Author: Nicole

Hi thank you for stopping by. I am very excited to have you here. Pull up a chair and have a seat, this is the view from my side of the table.
Recipes

Simmered Cabbage

Nicole
Despite what you may be thinking I am not going cabbage crazy we just seemed to have a lot left over after New Year’s so I have been trying to find things to do with cabbage. I hate to waste things. This recipe is really good. The original recipe suggested adding sherry to it, but I found the sherry to make the recipe too strong. Sticking with only chicken broth is a much better option. 

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1.  Heat oil and butter in large heavy and wide saucepan or sauté pan; add cabbage, salt, pepper, and stir over low heat for 5 minutes.
  2.  Add broth (I usually add a bit of sherry, too) and bring to boil, cover and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, for about 15 minutes or until cabbage is tender.
  3.  Raise heat to medium, uncover and let juices reduce to about half (be careful not to let burn).
  4. Taste and adjust seasoning, serve hot.

Recipes

Korean Potatoes

Nicole

My picture doesn’t look very appealing, but this recipe is really fantastic. I was very unsure about this recipe but the end results were impressive. If you don’t like sesame oil you might not like this recipe, but if you are a lover like me you will really enjoy this hearty recipe. 
Ingredients:
  • 2 -3 potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 onion, cut in bite sized pieces
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 -2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions:
  1.  Rinse potatoes to remove starch.
  2. Heat pan and add olive oil. Add potatoes and garlic and cook until the potatoes look a little translucent, and then add the onion. Keep stirring.
  3. Add water, soy sauce, sugar, corn syrup and mix and simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes until liquid is evaporated. If it needs more water, add some.
  4. When potato is cooked take off stove and add 1 T of sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Recipe Source

    Recipes

    Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Icing

    Nicole
    I found this recipe on the Mixing bowl. Sherri has an amazing recipe here that is so simple. It took me less than 10 minutes to put it together and stick it in the over. You could do so much with it. I bet you could even add some shaved carrots to this cake and no one would be the wiser. Quick, easy and delicious. 

    Ingredients:

    • 4 Eggs

    • 1 2/3 C. Sugar
    • 1 C. Cooking Oil
    • 1 (15 oz) can Pumpkin (pure pumpkin)
    • 2 C. Flour
    • 2 tsp. Baking Powder
    • 1 tbsp. Cinnamon
    • 1 tsp. Salt
    • 1 tsp. Baking Soda

    Icing Ingredients, and directions:
    Beat Together

    • 1 (3 oz) pkg. Cream Cheese softened
    • 1/2 C. butter or margarine softened
    • 1 Tsp. Vanilla
    • 2 C. Powdered Sugar

    Directions:

    Stir all ingredients together. Pour into an ungreased 11×15 inch pan. Bake 25 min. at 350 degrees or for thicker bars bake in a 13×9 pan for 45 min. Let cool and frost with Cream Cheese Icing




    Recipes

    Quick Cheese Biscuits

    Nicole
    This is a super quick recipe. I needed bread for dinner and decided to give this recipe a try. It’s a good recipe, but despite the title it does not have a cheesy flavor. It’s very simple and light. I added a little butter to the top of these biscuits to give them more flavor. 

    Ingredients:

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 450°F.      
    2. Combine flour, baking powder and salt.
    3. Stir in cheddar.
    4. Cut in butter using pastry blender or 2 knives until coarse crumbs form.
    5. Using fork, stir milk into flour mixture until soft dough forms.
    6. Do not overwork or over-mix dough.
    7. Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon to drop biscuit on cookie sheets, 1in apart on ungreased baking sheet.
    8. Bake 10-15 minutes. (Watch them close)

    Recipes

    7 Ways to Save More Money in 2011

    Nicole
    I came across this article on Yahoo.com yesterday, and found the tips to be pretty handy. I wanted to pass them on, because I think just about anyone would find them useful. Who couldn’t stand to save a little extra money?
    January is a period of self review, filled with promises and new financial goals. But the post-holiday cocktail of disorganization and unrealistic expectations can sabotage self-improvement plans, including efforts to save money.
    Fortunately, January has been tagged Get Organized Month by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). It makes sense. Lack of organization costs time and money, according to a recent NAPO survey of consumer behavior. Cutting through clutter is important to my money-saving goals for 2011.

    Coupon System
    Too often, my newspaper pile becomes a graveyard for coupons. Potential savings die an early death because of clutter. For instance, I have squandered store coupons sporting savings of $1 to $10 due to missed deadlines or misplaced coupons. For 2011, I’ve begun to store coupons in a side pocket of my purse, which is always with me. Wallets and glove-compartments in cars are also a great place to store coupons.

    Green Savings
    The trendy push to live a greener life can be overwhelming, especially with the wide assortment of eco-friendly products, services and strategies on the market. Organization, however, can simplify green living goals. My strategy involves a disciplined room-by-room plan to reduce my family’s carbon footprint. For the first three months of 2011, I plan to focus on the kitchen, with green steps that will save the environment and my cash. For example, during the January discount sales on linens, I plan to purchase additional dish clothes and towels for the kitchen, which will save money in the long-run, because I will spend far less on short-lived paper products. Every three months, I’ll target a different area of my home.

    Register Alert
    In the checkout line, it’s easy to meditate or daydream. But being alert can pay off. On a regular basis, I have spotted errors in cash register receipts, including incorrect prices for sale items. Sometimes, the errors are my fault. For instance, I recently took advantage of a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) free promotion for toys. Unfortunately, one of the games I had selected did not qualify for the BOGO discount. I spotted the error, when I studied the receipt and noticed the double charge for the toys. And now with every purchase, I scan the sales receipt before leaving the store.

    Unplug Chargers
    Even when not used, cell phone chargers, coffee makers, micro-wave ovens and other appliances drain energy when plugged into wall sockets. Conserving cash and energy is my January goal, and I’ve been teaching my kids to unplug idle appliances. But this step requires organization and constant awareness. When we are running late, we leave the house in a whirlwind of anxiety and fail to take energy-saving steps. An earlier wake-up call will preserve energy and create less stress.

    Time-Sensitive
    Late fees and other financial penalties are the byproduct of disorganization. To avoid missed deadlines, I plan to raise my financial IQ with my smartphone and laptop. Both devices provide digital calendars that can be programmed with bill reminders and deadline alerts. There are also a variety of online services that offer e-mail notices about approaching deadlines. Online bill-paying programs also add organization and efficiency.

    Chores
    With better organization some household chores and personal tasks can become money-saving, do-it-yourself projects. For example, if you have the talent and the right tools, you can save money with DIY haircuts, manicures, pedicures and other personal grooming chores. Car-washing, lawn mowing and house-painting duties can also represent frugal home projects. But calculate the cost of your time, and honestly evaluate your skills. Home projects can become money pits if you have to hire a professional to fix DIY errors

    Workshops
    During January, NAPO chapters in different regions of the country are hosting public events, including “Organize to Economize in the New Year” workshops, “Shred-and-Organize” gatherings and “Ask-the-Organizer” panels. To find a local event, go to http://www.napo.net.

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