Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.... Online Food Community

I am glad you are joining us for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, this week. I co- host with my sister, Lana. Please be polite and follow the rules of a blog carnival, mentioning TMTT and linking back to this post from your blog post. Thanks.




I wanted to share some online links which I find fun and helpful. I hope you enjoy this info. I know it is not a recipe, but this blog carnival is about all things food! So, dig in!

Foodbuzz is an online food blog community. I know many of our TMTT participants are members already.

PetitChef is another food blog community. You can find lots of recipes, posted by it's membership.

Serious Eats is a fun site I just discovered. Same as the above sites, another food community, filled with recipes, eating out ideas, etc. The pictures make my mouth water!

Do you want to find lots of foodie blogs, besides all the incredible TMTT participants? Check out Foodie Blogroll.

Cooking.com has tons of yummy recipes.

Dinner Made Easy at Betty Crocker.com has many quick and easy recipes. If you follow my TMTT recipes, most are easy. I am not a complicated foodie, by any stretch of the imagination. I love to cook and I prefer to keep it simple.

A few other recipe websites:
Recipezaar.com
AllRecipes.com
Cooks.com
Kraftfoodsrecipes.com

The best way to find foodie bloggers and tempting recipes is to visit the participants of Tempt My Tummy. I hope you do this. There are so many bloggers, linking weekly, who are true foodies. I love their sites and learn so much from them!!

Who comprise our Tempt My Tummy Tuesday Community?
We are gluten free foodies, vegan foodies, organic foodies, gourmet foodies, weekend foodies, novice foodies, professional foodies, Southern foodies, frugal foodies, once a month cooking foodies.... and the list goes on. We also have TMTT bloggers who host their own recipe/food carnivals. We truly have any type of foodie you can imagine, each week. I try to visit everyone, but don't always make it. We have grown to over 110 + links, every Tuesday.

I encourage you to visit new sites. Find a TMTT link that looks unfamiliar to you. Visit a new blogger from our community. You will be inspired to be a better cook. I know I am.

FYI, another way to get to know our friends better, follow them on Twitter and/ or Facebook. It is another great way to strengthen the community.

My twitter link: http://twitter.com/blessedwgrace
My facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/blessedwithgrace

Do you have a favorite foodie/recipe site? Why don't you share your foodie find with the rest of us.

photo from istock.com

Grace's Style Tip Friday and continued pity party...

First let me say, I am still having my "I did not get to go to Blissdom '10" pity party. Feel free to join me, this weekend. I will be making lots of yummy snacking food, to eat my miseries away, as well as keep myself occupied with mindless things such as laundry and housework, as to keep my mind of the big elephant on the middle of the blog.... NO BLISSDOM '10 for me!


Now onto my Friday post. Grace has been very creative with her wardrobe choices, this past week. I apologize now for the quality of the pictures. This active 32 month old sits still for no one, especially when I want to take a picture!

This first outfit was worn for two straight days - I kid you not! Seriously, Grace wore her pink and brown polka dot pajamas with pink tulle ballerina skirt for two day. For a portion of the second day, she added her apron, I guess, for an added fashion accent. Now, I am sure you are asking yourself, "Why two days?" Well, we never left the house. She kept refusing to let me change her clothes, and I finally thought, "Why not?" She was happy, and looked way too cute. She also slept in that tulle skirt, both nights.
In this picture, she is dancing around with my hand mixer beaters. We were about to cook some banana muffins. She was doing an, "I'm gonna cook with Mommy" happy dance. I just love that girl!
Below is her outfit for today. Once again, she is in her pajama bottoms, with monkeys on them. Accompanying the monkey pants is a long-sleeved white t-shirt, her Tinkerbell fairy costume and topped off with her leopard print - fuzzy vest. Oh yeah, she IS STYLE! The only thing she is missing, in this picture, would be the fuzzy leopard print boots. She slept in the boots and just removed them a few moments ago. Sorry I did not snag that picture, as well. (I took this picture while she was chillin', watching Dora the Explorer. She will slow down for Dora.)

My only concern is we are planning a trip to Walmart, later today. I am hoping I can get her out of the pjs/tinkerbell/leopard vest outfit for that trip..... I will let you know how it goes.

