Life, Love and the pursuit of cheesecake

 

 

Brianna's pic is entered in a contest and you  can vote....just go to link below if you want to participate

 

ok..well as i said a lot going on here....busy with the new job.....but more pressing here is something i need some advice/prayer for....my spaces friends.....please read and send your advice and prayers for raising a difficult teen. i try to leave my personal life out of the discussion here but i need help...

 

My fifteen year old daughter has spent much of the past few years being angry on again and off at her father for various reasons..mainly due to the fact that he has been overly absent from her life ( and that of her siblings') for the better part of 8/9 years. She also does not like my husband (my other kids dont either and don't want him and i married) and due to the problems between my children and my husband as well as his children and myself...we recently seperated and moved into seperate homes to try to relieve the tension while working on our marriage and our "blended family"  

Within the last yr and a half the kids dad has moved back to the state we live in after living in another for these last 8/9 yrs and has been finally more regular with visits with the kids. On occassion Paige has voiced her frustration with "dad" for this reason and that often refusing to go on weekend visits when the other kids went because she was mad at him.... the latest of these spells was the last month when Paige informed me she had argued with dad and didnt want to see/speak with him anymore because he has not ever been there for her or been a good parent for her. When asking "dad" what prompted the latest argument he told me it was mostly over how he dissapproved of her talking to a 19 yr old boy and wanting to date him ..being only 15 herself....(which i said no to as well which made her mad at me too) then she blew up at him and proceeded to rant about how he had no right because he's never been a real dad to her.....

Fast forward to a few days ago when i get a request from  Paige to go on a trip to Tx with him....HUH????. Apparently she's emailed / called dad ...telling him she's sorry for the argument and asked to go see him...and go along on the trip....(backstory.... Paige found out dad and his wife..whom the kids also didnt like...and whom "dad" had problems off and on with for a few yrs..had just left him and they are apparently divorcing....which i think is inappropriate for Paige to hear all the detsils about anyway but that is another issue)..

upon further talking to "dad" he tells me he's as baffled as me at the sudden change of heart with Paige and tells me she also requested to come live with him. SAY WHAT!!!!???? I am in shock... she's thrown this at me before...wanting to live with dad when she doesnt like the rules/ and when she claims she hates my husband and is miserable....i try to talk to her to understand what is going on in her head...but she is very reluctant to talk and is very sassy and hateful...i am heart broken...and not sure what is best...she hates my husband, i have already seperated from him to try to focus on the kids and he is doing the same with his kids...but how much more can i do to cater to her selfish demands.....and "dad" has not been a real parent for so long..i am not sure i trust his abilities to do so....i love my daughter but i am not sure anything  will ever make her happy....do i deserve any happiness here....??? I am always pulled in three directions...my way ..the kids way.. and my husbands way....help.....!!!!! I am tired of all the chaos and just want a happy life/family/marriage......any advice? (please pray for us that we  find the answers and for me to have the strength to do the right thing) I let her go on the trip..cause i think it is a good chance for Paige and "dad" to spend some quality time together....and said we'd all sit down and discuss the living arrangements when they get home next week.....meanwhile i am torn up and heartbroken and am trying to make a right decision..is there a right here...HELP!!

 

 

Zucchini squash is cut in half, pulp is scooped, and the shells are fulled with a ground beef and seasoned crumb mixture. Scroll down to see more zucchini recipes.

Ingredients:

• 4 zucchini, about 6-inches in length
• 1/2 pound extra lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons oatmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 tablespoon chili sauce or ketchup
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces
• 1 cup buttered bread crumbs

Preparation:

Split zucchini lengthwise; scoop out centers and chop pulp finely. Mix the chopped zucchini with the ground beef, oatmeal, onion powder, salt, and chili sauce. Stuff zucchini skins with ground beef mixture. Dot each zucchini with a little butter; sprinkle with bread crumbs. Put zucchini halves in a baking dish with about 1/2 cup water. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

Scroll down to see more zucchini bread recipes.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded raw zucchini
• 3 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation:

Put zucchini in strainer and press or squeeze with hands to get excess liquid out. Beat eggs, sugar, and oil together. Add flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and walnuts. Mix together by hand. Add drained zucchini. Mix well. Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake 55 to 65 minutes at 350°, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out with very little cake clinging to it.

