What's for Dinner?

A while back I gave you my tried and true method for boiled eggs, and it really does work - that is when you follow directions.  Now if you plop the eggs into the pot and crank the burner up on high, you're following directions.  But if you then go switch on the mind-numbing, I-can't-hear-a-thing vacuum cleaner and proceed to clean in the next room, well, I can't be responsible.  Oh wait, that was me (hangs head in shame).  When I had to shut the vacuum off to move to another room, as I'm limited by my 16-foot cord, I heard something that jogged me back to the present.  There was rattling and a weird hissing sound coming from the kitchen.  Water was bubbling over onto the burner, and the eggs were crying out that it wasn't enough to be boiled alive, but their little bodies were being badly beaten, too. 

I quickly turned off the heat, and figured since they'd had been at a hard boil for several minutes, they would be over cooked if I left them on the burner.  So in my effort to salvage the eggs, I pulled them off and set my timer for the usual 15 minutes.  This is what I got.

Eggs - medium well.  Unfortunately, they weren't suitable for my potato salad, but it wasn't the end for these eggs.  No siree!  I'd find a way to use them, and I came up with a plan.  This was last night's dinner.

I started with one large baking potato, scrubbed and diced.

And about 1 cup of chopped onions.

I cooked the potatoes and onions together over low to medium heat, and added salt and pepper.

In another pan I cooked 1/2 pound of "hot" breakfast sausage, and when it was browned I added the eggs and chopped them into the sausage.

I combined everything into one baking dish, topped with shredded cheddar, and warmed in the oven until the cheese melted.

It was pretty tasty, especially considering what inspired the dish.  Sometimes accidents are the mother of invention.

A Little Sunday R&R

I thought I'd share some of our recent wanderings.  This was an afternoon filled with fun, relaxation and beauty.  

This is the sign for Flint Hill Vineyards.  We were out there weekend before last for a tasting.  They have some really nice wines, and my favorite is their Viognier.  

Here is what they say about it:   Picked at the height of ripeness.  Our Viognier is aged in stainless steel and has the perfect mix of fruit and floral notes.  The wine sets itself apart with juicy peach and apricot flavors.  Try this wine chilled with your favorite light dish or on your back deck at evening sunset.

 

This is the family home as it was restored.  Much of it, however, is still original.  It houses both the tasting room and the Century Kitchen restaurant.  You can read more about this here.

On our round about way to Flint Hill, we came across this interesting mailbox dressed up like a grasshopper.

Later that same day we visited Reynolda Gardens to look at the flowers.  This is a peony, and a bumble bee going in for a pollen sample.

There were many varieties of peonies, some with with big, full flowers like these.

To ones like this with a single layer of petals, and another little bee sampling the goods.

Restaurants.com Gift Certificates Now 80% Off

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through May 13.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code ENJOY when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   

Quote of the Week

True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.  

 - William Penn

This statement holds much truth that in my youth I did not believe.  Quite often now silence is truly golden.

And You Thought It Was His Car?

In the month or so since Easter, I've had several opportunities to drive hubby's new car, so I thought I'd post some of my impressions and observations.  First off, I didn't beg or finagle it away from him, he just prefers the extra 5 mpg from his 15-year old Saturn, and it does make a difference on his 40 mile (each way) commute to work.  I kid him that he let's me drive it so I'll wash it for him.

Now for the technical stuff.  Although the Accord is less than 6 inches shorter and only 250 pounds lighter, it drives like a much smaller, lighter car than the Cutlass Supreme I'd been driving for the last 12 years.  It has great visibility, and maneuverability, and is rather peppy.  I say that last part because it's the first four-cylinder car I've driven except for test drives. 

Some of my favorite things:

• Comfy leather seats
• Sunroof
• Nice two-section console
• The color

Some things I miss:

• No thermometer for inside or outside temperature.
• The doors do not lock automatically when you put it in gear.
• The doors do not open without physically unlocking them.