So, does your little one has a special style or fashion sense? What was the most creative outfit he or she ever shared with the family and world?

I am linking this weeks post to Amy's Finer Things Friday. Having a girl who keeps me laughing,with her sense of style is a Finer Thing. Also, I am not even upset that Amy's Finer Things post is from Blissdom! I am so excited for her, that she was able to go and get her Bliss on!! Have fun, Amy!! Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship is guest hosting Finer Things, this week. Head over to her site as well.

ONE OTHER HUGE THING!! Sharon at Good True and Beautiful is celebrating her move to Wordpress and her blogiversary. She is hosting a giveaway for a $100.00 VISA card!!! Go and check it out!!! That VISA card would bring me LOTS of joy!!!! I am also liking to Sharon at Good, True and Beautiful's Just for the Joy of It.

Don't forget to come back on Tuesday for "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday" blog carnival.

Confessions of a wannabe Blissdom '10 attendee!

That is right. Weep for me!! I am having a little pity party over the next few days! Why? Well it is because I am not in Nashville, TN attending Blissdom '10. If you are not aware of Blissdom '10 it is a conference for mommy bloggers organized by Blissfully Domestic's media QUEEN, Alli Worthington (AKA, Mrs. Fussypants!). I have MANY blog friends who are attending this year. It would have been great to meet some of my online friends in real life! Oh, and did I mention Harry Connick, Jr will be entertaining the group? And, you know how much I LOVE Harry!

What is the deal? If I wanted to so go bad, why didn't I? Well, life happens. This time last year, hubby and I discussed it. I planned on attending the 2010 conference. Then.... life happened. Lay- offs, moves from TX to IL, a mortgage in TX and a rental in IL, etc, etc..... It was not financially smart for me to spend money attending this conference, at this time.

So, I am eating up all the tweets posted by my blog friends who are attending Blissdom '10 (#Blissdom). I am anticipating all the blog posts and pictures highlighting their fun, learning, and silliness. And, I am disappointed. I am missing out. Boo hoo hoo!!!!

Next year, Blissdom '11! Next year! Lord willing and the creek don't rise!

Don't forget to come back on Tuesday for "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday" blog carnival.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday... Beef Pot Pie

I am glad you are joining us for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, this week. I co- host with my sister, Lana. Please be polite and follow the rules of a blog carnival, mentioning TMTT and linking back to this post from your blog post. Thanks.


This is a recipe I throw together without any recipe and no measurements. SO, having said that, forgive me for not being as precise about seasoning measurements, today. OK? Thanks!

I did not get a picture with all the ingredients, but here are my seasoning.
Seasonings to taste: Worcestershire sauce, Lawry's Seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, maybe even some Tabasco if you are up for it.
All the veggies, seasonings and beef simmering in the skillet.
Pour the meat and veggies in a greased (PAM'd) oven proof dish.
Layer/ weave the crescent rolls over the meat mixture.
The finished product.
A serving for Grace, on her Mickey Mouse plate, of course!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1/2 - 1 cup beef stock
• 2 small potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite sizes
• frozen mixed veggies
• 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
  
• 1 - 2 Tbsp flour
• Lawry's Seasoning Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• garlic powder, to taste
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, more or less to taste
• Tabasco hot sauce, to taste (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven 350.
Brown the hamburger meat and saute the onions with the meat. Add the Lawry's, pepper, garlic powder to the hamburger while browning. Add the bite sized potatoes to the browned meat. Continue to simmer on stove top. Add, the frozen mixed veggies and Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco. To make a sauce, add 1-2 Tbsp of flour to the meat and veggie mixture. Adding the beef stock, stir all together over low heat, continuing to simmer the beef mixture. This creats a beef sauce. Once simmered and you are happy with your flavors, transfer the meat/ veggies to a prepared casserole dish. Cover the meat with crescent rolls (see picture above).
Bake 20-30 minutes, uncovered. You want your crescent roll topping to be nice and golden brown.

This is a very versatile dish, just like chicken pot pie. You can add different flavors, veggies, seasoning to create a different dish, each time. That is what I usually do.

It's the weekend!!!

