One Night Book Review

I grabbed this book off the shelf at the library when I was looking for something that I had read yet and I was super excited to find that it wasn't part of a series so I read it right away!!  One Night (Avon Romance) by Debbie Macomber was a great read and I was excited that I found it because it certainly wasn't on my list because I had been mainly working on different series....not discounting individually released books but I might have to go find a list of her individual books now!

A Debbie Macomber classic, One Night is a funny, warm, truly unforgettable story of two mismatched people—rival workaholic radio broadcasters—who discover there’s much more to life than air time. Fans of the #1 New York Times best selling author will fall in love with this early Macomber gem—taking unparalleled delight in a wonderful tale about how lives and hearts and everything can change in One Night!

I think that this book was totally different then other books that are written by Debbie Macomber.  Although, this Amazon description leaves a lot to be desired about the subject of the book.  It was about the characters but there was a lot of action and mystery to find out what was going to happen next.  Carrie Jamison works as a comedy dj on the radio station and is forever fighting with the stuffy news dj, Kyle Harris.  They are both fired and about to loose their job until they are told that if they get along, they will both have a job still.  They make a plan to drive to a conference together which takes days and over those days the two fight a lot and realize that they are going to have to pull together when all of the bad things happen.  There are any amazing amount of bad things that happen on the trip and you have to pick up the book to find out what happens.  I hope that you check out this book and enjoy it as much as I did.  I think that you will.

Menu Plan Monday 10/30

Monday- Chicken fries, Buffalo Chicken with homemade french fries
Tuesday- Pasta or Leftovers before Trick or Treating
Wednesday- Chicken Spiedies with white rice
Thursday- Rosemary Chicken and potatoes
Friday- Leftovers
Saturday- ?
Sunday- Meatball Sliders

Last week started off as planned after I reworked the plan for the change of having my parents visiting. I went through the freezer and pantry to see what we had for the coming month and started on the plan which was a good thing because it was already almost November.  I was totally out of ground beef but there was plenty of chicken and other proteins as long as I mixed them up to take me through the beginning of the month. I wrote a long shopping list of things that I need to get at Aldi and other grocery stores through the month.  Here is hoping I can get some great deals this month too!!  I hope that you have a great week and enjoy a stress free dinner time!

Right, Next Door Book Review

I grabbed a few books at the library because my pile was getting a little small and this was one of the books on the shelf that I didn't think that I had read before and I was actually right!  It wasn't part of a series or anything so it was perfect to start on whenever I wanted.  Right Next Door: Father's Day\The Courtship of Carol Sommars by Debbie Macomber was the next in the pile and I was happy to have two short stories to read!

Father's Day

Robin Masterson's ten-year-old son, Jeff, figures he needs a dog more than anything in the world. And there just happens to be one right next door! But the friendly black Lab belongs to Cole Camden, the unfriendliest man in the neighborhood. Still, Jeff persists…and soon his mom and Cole are looking at each other in a whole new way.

The Courtship of Carol Sommars

Peter Sommars is fifteen, and what he needs is a little more independence. Which is why he'd like his mom, Carol, to start dating. He even knows the perfect man—Alex Preston, his best friend's dad. As it turns out, Alex is interested, but Carol's doing everything she can to sidestep his pursuit. Which only makes Alex—and the boys—more determined!

I grabbed this to read after a few long books, this was the a breath of fresh air.  The first story was about Robin and Jeff who have moved into a new house to start their new life.  One of the promises in the move was to get a dog at the new house but it doesn't happen fast enough for Jeff so he decides to run away.  The good thing is that he only runs to the fort at the neighbors house with the neighbors dog.   The bad thing is that the neighbor isn't really thrilled with having a child break into his yard and take his dog.  There is an interesting relationship that develops with these neighbors but you have to pick up the book to find out what happens.  In the second story, Carol and her son Peter are dealing with their life when she meets her son's best friends father, Alex.  She is at a low point in her life when her car dies in the rain and she breaks a heel so she wanders into a bar looking for phone.  Alex is there and helps her home even though his date says she looks like a bag women.  Their relationship grows from there with their children's friendship and activities but Carol is very slow to open up.  I think that you need to pick up the book to find out what happens with these two.  Both stories are brought together by the fact that they are about single mothers and their daily struggles to raise their boys.  I hope that you check out this book and others by this great author.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I have tried homemade taco seasoning powders and I always end up back with the store bought packets for different reasons.  One reason is that I can usually get the pouches for free at sale and coupon and you know that I like free.  The second reason is that the homemade ones never taste nearly as good to me.  I am sure that my body must love all the extras that they put in the seasonings but it nicely adheres to the meat and makes a great little sauce.

I decided to try a new recipe which I found on the Pioneer Women website when searching options.  I pulled out all of the ingredients from the spice cupboard including a few different options of each kind of spice.

I took the measurements and poured each one into an empty spice jar that I had washed out and keep in the cupboard.  It actually started to look a little like the sand art that I do with my son.

I put the top on and shook the bottle.  It mixed together really easily and looked a lot like the packaged taco seasoning mix to me.

I decided to try it for the first time with half a package of taco seasoning and half of this homemade seasoning and the taste was great.  With the added benefit that I only had half of a package of taco seasoning left.  Taco seasoning has some thicken agents in them so sometimes to get that more saucy feeling to the taco meat, you need to cook it up and add the seasoning and water.  If it doesn't get to the consistency that you want mix water and corn starch in a container until combined and add it to the  taco meat.  It should help the meat to be a little more saucy and still have that same great flavor.  I can't wait to try this taco seasoning again!!

Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

Measure out all the ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well. Then taste and adjust the salt or spices as desired. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

For a larger batch (the equivalent of about 6 packets), use:

1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon each paprika, crushed red pepper, and salt
1 1/2 teaspoons each garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, black pepper

I hope that you try a recipe to make your own Taco Seasoning and enjoy!!!  Do you have any recipes that you like to make so you don't have to buy things at the store??