Overall, I do like it, and in spite of the few differences, the driving experience is still quite similar to my recently deceased Oldsmobile.  The downside is that there isn't anything distinctive about its appearance - I mean, there's got to be a zillion gold Accords out there. 

Stretching Your Dollar

We've talked a lot about how to get the most out of your coupons at the grocery stores, drug stores, Walmart and Target.  Perhaps you've been wondering where else you can use your coupons.  There are some "discount" stores such as Family Dollar and Dollar General that will accept them, and others like Big Lots and Dollar Tree that will not. 

Family Dollar accepts all manufacturer coupons, including internet printed coupons, according to their coupon policy.  Some highlights:

• No overage given when coupon is greater than item purchased.
• You may stack manufacturers coupons with store coupons.
• Buy-one-get-one-free coupons are accepted.
• No free item coupons unless purchase required (BOGOF).

Dollar General accepts all manufacturer coupons, including internet printed coupons, according to their coupon policy.  Some highlights:

• Buy-one-get-one-free coupons are accepted.
• No free item coupons unless purchase required (BOGOF).

Dollar Tree does not accept any manufacturers coupons.

Big Lots does not accept any manufacturers coupons.  They only accept the Big Lots printable coupons available to Buzz club members.

Note:  Dollar Tree (all items $1.00), Dollar General and Family Dollar are different stores.  Dollar General and Family Dollar are NOT "dollar stores", and prices vary.

As always, please review the coupon policy for each store, and use coupons accordingly. 

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

This is a reminder that Saturday, May 8, is Stamp Out Hunger day, the nation's largest one-day food drive.  Just leave a bag of non-perishable food items next to your mailbox.  Your letter carrier will pick these up and deliver them to area food banks or pantries.

It doesn't get any easier.  You don't even have to go anywhere.  So let's round up our extra cans of soup or boxes of cereal, pasta or peanut butter and help make a difference.

Quote of the Week

Better late than not at all! 

Friendship is like a prism through which the many variations of beauty are revealed in our lives.
- anonymous 
 

We are all made up of many facets, some of which we cannot see.  As the prism separates light into colors, looking through the eyes of friends can bring out all the spectacular colors of our lives.

I Entered a Contest

I have some exciting news to share.  I entered a contest on Ba-Bootie, a delicious food blog featuring South African recipes, and the prize was free ad space for 30 days on his blog.  Did I let the fact that I didn't have a completed ad stop me?  No, I identified the pictures and submitted my entry.

Now I didn't expect to win, 'cause I just don't win contests, scratch-off lottery tickets have produced a few bucks, but honest-to-goodness contests, not so much.  

So, this morning after breakfast I settled down to check out things in the blogosphere.  I signed into Tribal Blogs, a community of serious bloggers, found the winners had been announced, and headed over to Ba-Bootie to see who won.  At this point, you see, I hadn't even checked my e-mail, which held the "winner" notification.  OK, gimme me a break, it's Sunday morning and things move a little slowly around here, including me.  As I scrolled down through the pictures I saw that Alison of "Being Me" had won.  But wait, there's more.  That's right, there was second space up for grabs.  There's another winner, and it's me!

I immediately ran shouting to my husband, I Won!  I Won!  You know that contest I entered for free ad space? I Won!  Needless to say, I was excited.   Now y'all need to visit Ba-Bootie and check out all his yummy-looking recipes.  I'm looking forward to making some myself!

Nature's Sun Catchers

When the late afternoon sun gets together with the fresh green leaves it creates a magic that demands you drop what you're doing and grab your camera.  That's just what I did.  Dinner could wait, but the sun had nearly completed it's westward journey for the day.  Enjoy!

Looking West

Dark clouds make the trees look even brighter.

The tree tops are glowing.

A stately Locust tree.

Sun Dance

Bits and Pieces

I thought I'd share some bits and pieces from the last few days.  Saturday we attempted, once again, to spread weed and feed on the yard, and once again it clumped up in the spreader.  This was a bag that was left over from a couple years ago.  A word of advice...buy just what you'll use, and use it soon.

