Oh, I'm tired of this heat and the poor air quality days. I simply cannot breathe outside of an air conditioned building and I feel sluggish. This summer our family has not spent any time outdoors. Eddie and Luke have managed to keep the lawn mowed, but my plants and hanging baskets are anything but stellar this year. I'm almost embarrassed to have anyone over. Winter was too cold - Spring was too cold and wet - Summer is too hot! Is it just me??? Or is the weather this year totally out of control?
We've been eating cold dinners this week. Monday was Egg Salad Sandwiches with veggies and Ranch Dip and watermelon and cantaloupe cubes.
Tonight we had BLTs with veggies and fruit.
Good stuff, but I need to get a little more creative for the rest of the week. I think I've sandwiched the family out. Temps are supposed to remain hot for at least five more days.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Green Bean and Tomato Salad
This is another hot weather favorite. I love it, but I have to admit, the picky eaters in my house aren't big fans. I have one that won't eat tomatoes.
1 lb fresh green beans (trimmed)
1 lb cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 tsp dried Basil
Bring a 4 quart saucepan of water to a boil. Blanch the green beans for 3 minutes, until tender-crisp. Drain and run under cold water or top with ice to stop cooking. Drain beans and dry. Combine all ingredients and toss with your favorite vinaigrette dressing.
I also like to cube 1/2 lb fresh mozzarella cheese into bite-size pieces and add to the salad.
1 lb fresh green beans (trimmed)
1 lb cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 tsp dried Basil
Bring a 4 quart saucepan of water to a boil. Blanch the green beans for 3 minutes, until tender-crisp. Drain and run under cold water or top with ice to stop cooking. Drain beans and dry. Combine all ingredients and toss with your favorite vinaigrette dressing.
I also like to cube 1/2 lb fresh mozzarella cheese into bite-size pieces and add to the salad.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Chicken Salad
The weather in St. Louis is to be sunny and 100+ degrees all week this week, so I'm focusing on lunch and dinner ideas that will not heat up the house. Dinner still needs to be satisfying, but cool.
2 cups cooked chicken breast
1/3 cup diced celery
1 hard boiled egg (minced)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
2/3 cup Miracle Whip
Cook your chicken breasts (about 2 avg size) and cool completely.
Cut chicken into tiny pieces or pull apart to shred with a fork.
Place in a mixing bowl and add all other ingredients.
Serve on toasted bread. My favorite is buttered bread placed on the hot grill for a few minutes.
2 cups cooked chicken breast
1/3 cup diced celery
1 hard boiled egg (minced)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
2/3 cup Miracle Whip
Cook your chicken breasts (about 2 avg size) and cool completely.
Cut chicken into tiny pieces or pull apart to shred with a fork.
Place in a mixing bowl and add all other ingredients.
Serve on toasted bread. My favorite is buttered bread placed on the hot grill for a few minutes.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake
I found this recipe on the Kraft website. This is a yummy one!
1 pkg (2 layer size) Devil's Food cake mix
2 pkgs (3.9 oz each) Jell-o Chocolate Instant Pudding
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups cold milk
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup thawed Cool Whip
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare cake batter as directed on package. Pour into a 13 x 9" baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
Beat dry pudding mixes, sugar, milk and water with whisk for 2 minutes. Pour over cake batter. Place baking dish on baking sheet.
Bake 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake layer comes out clean. cool 20 minutes. (Sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.) Spoon into serving dishes and top with Cool Whip.
1 pkg (2 layer size) Devil's Food cake mix
2 pkgs (3.9 oz each) Jell-o Chocolate Instant Pudding
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups cold milk
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup thawed Cool Whip
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare cake batter as directed on package. Pour into a 13 x 9" baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
Beat dry pudding mixes, sugar, milk and water with whisk for 2 minutes. Pour over cake batter. Place baking dish on baking sheet.
Bake 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake layer comes out clean. cool 20 minutes. (Sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.) Spoon into serving dishes and top with Cool Whip.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Easy Veggie Salad
1 lb broccoli florets
1 lb cauliflower florets
1/2 lb green beans (ends trimmed)
1/2 lb carrots, sliced
1 medium red onion, sliced very thin
1/2 cup Zesty Italian Dressing
1/3 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Bring a 4 quart saucepan of water to a boil. Add broccoli, cauliflower and green beans and cook for 3 - 5 minutes, just until vegetables are crisp-tender. Drain. Immediately rinse with cold water. Drain well.
Place vegetables in a serving bowl. Add onion slices. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve.
Add dressing and cheese just before serving. Toss to coat.
This is one of those healthy dinner ideas when the weather is HOT!