Secrets of the Tulip Sisters Book Review

I was on a long list to get Secrets of the Tulip Sisters: A Novel by Susan Mallery from the library and when I finally got it, I didn't read it right away because there were other books in the pile that I was trying to finish.  I started this book so late and had to finish it in days because it was due back to the library.  I was left reading all day on the last day in order to make the deadline and was even thinking that it might be worth paying the late fee because I didn't want to have to wait for months to finish the book that I had just started.  I was so glad that I got a chance to read this start to finish before returning it to the library.

Kelly Murphy's life as a tulip farmer is pretty routine—up at dawn, off to work, lather, rinse, repeat. But everything changes one sun-washed summer with two dramatic homecomings: Griffith Burnett—Tulpen Crossing's prodigal son, who's set his sights on Kelly—and Olivia, her beautiful, wayward and, as far as Kelly is concerned, unwelcome sister. Tempted by Griffith, annoyed by Olivia, Kelly is overwhelmed by the secrets that were so easy to keep when she was alone. But Olivia's return isn't as triumphant as she pretends. Her job has no future, and ever since her dad sent her away from the bad boy she loved, she has felt cut off from her past. She's determined to reclaim her man and her place in the family…whether her sister likes it or not. For ten years, she and Kelly have been strangers. Olivia will get by without her approval now.  While Kelly and Olivia butt heads, their secrets tumble out in a big hot mess, revealing some truths that will change everything they thought they knew. Can they forgive each other—and themselves—and redefine what it means to be sisters?

This was a really interesting book and totally different then I thought it was going to be.  Kelly Murphy lives with her father in her childhood home growing tulips while her father does the office work.  They live a pretty easy lifestyle with low conflict until the life is totally turned upside down.  Kelly's sister, Olivia, shows up which brings up lots of old feelings from when they sent her away at 15 to private school.  Olivia and Kelly are working on rebuilding a relationship as adults until that is turned upside down by another big surprise.  This book was full of surprises and changes that I thought were really well thought out.  The characters become so real and really have you pulling for some to succeed and others to fail.  I hope that you check out this book and others by the same wonderful author.  I hope that you will choose the same people I did to have good outcomes!!  This book was a great story start to finish and I am glad that I got to read it before the due date.

Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella Sticks are one of my husbands favorite treats at restaurants.  We love to try different kinds and they tend to be one of those things that we both enjoy.  I had some cheese sticks that we hadn't eaten and I decided that I would make some Mozzarella Cheese Sticks at home for a nice treat with dinner.

First, I coated the cheese in flour to better help the egg mixture to stick to it.

Dip flour coated cheese in egg mixed with water until a good consistency.

Cover in breadcrumbs to totally coat.

Roll around and press into the breadcrumbs.

Coat in the egg mixture again.

Coat with second helping of breadcrumbs to make sure fully coated.

Add to hot oil and cook until golden brown.

They come out nice and crispy!! Make sure to let them lay on a paper towel to help them not be greasy.

They are amazing with a little dipping sauce!  Tasted just like the restaurant ones and we enjoyed them with our meal.

It was hard to get a picture of the inside with the melty cheese but it was stretchy and amazingly creamy with the crispy exterior.

We had a whole plate but they were quickly eaten and I realized that I needed to take another picture but I only had one left.  I love when I can make restaurant favorites at home with little or no cost.  It uses spaghetti or pizza sauce that I was already making, breadcrumbs that I made from stale bread and cheese that we had extra on hand.  I was sad that we used up all the cheese and I am going to try it again with a block of cheese instead of string cheese and see what the difference are going to be.

I hope that you try these too! I will totally make these again and again and again!  I want them tonight after looking at these tasty pictures.

Menu Plan Monday 10/23

Monday- Chicken fries, Buffalo Chicken with homemade french fries
Tuesday- Philly Cheese Steak Pasta
Wednesday- Pork Chops with herb rice
Thursday- Chicken Marsala
Friday-Take Out or Eating Out
Saturday- Tacos
Sunday- Lasagna with salad and rolls

Last week, I made Monday and Tuesday meals without any problems and then I just switched Wednesday and Thursday because the chicken was thawed and the beef wasn't. Luckily, my weeks have been going pretty well minus the defrost issues.  Friday is leftover night but I have been eating most of the leftovers for lunch so I might have to rethink the leftover night but we basically make something happen and use up things in the house and this week I have the crescent rolls to use up and some other things in the fridge so I made taco pizza for me and leftover fried rice for my husband.  I got to use up the roast beef on Saturday night.  I finally put the egg rolls into a meal on Sunday night which is great because I bought those awhile ago and totally forgot about them but we ended up with chicken sandwiches made from the Johnsville garlic chicken from the recent sale.

This week is a little mixed up because my parents are coming into town on Thursday so I am working on moving all meals around to make sure that I have meals that can feed all of us.  We also have a few things that are right around dinner time so we need some fast meals between all of different Fall activities.  I have a lot of cross through marks on this weeks plan but I have lots on hand to get it done with a new menu that both my parents like including a few ideas for lunches like soup, paninis, and more which I hope will get us through the 5 days.

I have a some things in the freezer to incorporate into next months menu plan already.  I can't believe that it is already time to think forward to next month but I have some cheese ravioli, meat ravioli, lasagna, boneless chicken, Barber Chicken, Meatballs, Brats and a few other things.  I know that I have enough for the month but we will see if there is enough variety to make it through without getting more proteins.  I laid out lots of meals for the month and currently have 8 more days to fill in to finish up the plan. 

I hope that you have a great week and enjoy a stress free dinner time with a plan in place!