I love clouds, especially the wild, stormy looking ones this time of the year.

 

   

Spring Clouds

The best of buds

Bun let me snap a quick picture of her.  She belongs to our friends Bruce and Dixie.  We enjoyed a wonderful evening at their house Sunday.  

Bun

Here is Doodle hanging out with his favorite human.  I'm in the race for second place.

DH and the Dood

While I was mowing the yard this afternoon, I spotted my first Iris bloom of the season.  This is my favorite color Iris.

 Purple Iris

Quote of the Week

I nod to a passing stranger, and the stranger nods back, and two human beings go off, feeling a little less anonymous.

-  Robert Brault

An act of kindness, no matter how small, even just a nod or a smile, can brighten someone's day and ultimately our own.  Let's take a moment today and give it a try.

Restaurants.com 80% Off Promotion - limited time!

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through April 26.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code MEAL when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2. 

What a great way to eat out and save!   Offer Extended Until April 30.

A Good Egg!

With the picnic season just around the corner, and all the ways we use eggs (e.g. egg salad, potato salad and deviled eggs), I got to thinking about how many variations there must be for achieving the perfect hard boiled egg.  I've read about people steaming them, and even pressure cooking them.  I haven't tried either of these methods, and I'm not here to bring you everyone's tried and true approach to the perfect egg - just mine.

This is the way my mom taught me to make boiled eggs with a twist of my own.  Place your eggs in a pan of cold water with the lid on, and turn the burner to high.  Set your timer for 15 minutes, and watch closely.  As soon as the water comes to a boil, turn the burner off and start the timer.

When the eggs are done, drain and rinse with cold water.  Run more cold water into the pan and let it set a couple minutes.  Drain the water, replace the lid and shake vigorously, holding the lid on.  The eggs will peel nicely and have a perfect yolk.  So give this one a try and see for yourself that boiled eggs are as easy as 1-2-3.

Here are some more tips for boiled eggs:

• Older eggs (3-5 days) will peel better than fresh eggs.  (Never a problem here)
• Do not add salt to the water.  This raises the boiling point of water and may make the whites rubbery.
• Room temperature eggs are less likely to crack, and take approximately one minute less to cook than eggs right from the refrigerator.
• A TB of vinegar added to the water will prevent the white from running out of any egg that happens to crack.  However, this can affect the taste.
• Overcooked eggs may produce a green ring around the outer surface of the yolks.

Basic Egg Salad 
The recipe is simple and consists of boiled eggs, mayonnaise and salt & pepper.  Other add-ins include onions, pickles, celery, mustard, dill, and bell pepper. 
 

Friends, Fun, Food (and wine of course)

It was quite a weekend filled with joy and laughter, old friends and new places.  Saturday, was our anniversary, and after going to three stores to chase down cypress mulch, we joined our Cheers friends for another fabulous wine dinner.  Dine by Design catered with their usual delicious style.  Here was our menu and the accompanying wines.

King Salad (shrimp & avocado on lettuce w/spicy dressing)
2008 Ulrich Langguth Riesling ($12.99 at Total Wine)

Pork Loin w/raspberry chipotle sauce
2007 reserve Oak Grove Zinfandel ($7.99 at Total Wine)

Marinated Beef Tenderloin
2008 Columbia Valley Merlot ($9.49 at Costco)

Noodles Romanoff
2008 Mirassou Pinot Grigio ($7.99 at Costco)

Rum Cake
2008 Doulce France Vouvray ($9.99 at Total Wine)

Everything was wonderful, but my favorite dish was the pork loin, and my favorite wine was the Merlot. 

But the fun didn't stop there.  Sunday Kevin and Ashley took us to Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery.  It is about an hour north of here on US 421.  The view from their Italian-style villa was just amazing.  We had a beautiful, clear day with barely a cloud in the sky.  

 Upstairs on the piazza.

 A view of the mountains beyond the vineyard.

A beautifully landscaped rose garden.

On the way to the villa.

Patio overlooking the vineyard.