Hubby is at the office, doing a little work, this morning. It is snowing outside. That is not really news here. It snows often and remains cold, all the time. Gracie is under the covers on the couch, watching Mickey Mouse. I am about to make sausage balls - enough to munch on over the weekend! (YUM!) Then get showered and dressed for the day. We have my brother in law and his family coming over for the weekend. They are our Wisconsin family and only live 2 hours away. We are looking forward to that, today!! Tonight the adults will go out to dinner and some time without kids. My niece is very responsible and old enough to babysit the little ones by herself!! Yippyskippy! So, the adults are driving over to a neighboring town for dinner at Heaven on Seven.

Tomorrow hubby will have to go back into work. That is not a normal occurrence. He does not usually work on a Sunday, but there are extenuating circumstances and is necessary. At least it will only be for a couple of hours. Then we get him back. We are going to stay home from church and spend the remainder of tomorrow with the visiting family. I think the plan is to go to IKEA. There is an IKEA store not too far from our town. I have never been to IKEA but here it is interesting. My brother in law and sister in law really want to go. So, why not.
I am looking forward to the day and remainder of the weekend.

I am thinking about my mother today. Although I am excited about our weekend. I would really like to be in Texas and visiting my mother. She had a total knee replacement almost 2 weeks ago. While in the hospital she had some very low blood pressure problems, which was resolved. She was discharged home and has been recovering and doing her physical therapy at home. My dad has been taking good care of her. Yesterday we had a scare, as she began having chest pains while at her surgeon's office for her post- op check up. After a day in the ER, it was determined her heart is okay and it was a hiatal hernia causing her pain. We are thankful for that outcome. It has been VERY hard to be so far from Texas during these times.

I am thankful God is caring for my mom and helping she and my father through this time. I am also thankful my brother and sister live VERY near my parents. They are able to help during this season.

For now, I am here, in Illinois and that is okay. My heart is longing to hug my mom, but I will do that soon! So, for now, I look forward to this weekend and am thankful for the family we have nearby, who we love and enjoy!

God is good. I thank Him for today and everyday and all that each day brings.



I want to leave you with one of my favorite songs. It is "A Different Road" by Kathy Troccoli.

I pray you have a great weekend, too!

Don't forget to come back on Tuesday for "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday" blog carnival.

Elvis 75.... CD Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review the newly released Elvis 75 CD, from Sony Music. I was given a free copy of this CD in exchange for my written review.

When I was given the opportunity to review this CD I jumped at the chance. Not only am I an Elvis fan, but my father is a HUGE Elvis fan. So, Dad... this CD is coming to you, once I finish enjoying it!

Following is information regarding the release:

Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the release of Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight, the ultimate career-spanning collection of seminal recordings by Elvis Presley, in commemoration of the King of Rock & Roll's 75th birthday (January 8, 2010). Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight -- a four CD, 100 song collection -- is available everywhere now. A single disc edition of Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight, featuring 26 key tracks culled from the four-disc set, was released today Jan 4th (the week of Elvis' birthday: January 8).

Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight presents 100 songs, a broad collection of hit singles, deep album tracks, live performances, and rarities. The tracks appear in strict chronological order of recording dates over the course of Disc 1 (1953-1957), Disc 2 (1958-1962), Disc 3 (1963-1969), and Disc 4 (1970-1977). They range from the first demo acetate that Elvis made at the Memphis Recording Service of Sun Records as a gift for his mother in 1953 ("My Happiness"), to a sampling of Sun Records sides produced by Sam Phillips in 1954-55 ("That's All Right," "Blue Moon Of Kentucky," "Good Rockin' Tonight," and more), through 21 and a half years of RCA tracks, from 1956 to 1977. Click Here for complete box set track list.

The release of ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT coincides with a 4-day celebration of his 75th birthday, January 7-10th, centered at the Graceland estate, outside of Memphis. In addition to the annual birthday proclamation ceremony on the front lawn of Graceland, events will include parties, dances, and panel discussions. For further information, please go to http://www.elvis.com

I received the one-disc CD, Elvis 75, currently listed at Amazon.com for $10.99. This CD has 25 of his most memorable songs, spanning his incredible career.

