dry. So I am very thankful for my favorite and most awesome nail tech!! Anyone who get's their nails done and loses one or two or more, knows the struggle is real, when you bang your real nail on something or try and use it as a tool, OUCH!

I thought, jeeze my nails must be some dry, or they were pretty long, and I find when they are long they lift more.

Well, Laura informed me that there was a problem with the bond, pretty much the first step of application to help bond the gel to your nail. Who would of known.

So this made me think, how many times someone might of had their nails done and they have had them fall off quickly. People would jump to conclusions, "omg that nail tech did a horrible job" or "I will never go back there", or even mention something on social media to their friends and family.

So maybe if this ever happens to you or someone know, you might want to look into a bond problem, especially if you have had gel nails before and it has never happened.

BzzAgent, BzzCampaign - Cascade Platinum with Dawn

Click here for your free sample!

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I just was excited to receive my BzzCampaign today. I have already done a load in the dishwasher, and I didn't rinse anything before placing them in. They came out so clean, not a spec of food to be seen. The glasses are crystal clear, the utensils sparkle, and the plates are squeaky clean. Not to mention the packs are so easy and clean, no need to pour in a powder and chance spilling those little particles. There was no residue left on the dishes or in the dishwasher itself. 

Cascade is usually the brand I grab off the shelf at the grocery store, so this is not my first encounter. The price is really reasonable in comparison to other brands, and the quality is great. 

I definitely will recommend Cascade Platinum to my friends and family.

Interested in receiving free products and giving your opinion, as well as receiving coupons and discounts for your friends and family, join BzzAgent.

Ipsy Bag May 2015

Yay! My Ipsy bag is live so I get to see all the goodies I am getting. I am happy with everything. Now is the waiting game. Amazing sample and deluxe sample sizes for only $10 a month.

Spring Has Sprung

Yesterday was beautiful and today seems to be heading in the same direction. My parents took us out for supper last evening at Swiss Chalet, it was a very nice time, lots of laughs and good conversation. We went out for some light shopping afterward. That was a nice end to the evening.

My morning included the normal weekend routine of washing dishes, cleaning the floors, making breakfast and then more cleaning.

I did take a walk around the yard and I was excited to see my garlic is sprouting up. I did lose a couple and the rows got washed out a bit from the harsh winter. We will fix them up when the full vegetable garden gets planted.

Also my garden has started to show signs of life as well. I am not sure of the names of the plants, I think the ones in front are day lily's. 

I feel like some baking is in my near future, I am thinking cinnamon rolls, and apple upside down cake. Yumm!