Improvement

I really need to do better with this whole blogging thing. I love to blog but I just don't seem to do it enough. I would like to get into the habit of blogging daily, or at least every other day, not every week. Yanno things happen and I think Oh I will have to blog about that and then time passes and I remember I was going to blog and by that time it doesn't seem to fit in anymore. So that is my goal so watch out blogging world. I'm pretty excited because my son Jack and his friend Casey are coming to visit me this weekend. It's his 24th birthday. I finally get to meet Casey the girl who is always there for my son. I can't wait to hug her and thank her for taking care of him in my place. She has an adorable 2 year old named Maddison. Adorable right? So anyhow they are coming to visit me (Not Maddison). I will get to meet Maddison when I visit Pa. this spring/summer. I was trying to think of some meals to fix while they are here and while looking through my recipes I found this one and it is perfect. But I think I will make dumplings instead of mashed potatoes. I'll let ya know how it turns out.

Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks

"Lamb shanks that are slowly simmered with fresh rosemary, garlic, tomatoes, and red wine. Great served with polenta, or my family's favorite roasted garlic mashed potatoes, as you need something to soak up the wonderful sauce that is created with these. A fantastic dish for company, as all the prep work is done at the beginning, and then you just have to wait."

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INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

• 6 lamb shanks
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 3 large carrots, cut into 1/4 inch rounds
• 10 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle red wine
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
• 5 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

Directions:

• Sprinkle shanks with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook shanks until brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer shanks to plate.
• Add onions, carrots and garlic to pot and saute until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in wine, tomatoes, chicken broth and beef broth. Season with rosemary and thyme. Return shanks to pot, pressing down to submerge. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and simmer until meat is tender, about 2 hours.
• Remove cover from pot. Simmer about 20 minutes longer. Transfer shanks to platter, place in a warm oven. Boil juices in pot until thickened, about 15 minutes. Spoon over shanks.

So? what do you think? Sound good? It's making me hungry as hell. lol OK well I'm off to see if I have all the ingredients and if not off to the grocery store. Maybe I will be back later, or maybe I will just take a nap. LOL It looked so good I decided to make it tomorrow instead of when my son visits. I'm sure I will think of something for his visit.

If you love potatoes

If you're a potato person I found something really good. They are called Hero Roschti Grated Swiss Potatoes. They come in a box and they are delicious. You can find them in the isle with international foods. Give them a try, they were a hit around here. {Grated Swiss Potatoes-Brown and Serve-Hero Roschti is prepared from fresh grown potatoes and is sealed in an aluminum pouch for extended freshness.}

Anywhoo

Wow it's been a while since I have checked in. I am going to try and be better. Check in at least once a day. So here's what's been going on. Earlier I had mentioned I went through breast cancer treatment, well while I went through Chemotherapy there was one day things didn't go so well. I had to have a port placed in my chest to receive my Chemo due to the fact that my veins are terrible. Well one of the Chemo days my port wasn't functioning and they had to give me the Chemo through the vein. They started the IV in my hand it the smallest vein in my body. I however did tell the nurse that the only vein that was good was my AC (up by the elbow). So during the treatment I had the first bag of Chemo and half of the 2nd bag and my hand was swelled 10 times the size. They stopped the treatment, restarted the IV in the vein I originally told them and I finished my treatment without problems. Anyhow, long story short the Chemo drugs infiltrated into my hand and caused permanent nerve damage. So these past couple weeks I have been trying to get help for the severe pain and burning in my hand. Until now I never really noticed how incompetent doctor's office's staff people are. But finally today I got in to my doctor and got some help so I am able to type so I can blog. So in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, I'll be back!

So Yummy

Have you ever tried Grands Cinnamon Rolls?? They are delicious. If you get a chance pick up a bag. They come 6 rolls in a bag in the freezer section of the grocery store. You will not be disappointed if you try them. Here is what they look like: They are so so good. Try them! Wake Up Your Senses • Now found in the freezer aisle, Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls made with real Cinnabon® Cinnamon are irresistible. • With just-baked aroma and indulgent taste, these rolls are available in regular or mini size. • Bake one roll at a time or enough to share! Visit www.Pillsbury.com for more ways to bring your family together with great food.

Go Figure

So I have been trying to eat a little healthier since they told me my cholesterol was through the roof. Some of it from eating so many eggs while going through Chemo because it was all I could keep down, and some of it they tell me from the steroids they gave me with the Chemo. Anyhow, I found these really good granola bars at Trader Joe's. If you want to eat healthy that's one of the first places that comes to mind. Well I found these great granola bars. One is peanut butter and we know that right now that is a no no, and the other is chocolate and I LOVE them. Well somebody posted on anther website today a link to the FDA recall list and low and behold my favorite granola bars are listed as recalls. Doesn't that freakin figure?????? If you want to check the recall list here it is: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm. I swear everything we eat is going to some way or another be bad for us and eventually kill us. We're screwed because they are going to find something wrong with everything one of these days and then what???