The complete collection is Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight, currently listed at Amazon.com for $43.99. The four- disc box set, contains 100 songs.

Legacy Records and Sony Music made great choices in their song selections. If you cannot afford the four-disc box set, you can easily purchase the one-disc CD which contains, what I think are, some of THE BEST of Elvis. Of course, he gave us so many great songs over so many years.

Here are a few of my favorites, on the CD I recieved:

• Don't Be Cruel
• Love Me Tender
• Are You Lonesome Tonight?
• Can't Help Falling in Love
  
• Viva Las Vegas
• How Great Thou Art
• Suspicious Minds
• Burning Love
• Always on My Mind

The quality of the recordings are great. These do not sound like recordings from 50 years ago. I am so proud to have this CD, and even prouder to be able to give it to my Dad!

Can anyone deny Elvis was great? He was. I know some call Michael Jackson the King. But seriously, Elvis IS the King of Rock and Roll!! He just is. His music changed everything and his body of work is awesome.

Do you have an Elvis fan in your family? If so, you should consider the one-disc release or the four-disc box set as a very special gift for someone you love and who loves Elvis.

I love my new Elvis CD. And, Grace, the 2 1/2 year old, has now been introduced to the King. She is a fan, too. She was Rockin' to the music!

Grace's Style Tip Friday... finding fun in the unexpected

Last week Grace and I headed out to the local shopping mall. We had not yet visited the mall, since moving here, almost 2 months ago. It had just not been a priority. We are living frugally and not spending on things that are non-essential. So, hanging at the mall, "window shopping", had not sounded very appealing.

However, we needed to get out of the house. We needed something to do. With the weather cold outside, I needed an indoor activity. So, I decided to head to the mall, have a special day, eating at the Food Court, and walking around the mall. I figured it would at least be good exercise, walking the mall.
It was a "warm" day for us. I believe the temp was up to 35. So, we did not need as many layers- ha ha.

I am sharing some pictures form the fun we unexpectedly found at the local mall...

First of all, I was so excited Grace let me put her hair up in pigtails. She is finally getting enough length for pigtails. She ended up loving her new hairstyle. She was adorable! Of course, I'm her mother, so I am biased.

Here we are about to leave. Grace is wearing some gloves her Grammy gave her. She also decided she had to wear her snow boots. So, why not, she wore her snow boots.
Here she is, in the carseat, en route to the mall. She is watching Cinderella on the car DVD player. She cracks me up, clutching a toy and her lovey, "Bear- Bear". Notice... NO PACIFIER!! Remember we conquered that last Sunday night!
Grace was overjoyed to discover the mall had "little people" rides. She was thrilled and so was I. Grace is cooped up in our very small house, everyday. She needed some new thrills and fun! I think you can see, in these pictures, the girl was happy! Happy! Happy!


Mommy let her have more than one turn on each ride. It was money WELL SPENT!! We also ate lunch in the Food Court and walked around the mall for a good while.

The best discovery, at the mall, was the fancy carousel located in the Food Court. The carousel was not running while we where there. It was a Tuesday at 11am. I assumed it was probably working on the weekends. I found that too be true. The cost is $1.00/person. This past Saturday, we went back to the mall with my husband. He and Grace road the carousel over and over again. Below are the pictures from the carousel rides with Daddy and Grace. I have to admit, I rode it once and got dizzy. So I sat, watching Grace and Chris, go around, and around, and around. Great opportunity for pictures!



How cool is that? If I had known about the carousel and children's rides, we would have headed to the mall before now! It was great to find something unexpected at the local mall that brought so much joy to my Gracie!

One final picture. We can't stay inside all the time. So, here is a picture of Grace and I making the long trek to our mailbox. This was taken the day we returned from the mall. Since it was 35 degrees, it was not TOO miserable getting the mail. We live at the end of a very long drive. The mailbox sitting curbside. In cold and snow, just stepping outside to "get the mail" can be a big deal. (Especially on a day like today. Today the temp and windchill are 9 degrees!)



I am linking this post to Just for the Joy of it at Good, True and Beautiful blog.

Don't forget to come back on Tuesday for "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday" blog carnival.