This was another wonderful day.  Since it was getting late and they closed at 5:00, we decided to forego the wine tasting and just enjoyed the nice weather, the scenery and the company.  We watched people parachuting in the distance like tiny specks against the bright sky.  

We did get a couple bottles of their Vermentino.  This is a refreshing white wine, delicious with seafood and shellfish and mild cheeses.  I look forward to going back and tasting all their wines.

Back in town, we wrapped up our day with dinner at Applebee's.  Today was quite a treat, and ended too soon.  Sharing good times, and good food with good friends was a great way to celebrate our anniversary weekend.

 

Quote of the Week

Aerodynamically the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it, so it goes on flying anyway.  

- Mary Kay Ash

If a little bumble bee can accomplish the "impossible" imagine what you can do?

Snowball and Other Spring Beauties

As Spring slowly fades toward Summer, here are some more flowers from around my yard.

Snowball:  Three stages of the bloom.

Ummmm, smell the lilac.

The King of Spring!

Bloodroot, prettier than it's name.

Three Strikes

As we have become more dependent on gadgets that chop, grind, slice, dice and even cook for us while we're out, we also become a little out of sorts when they mysteriously stop working.  

Strike one, my twenty-something crock pot gives up the ghost and turns a normally tender chunk of chuck into something akin to a boiled owl.  Mom used this phrase to describe various over-cooked proteins as being tougher than a boiled owl.  Not having any personal experience with this, we'll just assume it was.

Strike two? The "I-can't-live-without-it" food processor we bought 10 years ago.  Little by little, the bowl and cover were wearing out.  A piece would break here and crack there, but it still worked fine.  That is until I tried to grate my wedge of Parmigiana Reggiano, and the bowl kept rising up on the base because it had broken to the point that it wouldn't stay latched in place.

Strike three.  I decided to try a new tapenade recipe, but with the processor out of order, I pull out the blender, and start piling stuff into the container.  I slap on the lid, push the button and what do I get?  A big WHIRRRRR, but no blade action.  Hubs calls "turn it off" from the other room and comes to check it out.  So I regroup while he takes the blade downstairs to oil it - something about the bearings and did it go into the dishwasher?  No, dishwashers are evil!  Well, only the first time or two, I swear.  Is it toast?

Now for Plan C (don't you hate it when it comes down to Plan C).  In my desperation, I used my immersion blender's chopper unit, and folks I don't recommend this for expediency's sake.  It's wonderful for small quantities of something like nuts for a pie or to whiz up a can of tomatoes, but for a batch of tapenade, it was quite the challenge.

Fortunately, all the food processor needed was a few replacement parts.  Can't say the same for the crock pot, and I haven't gotten the prognosis on the blender.

Meanwhile, here's Sophie enjoying her "present".

It's just what I wanted.  How did you know?

A Fine Day for Wine!

Isn't it exciting when you discover something new practically in your own back yard?  That's how we felt when we visited Junius Linday Vineyards.  It's located in Northern Davidson County just a short drive from Winston-Salem.  Owner, Michael Zimmerman was pouring their wines in a picturesque outdoor setting just feet from the vines.  Also part of the team was Bacchus, an American Foxhound named for the Roman god of wine.  He was people-friendly, and happily passing the afternoon people watching or lying on the cool floor.

Looking out over the vineyard.

 
There was another group tasting when we arrived, and they bought a bottle to share at one of the patio tables.  As we tasted our way through their array of wines (two white, three red and one dessert wine), I was taken with their Second Leaf, a blend of Viognier and Roussanne.

The land, which is now a vineyard, was chosen by Michael's grandfather, Junius Lindsay Zimmerman and his bride Beatrice as they started their life together, and it has been in the family ever since.  Michael moved back to the home place with his wife Lucia in 1995 after having spent 15 years in the Foreign Service.  In 2004 he began growing grapes on 2 acres, and I believe they are currently planting about 9 acres.

The tasting bar.