1 lb cauliflower florets
1/2 lb green beans (ends trimmed)
1/2 lb carrots, sliced
1 medium red onion, sliced very thin
1/2 cup Zesty Italian Dressing
1/3 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Bring a 4 quart saucepan of water to a boil. Add broccoli, cauliflower and green beans and cook for 3 - 5 minutes, just until vegetables are crisp-tender. Drain. Immediately rinse with cold water. Drain well.
Place vegetables in a serving bowl. Add onion slices. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve.
Add dressing and cheese just before serving. Toss to coat.
This is one of those healthy dinner ideas when the weather is HOT!
Friday, July 8, 2011
It's Time To Get Back To Blogging!
Oh my goodness, what a very busy spring we had! It seemed as though volleyball consumed most days of our week and weekend for the months of March through mid-June. This was Luke's senior year, so it was his last year to play for the Northwest Lions. He had an awesome year, and we were so proud of him. He was co-captain of his team this year AND he had awesome stats!
Luke also played for Missouri Thunder this year, so there were practices and tournaments throughout the year. We saw so much good volleyball all year, and I certainly am sad to see this chapter of Luke's volleyball career come to an end. In addition to St. Louis regional tournaments, we traveled to Milwaukee in February (who does that?) and went to Junior Olympic Nationals in Chicago in June. Luke grew so much as a player from his Missouri Thunder experience. I have to send a huge shout out to Coach Donna Hall. She really helped Luke improve his mechanics and his overall game.
Both Luke and Emily were high school seniors this year, so there was lots of prep for graduation day. They graduated on June 4th - a very proud day for Eddie and me. Emily asked me on the way to school that morning if I was going to cry. I told her "No, I'm so excited to see the two of you graduate!" The moment I saw all of the graduates come out of the school building in their blue gowns and make their way to the football field the tears began. I was a sobbing mess! Such a wonderfully proud day! Luke will be attending Jefferson College to study auto mechanics. Classes start in late-August. Emily will begin classes at L'Ecole Culinare in October. She plans to be a pastry chef.
In November we found out that Emma was expecting a baby, so we've had lots of exciting doctor visits for check ups and ultrasounds. On June 24th Liam Robert Kirkpatrick was born. What a sweet baby boy he is. He weighed 5 lbs, 8 oz and was 19" long. He was a few weeks early and needed a little extra help to breathe, so he spent a few days at Cardinal Glennon before coming home. Emma and Kane are doing a fine job of taking care of their son, and what a joy it is to have such a sweet little "peanut" in the house again. I could just sit and stare at him all day every day. Every little move he makes is completely adorable!
Between everything else, there has been everyday life, which to my joy includes grandson, Christian. Papa watches him during the day while Mommy and Daddy are at work. He gives me a much needed giggle almost every day.
Needless to say, we've had lots going on, but now I think we'll be able to get into a regular routine again. I'm looking forward to getting back into my "foodie" mode. Believe it or not, I've already started to think about the holidays - Thanksgiving menu and Christmas shopping. They'll sneak up on us quicker than we think.
Enjoy a few pictures, my friends, and stop back often for some new and fresh ideas from Karan's Kitchen.
Luke also played for Missouri Thunder this year, so there were practices and tournaments throughout the year. We saw so much good volleyball all year, and I certainly am sad to see this chapter of Luke's volleyball career come to an end. In addition to St. Louis regional tournaments, we traveled to Milwaukee in February (who does that?) and went to Junior Olympic Nationals in Chicago in June. Luke grew so much as a player from his Missouri Thunder experience. I have to send a huge shout out to Coach Donna Hall. She really helped Luke improve his mechanics and his overall game.
Both Luke and Emily were high school seniors this year, so there was lots of prep for graduation day. They graduated on June 4th - a very proud day for Eddie and me. Emily asked me on the way to school that morning if I was going to cry. I told her "No, I'm so excited to see the two of you graduate!" The moment I saw all of the graduates come out of the school building in their blue gowns and make their way to the football field the tears began. I was a sobbing mess! Such a wonderfully proud day! Luke will be attending Jefferson College to study auto mechanics. Classes start in late-August. Emily will begin classes at L'Ecole Culinare in October. She plans to be a pastry chef.
In November we found out that Emma was expecting a baby, so we've had lots of exciting doctor visits for check ups and ultrasounds. On June 24th Liam Robert Kirkpatrick was born. What a sweet baby boy he is. He weighed 5 lbs, 8 oz and was 19" long. He was a few weeks early and needed a little extra help to breathe, so he spent a few days at Cardinal Glennon before coming home. Emma and Kane are doing a fine job of taking care of their son, and what a joy it is to have such a sweet little "peanut" in the house again. I could just sit and stare at him all day every day. Every little move he makes is completely adorable!
Between everything else, there has been everyday life, which to my joy includes grandson, Christian. Papa watches him during the day while Mommy and Daddy are at work. He gives me a much needed giggle almost every day.