Zucchini Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla (I always use pure vanilla extract)
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 cups grated zucchini (leave skins on)
• 1 cup walnuts

Preparation:

Mix oil and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition; blend in vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and baking soda. Add sifted dry ingredients to first mixture; alternating with grated zucchini. Fold in chopped nuts. (Batter will be a bit thin.)
Pour into greased and floured 13x9x2-inch pan. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes.

Pork Chops With Zucchini and Tomatoes

Pork chops are cooked with a flavorful tomato sauce, topped with sliced zucchini and mozzarella cheese. Scroll down to see more pork chop recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 4 pork chops, about 3/4-inch thick
• 1/2 cup raw rice
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups thinly sliced zucchini or summer squash
• 1/2 to 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

Preparation:

Mix salt, seasoned salt, chili powder, and pepper. Trim pork chops of fat. Heat oil in skillet; brown pork chops, seasoning with 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mixture.

Drain off fat. Add rice, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, olives, and sugar. Arrange sliced zucchini around edge of skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 55 minutes, or until pork is cooked through. Top with the cheese and cover, cooking a few minutes longer, until cheese is melted.
Serves 4.

Squash Casserole With Bacon

Scroll down to see more summer squash recipes.

Ingredients:

• 4 strips bacon
• 5 medium yellow summer squash, or 32 ounces frozen sliced summer squash
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 eggs, beaten
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Slice squash about 1/4-inch thick; cook in boiling salted water until tender. Fry bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon and set aside. In bacon drippings, brown onions. Add butter, squash, eggs, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until eggs are cooked. In a 2-quart casserole dish, place half of the squash mixture. Sprinkle with half of the crumbled bacon and half of the shredded cheese. Top with remaining squash mixture, bacon, and cheese. Bake at 350° until hot and cheese is melted.
Serves 4 to 6

 

ok guys, well i first of all apologize for missing Tuesdays entry... I worked a day shift and was all outta whack when i got home...i passed out on the couch right after dinner...so I missed yesterdays entry all together...well anyways...

 

here's the "web walk" for this week, enjoy!

 

With Free Rice you can increase your vocabulary and feed the hungry. Play this online world game and for each word you get right the site donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program.
http://www.freerice.com/

Mortified "is a comic excavation of the strange and extraordinary things we created as kids." Now you can see adults sharing their own adolescent journals, letters, poems, home movies, stories and more.
http://www.getmortified.com/

 

Joy Nash's Fat Rant has made her an Internet "star." Just visit her blog to see for your self why Joy says she's "fat" and proud of it.
http://fatrantblog.wordpress.com/

VBS.TV is "an online broadcast network which streams original content, free for 24 hours a day." The online network features videos from over 20 countries.
http://www.vbs.tv/

Death and Taxes: A Visual Guide to Where Your Federal Dollars Go this site features a poster than shows you how the federal government will spend your federal income taxes this year. Explore this cool piece of art online or order your own poster by visiting Wall Stats.
http://www.wallstats.com/

 

The folks at Warner Bros. have several Viral Batman Web Sites you can check out before seeing the new DARK Knight  Movie. But the Joker has hacked most of the sites so be warned:

• The Dark Knight Movie Trailer
  http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/
• Citizens for Batman
  http://www.citizensforbatman.org/
• why so serious:personality test
  http://www.whysoserious.com/personalityprofile/
• why so serious
  http://www.whysoserious.com/
• I Believe In Harvey Dent Gotham City DA Campaign Site
  http://www.ibelieveinharveydent.com/
• Dana Worthington For Gotham City DA Campaign Site
  http://www.danaworthington.com/
• Trust Garcetti Campaign Site for Gotham City Acting DA Site
  http://www.trustgarcetti.com/
• Gotham City Clerk
  http://www.gothamcityclerk.com/
• Concerned Citizens For A Better Gotham
  http://www.ccfabg.org/
• We Are The Answer A After Gotham Starts With You
  http://www.wearetheanswer.org/
• The Gotham Times
  http://www.thegothamtimes.com/
• The Ha Ha Ha Times
  http://www.thehahahatimes.com/
• A Taste For The Theatrical
  http://www.atasteforthetheatrical.com/
• Maiden Avenue Report
  http://www.maidenavenuereport.com/
• Gotham Police Department
  http://www.gothampolice.com/
• Gotham United School District
  http://www.gothamusd.net/
• Clown Travel Agency
  http://www.clowntravelagency.com/
• Rent-A-Clown
  http://www.rent-a-clown.com/
• Gotham City Rail
  http://www.gothamcityrail.com/
• Gotham Cab Company
  http://www.gothamcab.com/
• St. Swithus Catholic Church
  http://www.saintswithunschurch.org/
• Rossi's Delicatessen
  http://www.rossisdelicatessen.com/
• Betty's House of Pies
  http://www.bettyshouseofpies.com/
• Gotham City Pizzeria
  http://www.gothamcitypizzeria.com/
• Gotham National Bank
  http://www.gothamnationalbank.com/
• Acme Security Systems
  http://www.acmesecuritysystems.com/

 

 

There are new dolls on the market causing a stir around the world. They're called "reborn" baby dolls. They're incredibly real! Look online for photos of them. They look real, they're even weighted to fell like a baby's weight, and they flop like a baby. They're so real, some adults are getting attached to them. In fact, they're SO real, frantic police even smashed a window to rescue a seemingly unconscious baby from a locked car - only to find one of those "reborn" baby dolls. They sell for up to $1,000, are hand painted, with eyelashes, fingernails, and wispy hair.

go here to learn more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reborn_doll

 

 

TOP 10 MILEAGE TIPS FROM HYPERMILERS

 

1. Lighten Your Load -- Remove of all but the bare necessities, at least free your ride of things like toolkits, golf bags and whatever other uncritical mass.
2. Keep Your Tires Full -- If you want the best compromise of economy, handling and safety, a great mileage tip is to keep your tires inflated to your car's recommended settings. You can find that information in your owner's manual and on the car itself; most likely on the driver's door jam.
3. Map Out the Shortest Route -- Look for the shortest routes, but consider the flattest and least congested as well.
4. Keep Your Car Aerodynamic -- While you can't eliminate drag, you can reduce it. Do away with extraneous or occasional-use items like bug shields, rooftop carriers and bike/luggage/ski racks.
5. Coast Into Stops -- Just as aggressive takeoffs suck more gas, so too does staying on the gas until the last moment before you brake. If you try coasting a while before braking, you'll notice you don't lose much speed and your mileage will improve.
6. Use cruise control -- Passing and be passed by a driver who can't commit to one speed drains your tank a lot faster. On reasonably mild terrain (steep hills are an exception) and when traffic conditions allow, you could realize substantial gains in mileage.
7. Don't let your engine idle -- Standing still with an idling engine yields 0 mpg. That's not to say you ought to kill your motor at every red light or in stop-and-go traffic, but whenever you anticipate you'll be sitting for 30 seconds or more, it'll save you big.
8. Shift when revs are low -- If you have a manual gearbox, you'll want to reconsider your upshift points. When it comes to managing better gas mileage, keep the RPMs as low as you can without lugging the engine.
9. Watch your mileage in real time -- If your car has the function, pay attention to the current mpg monitor (or pick up one and install it). Either way, you'll be surprised how your driving style impacts your numbers.
10. Don't accelerate hard -- As tempting as it is to mash the gas as soon as the light goes green, hard acceleration tests have shown mileage to drop by over 35%.

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