This was a great way to spend some leisure time on a nice Spring afternoon.  It was a pleasure to meet Michael and learn about their wines and some of the family history.  We left with our own bottle of Second Leaf and two complimentary tasting glasses.

Junius Lindsay Second Leaf

We rounded out the day with a visit to Childress Vineyards, where we purchased a bottle of their Viognier and enjoyed that out on their terrace overlooking a beautiful green lawn and the vineyard beyond.  They were out of Trio, our favorite, but it will be available again around the 23rd of April.
  

The terrace

The lawn at Childress Vineyards.

Interestingly, both the Junius Lindsay and Childress wines were crafted by Mark Friszolowski, the talented winemaker at Childress Vineyards.

Quote of the Week

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.  

 -  Author Unknown

We all have days that seem like everything that could go wrong did, but within each day there is a bright spot.   Some days we just have to look deeper than others.

Don't Let Your Bundle of Joy Cost a Bundle

The economy may be improving, but for those new parents and parents to be, there are new expenses on the horizon, and it is a broad horizon spanning 18 years or more.  This requires commitment and sacrifice, but it shouldn't land you in the poor house, at least not in the first few years of life...as scenes of Harvard flash before your eyes.

But first things first, you need to prepare for your upcoming bundle of joy.  You need clothes by the bundles, diapers, food, baby toiletries, and maybe formula and bottles.  You may wonder what I'm doing writing a post about baby stuff when all my children have four legs and fur.  Well, the answer is simple.  I want to help people save money, and steer them in the direction of value and information.

There are a number of websites out there devoted to coupon savings, where to get the deals on diapers and how to work the system to even get free stuff.  I have sorted through and pulled out what I think are some good ones.  Some are simply money savers, some have reviews and others will relate their experiences so you'll know you're not alone in baby-land.  

Smart Shopping

Let's start with money saving.  After all that's probably at the top of everyone's list.  This first group isn't baby-specific, but they provide sale information and coupon match-ups for food, household goods, personal care and baby items.

Hip2Save.com
This site has a myriad of different savings from Target and Wal-Mart to the 3 major drugstores, Walgreen's, CVS and Rite Aid.  She has even included store guides so you'll learn how to take full advantage of the savings available.  Yes, there are things to learn about drugstore shopping, and all three stores are different.  She also offers lot of on-line deals like books and toys from Amazon. 

Southernsavers.com
This one covers local grocery stores such as Harris Teeter and Food Lion plus other regional stores with coupon match-ups.  It also covers the same 3 drugstores, offering another take on the same sales.

Sometimes grocery stores such as Food Lion, have printable coupons on-line.  In addition to food and household items, there are usually several sets of baby care coupons.

Just for Baby

Babycheapskate.com
This provides information on cost-conscious decorating, baby product reviews, coupons and sales and diapers and other products.  There is a product review on diapers, and what other mom's have to say about the different brands and styles, including generics/store brands.

Babycenter.com
A wealth of baby information, health and support, links to blogs, questions and answers and more.

Alternative Shopping Places

This may not suit all new parents, but I suggest checking out thrift stores, and consignment shops.  Every parent wants their babies dressed in adorable little outfits, and they should be.  However, they grow out of everything so quickly, especially in the first year, that it can be very costly to keep up with their ever-changing dimensions.  While you can't cover all your baby's wardrobe needs at these places, you can find new, or nearly new items, even brand names, for a fraction of mall and specialty shop prices to help offset the other costs.

Hand-me-downs

Network with friends and family who already have children.  Baby clothes will be outgrown before being worn out so see if someone has clothes to loan or give away.  The same goes for items like strollers, car seats, high chairs and cribs.

Other Links

Diapers.com (free shipping on orders over $49)

Babies Online (free coupons and magazines and samples, and more)

Wal-Mart Baby (97¢ shipping to your home)

Restaurants.com (save money on a parents night out, babysitting not included)

Passion for Savings  (check here for Wal-mart deals, and more)

Centsible Savings (check here for Wal-mart deals, and more)

There is much repetition among the coupon sites.  Many cover the same stores and have the same coupons.  You just need to find the ones that best> meet your needs.  As always, pay attention to your coupons for restrictions such as size, item count, etc., and use coupons appropriately.