Needless to say, we've had lots going on, but now I think we'll be able to get into a regular routine again. I'm looking forward to getting back into my "foodie" mode. Believe it or not, I've already started to think about the holidays - Thanksgiving menu and Christmas shopping. They'll sneak up on us quicker than we think.
Enjoy a few pictures, my friends, and stop back often for some new and fresh ideas from Karan's Kitchen.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Happy 4th of July - 2011
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!
I read P. Allen Smith's blog tonight and he wrote about 10 things that inspired him about America. That really got me thinking about what truly inspires me about our country.
1. Our soldiers and their families who endure great lengths of time away from one another, and then struggle to readjust to life back at home as a family. Our society doesn't make that easy. God bless them for their willingness to give themselves so selflessly.
2. Yellowstone National Park - such a beautiful place, and so full of the wonders of nature. Where else will you find geysers, mud pots, hot springs, Earthquake Lake, and so many other thermal wonders? I was there as a teenager, and sure hope to get back there to see it again one day. We saw Glacier Lake that same trip. What a beautiful place that is!
3. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the Bad Lands in South Dakota. It's an interesting place to visit for people like me who are intrigued by rocks! Nearby, you'll find Devil's Tower in Wyoming.
4. My parents inspire me. Both were school teachers for all of their adult lives. Now that they've retired, they continue to work with young people. Mom tutors "youngsters" of all ages at her business, "Project Excel". Dad is the head librarian at the New Windsor Library. Mom coordinates the best VBS in the country (in my opinion) for Calvary Lutheran Church in New Windsor, and Dad always volunteers to teach a class. There aren't many people in this world that will devote themselves to the education of children.
5. My kids inspire me. They each had difficulties in school. Two were ADD kids (struggling with distractibility issues) and the other struggled with a serious reading disability. School was not easy for any of them, yet they let me push them to be the best they could be and all three have high school diplomas. One has begun work on a college degree and the other two will begin in the fall. I couldn't be more proud!
6. Dr. H. Farouk Sadiq, and Kathy S. in the NICU at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital are truly angels on this earth. I cannot say enough good things about them or our experience at Cardinal Glennon as our newest grandson, Liam, was treated for Premature Lung Disease there. They truly love kids and it shows in everything they do. Their knowledge and expertise is unsurpassed. My wish for you is that if you ever find yourself in need of treatment for a sick youngster, you'll find the wonderful compassionate people of Cardinal Glennon. They are angels indeed!
7. The Smoky Mountains - oh, what a beautiful part of our country! The clouds hang over the mountains and there are waterfalls to be found amongst the mountains. There are trails to hike and animals to be found in the wild. Gorgeous scenery and not far from most of the population in our country.
8. Food - we have access to every kind of food, every single day in this country. Our grocery stores stock local produce when it's in season, but they stock produce from every part of the world year round just so we are able to eat what we choose year round. Amazing!
9. Work - Even in the worst American economy in decades, we are still able to find employment. I thank God that all of our family members are employed. Katy and I work for a great family centered company. Paul works for a company that struggles, but continues to provide him a good place to work. Luke works for Lowe's and Emma will return to Dierbergs after her maternity leave. I can't say enough about how kind the people at Dierbergs have been to Emma during her pregnancy. What a great company!
10. My grandchildren - what a fabulous inspiration to continue to be healthy and love life! One child is no more special than the next, but each new baby reminds us to become more healthy so we are still here to enjoy school plays, ballgames, graduations, and weddings. I can't wait to experience all of it!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Memorial Day
I like to think of Memorial Day as a day to remember those we've lost and members of the military who have given their lives so that we may be a God-loving and free society. This year, I think we need to expand that and remember the so many innocent people whose lives were taken by the numerous natural disasters that occurred in our world recently. Tornadoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes have seemed to be prevalent throughout the world, and many have been way too close to home.
This Memorial Day we should all pray for the lost and for those who have lost their homes and are trying to salvage belongings to start again. These are not easy times, but we should all remember to help where we can - do what we can to make the world better. Open your heart, open your wallet, open your home -- make the world a better place.
It's Memorial Day. Are you thankful for the life you have? Reach out to someone in need and just give - just like our men and women in the military have done for us. They just give.
Happy Memorial Day!
This Memorial Day we should all pray for the lost and for those who have lost their homes and are trying to salvage belongings to start again. These are not easy times, but we should all remember to help where we can - do what we can to make the world better. Open your heart, open your wallet, open your home -- make the world a better place.
It's Memorial Day. Are you thankful for the life you have? Reach out to someone in need and just give - just like our men and women in the military have done for us. They just give.
Happy Memorial Day!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
Life has been just a little more than overwhelming the last couple of months, so there hasn't been much time to blog. I'll get back to it soon, I promise.
Luke's school volleyball season is coming to an end. As usual, I'm growing weary of the three games/week schedule and weekend tournaments, but oh how I'll miss watching Luke play. We've invested four years in this team and we will certainly miss all of the boys we've grown to know so well.
Luke and Emily will graduate from high school on June 4th. I've been doing the mental countdown to their graduation day since about the sixth grade. I will certainly not miss late night homework or the last minute trips to Target for supplies for a school project they forgot about, I will miss the school activities and some of the outstanding teachers they've had along the way. It's just hard to imagine the two of them will officially be adults . . . my babies have all grown up.
Emily will become a mother herself in July. She has grown up so much in the last few months. I am so proud of her. She has really accepted her new responsibilities and will be a fine mother. Baby Liam will have lots of love. Emily's baby shower is May 21st, so we're very busy making final plans. All of our out-of-town family will be here for the shower and to celebrate high school graduation. That will be one busy weekend! I have the best family. My parents, brother, sister and families are the best. They are there for anything any time we need them.
We are fortunate enough to see Paul, Katy and Christian almost every day. Eddie watches Christian during the week, so the two of them are pretty tight. And, what Grammy wouldn't give everything to see her completely adorable, totally entertaining grandson almost every day? Paul and Katy are wonderful parents. They put Christian's needs above everything else. I have to say, my son did a fine job of picking a wife. I couldn't love Katy more if she were one of my own. How many mother-in-laws can say that?
On this Mother's Day, I consider myself lucky. I have three great kids - they like me most days - and I like them most days. We love each other every day, and we remember to say so. I don't think I can ask for more.
Blessings to all of you on your Mother's Day!
Luke's school volleyball season is coming to an end. As usual, I'm growing weary of the three games/week schedule and weekend tournaments, but oh how I'll miss watching Luke play. We've invested four years in this team and we will certainly miss all of the boys we've grown to know so well.
Luke and Emily will graduate from high school on June 4th. I've been doing the mental countdown to their graduation day since about the sixth grade. I will certainly not miss late night homework or the last minute trips to Target for supplies for a school project they forgot about, I will miss the school activities and some of the outstanding teachers they've had along the way. It's just hard to imagine the two of them will officially be adults . . . my babies have all grown up.
Emily will become a mother herself in July. She has grown up so much in the last few months. I am so proud of her. She has really accepted her new responsibilities and will be a fine mother. Baby Liam will have lots of love. Emily's baby shower is May 21st, so we're very busy making final plans. All of our out-of-town family will be here for the shower and to celebrate high school graduation. That will be one busy weekend! I have the best family. My parents, brother, sister and families are the best. They are there for anything any time we need them.
We are fortunate enough to see Paul, Katy and Christian almost every day. Eddie watches Christian during the week, so the two of them are pretty tight. And, what Grammy wouldn't give everything to see her completely adorable, totally entertaining grandson almost every day? Paul and Katy are wonderful parents. They put Christian's needs above everything else. I have to say, my son did a fine job of picking a wife. I couldn't love Katy more if she were one of my own. How many mother-in-laws can say that?
On this Mother's Day, I consider myself lucky. I have three great kids - they like me most days - and I like them most days. We love each other every day, and we remember to say so. I don't think I can ask for more.
Blessings to all of you on your Mother's Day!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wow, I'm 50 Today!
Do you remember when we were young? 30 seemed so old. Oh, we thought our parents were dinosaurs, let alone our 50 something grandparents - they were soooo old!
Today, I'm 50, and if you're looking for someone to complain about it, you're looking in the wrong place. I love the idea of getting older. Life and the world around me becomes clearer every day! For years I've searched for the meaning of my life. I want to make a difference. I always thought making a difference had to be doing something huge, something that would draw attention.
Now, I realize it's the small every day things that count. It's the person you hold the door for, the car you let in before you, the child you speak to, or that person you hug or smile at who may just be at the end of their rope. It's the little things we do that truly make a difference. I am satisfied with that. I can look back at my life and feel like I've made a difference because I am kind to people - all people.
Satisfaction!
Today, I'm 50, and if you're looking for someone to complain about it, you're looking in the wrong place. I love the idea of getting older. Life and the world around me becomes clearer every day! For years I've searched for the meaning of my life. I want to make a difference. I always thought making a difference had to be doing something huge, something that would draw attention.
Now, I realize it's the small every day things that count. It's the person you hold the door for, the car you let in before you, the child you speak to, or that person you hug or smile at who may just be at the end of their rope. It's the little things we do that truly make a difference. I am satisfied with that. I can look back at my life and feel like I've made a difference because I am kind to people - all people.
Satisfaction!
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