Our Happy Easter Weekend

It was a happy Easter here in the Sunny South, and a gorgeous weekend in many areas so I've heard.  The flowers were blooming and the skies were clear and blue.  Saturday night we had a pre-Easter/birthday combination dinner with DH's family.  In addition to Easter, we were celebrating my niece's and bil's birthdays.  We had grilled lamb, and a red velvet birthday cake for dessert.

The fastest hands!

 Happy Birthday!

Afterward we dyed Easter eggs.  That was the first in years for me.  It was fun, and they turned out pretty good, considering we had blue, green and 3 oranges to work with.  I don't know what happened to the red and yellow.

Ready, Set, Go

I think the Easter Bunny would be proud of these!

We started off Easter Sunday by attending the Easter service with Ashley and Kevin and the kids, followed by a pleasant lunch at El Paisano.  Then Ashley and I and the kids went to PetSmart to get hermit crabs, while the guys went home to check out the leaking refrigerator.

I got a short video of the crabs, named Hans (Scott's) and Cannonball (Michael's).  Hans is wearing the natural colored shell and Cannonball is yellow and black with a red stripe.

I suppose you're wondering why the boys were telling the crabs to say "crab cakes".  When I took pictures, instead of "say cheese" I was going to do "say crab flakes", like the crab food, but it sort of came out wrong - hmmm...what was I thinking?

Hans actually got out of the shallow dish three times, so we had to get a deeper container to prevent further escape.

"I've got a plan."

We hung out with them for the rest of the day, and had a wonderful beef stew for dinner. Ashley's Dad and Kevin's brother's family all joined us in the kitchen for dinner.  

Happy Easter everyone!

Quote of the Week

This comes a little late this week.

A hug is a great gift - one size fits all, and it's easy to exchange.  

- Author Unknown

This is a gift we all benefit from, both giving and receiving.  

A New Addition

Saturday was an exciting day for us.  This type of event doesn't happen every day or even every decade for that matter.  My DH is now the proud owner of a 2002 Honda Accord.  It's got it all, comfy leather seats, power this and that and...drumroll please...a sunroof!  That is a first for either of us.  This ends his two-year search for just the right car.  He went through several phases like I'd like a Corolla, no maybe a Civic.  We looked at car after car in under the broiling summer sun until he concluded that he'd just keep his car for now.  OK.  It was always brimming just under the surface though, the notion that the time was winding down to replace it.  Next there was the "I can just get another Saturn" phase. There were a few out there, but that model/body style is getting hard to come by, and that passed into "I'll just put new tires on it and keep driving."

When my car died back in November, I launched a search of my own.  That renewed his interest as well.  My search took us through the dead of winter and we endured bitter winds as we looked at car after car, and test drove them through snow and slush.  In the process so began his Accord phase, and we drove 4 before finding the right one.  We almost ended up with a silver one (no leather), but our offer was declined.  Fine.  Things usually work out the way they are supposed to if you don't force the issue.

On Thursday we found another gold one on-line.  We looked at it Friday evening, and went back the next morning for a test drive.  Once the decision was made that this was the car, and we had our "number" in mind, Tim, our long-suffering salesman came out to give us their "number". Can you guess?  They weren't exactly in the same neighborhood.  Again I said, "I'm sorry, I was hoping you'd be getting a new car today".  Tim said he would take our offer to the manager to see what he'd say.  Tim had been gone for a while, so thinking we were just out of luck again, we were about to leave.  But wait... here comes Tim, and he's walking with purpose.  Apparently the fact that we were there with our checkbook ready to buy and drive carried some weight, and our offer was accepted.

So here it is! 

I am happy and excited that he has a "new" car.  Now, it's my turn!

Restaurants.com - 80% off...Again!

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through April 6.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code CHOW when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2. 

What a great way to eat out and save!