Tell Us Tuesday (two days late)/MidWeek Randoms: Laptop Update, Duck Dynasty, and Chicken Caccicore

Hello! Yes, I am still alive:)

I also need to do a Capture your Grief Post, and I also see that BBTB is up again! SOOO..lots of posts coming up:)

First off, let's do the buttons/link up sponors

I am linking up with Courtney @ One Fine Wire for Tell us Tuesday, and Megan @ In this Wonderful Life for Mid Week Randoms (which I haven't joined up with in a long time). Wild Card Wednesdays has ceased to continue, which is of course totally fine, but now I have another link up to join in on!

A couple of a weeks ago, when I downloaded (fake)Skype, I also downloaded some nasty and annoying viruses. Ads were coming up when I knew they shouldn't, and it would direct me to surveys, etc. Annoying. Anker tried to get most of the stuff out, but there were still a few that had found their way in.Well, the last straw came yesterday, when I couldn't get into Blogger!!! I know, right?!! Anker tried to help me fix it, but then he realized that I should just change my browser to FireFox. No more problems. I am so happy. I have had to learn how to use FF along with Windows 7. Thankfully, it is pretty easy. So, no more IE for me!

Oh my word! I must be the last person on the planet to watch Duck Dynasty! I love that show! Not enough to go and buy the entire series, but I really do think it is hilarious, and I have the early seasons on hold at the library. What a funny, funny family!!! Like Big Bang, I think I like it because they live a different life than me. They are so different. I actually kind of got interested when I saw Korie on the cover of Guidepost a couple of months back. I loved the article, and that piqued my interest. Then we got a book in the store that one of the guys wrote, which I took a look through. I had no idea that one of the guys is a preacher:) Anyway, I have watched a few episodes already, and I have laughed at all of them. So, yah, that is my new show!

And I finally finished DA season 3. I am so mad that Matthew died. Arrgh! I have seen a spoiler for season 4 that a friend posted on my time line today, and I am not happy with their SL`s from what I have read:( But there will be a Christmas Epi which will air in December.

Ok...so, now it is cooking lessons with April:)

As I have said before, I am not much a cook, but every once in awhile I come across a recipe that looks fun and easy to make. So, when I saw this recipe for Easy Chicken Cacciatore, I knew I wanted to make it (esp since we had most of the ingredients).

                                       The recipe IS really easy, with very few ingredients.

            It called for 8 skinless boned chicken thighs, but I only had 4 skin on and bone in.

                                                     Flour and brown the chicken.

 Fry onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, green pepper in pan. Add Tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Oh, and chicken broth. Let simmer. Re-add the chicken, and let cook and simmer for about 20-40 minutes. (depending on if it is bone in or not).

I was a bit disappointed in it, as it was a bit burnt and there wasn't enough sauce (granted, I only halved it, so I could have added more), but it was good other than that. Anker liked it, and he is a picky eater, so that is the main thing:) I served it over pasta, which was very good!

Five on Friday, Random 5, and Let's Be Friends Blog Hop (link ups).

Hi, I am April. Remember me? I used to blog. Every day. It seems that I have neglected my blog this week. I just haven't been feeling the blogging writing bug this week. I was going to blog last night, but TV got the best of me (and the evening).

 

So, without further ado, here is my Five on Friday for this week.

 

1. My Avon Leadership Pack arrived today! I actually had no idea that it was coming, and hubby discovered it on our door this morning. So, I had something fun to open up...and it was free!! I love unexpected surprises!

 

2. Every once in awhile (like twice a year), I get the urge to make something really interesting. I was watching one my of fav cooking shows Best Recipes Ever the other day, and she had on a few really neat recipes that looked fairly easy and delicious to make! I was feeling motivated the other day to make something, and since we had steak ready to be eaten, and I had the time, I thought, why not?? I made Shallot and Garlic Butter, Marinated Steak, and Twice Baked Potatoes. They all turned out really well. This picture doesn't do them justice. I didn't EVERYTHING (the steak I used was different than what they said, but who cares?), and I added a few extras, and it turned out well. Even hubby, who is a picky eater liked them. And yes, the butter sounds odd with the steak, but trust me, it is very good and it does add extra flavour!

 

3. I started my Long Wknd off right. A Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks!

 

4. Although this isn't a favourite, it is new to me this week. I now have to monitor my blood at home. It sucks...but I have to admit, it IS kind of cool to see how your BS is during the day.

 

 

5. We are definitely having cooler weather. It was -1 the other morning!! EEK!!

This was from the other day (yesterday, I think?).

 

                                               Linking up with Nancy @ Rural Journal

 

 

1. It is Thanksgiving in Canada this wknd!!! I heart Thanksgiving!! I think even better than Christmas! No gifts, better weather, nice colours, and it doesn't take up as much time commitments!

 

I also get to see the puppies this wknd!

 

2. A man from our little village (where I grew up) been missing since Sunday. The entire community, plus helicopters, RCMP (police), and Search Teams have been out all week! My family is helping to look as well. Our church bldng has been a base for the SAR/RCMP, etc. If you would like to chk out the news clip our local news stn did on this yesterday, click here. My dad is the Pastor that they interview(ed). So, because of this man being missing, and everyone is

out looking, our LW may look a little different than normal. We are just playing it by ear.

 

3. I have an interview this afternoon. I am excited, but nervous!!

 

4. This wknd is going to be CRAZY, as we have a wedding to go to (reception, too) tomorrow, have to help Anker clean the church, then head off to the ranch late Sat eve. I am so happy, though. I love wknds like this!

 

5. I have given up on CCS and FHS. I CANNOT get past the current levels that I am on. I think they are cheating me. I don't have time to play games like that anymore.

 

Linking up with Tiffany @ The Dwelling Tree

   

That is all for this wk!!! I will try to do a Thanksgiving Edition of TToT.

PS. Just a few more things to add...

A. I have been feeling sick the last few evenings, and I am sure why or what...hmm...I even wasn't feeling well during the night, and even this morning. I hope whatever it is will go away soon.

B. We went over our finances with Anker's Support Worker on Wednesday. We are going to try the "envelope" route and see how things go. We want to totally revamp our finances/budget. We need to. There isn't a choice, really.

C. I helped my friend and neighbour get her spare room in order. It made me want to organise our house. Maybe.

D. This was brought to my attention on FB this morning..

This made me very sad. Will probably pick it up later today.

Tell us Tuesday-Cooking Class/Show and Tell with April

 I am linking up with  Courtney over at  One Fine Wire for this weeks TuT:) I have decided to do a show and tell (with picture) of what I made (up) last night for supper!! I thought it would be neat to TELL YOU about a new recipe that I tried (and made up), on TELL US TUESDAY. Get it?

First off, though a little picture from my phone to show you how cold it was this morning at 8 am:)

That's correct. 3C. That is COLD!!! It is now 10C.

We didn't have a whole ton to work with as far as groceries right now, and we don't have the money to buy more stuff until next Monday, but I wanted something KIND OF healthy, so I decided (after an hour of being home, laying on the bed watching JJ eps) that I would make an adult version of mac n cheese. Well, there isn't much "adult" in it, except garlic, onions, and Havarti cheese, which some kids may not like. But other than that, there isn't any "adult" ingredients. Sadly, I don't have any measurements (I rarely do in cooking), and please excuse my small/messy kitchen.

                                                   Adult Version Mac n' Cheese

Macaroni (duh). I think I used about 2 cups, which was enough for Anker and I (plus he had seconds, and there are leftovers).

This was the first batch of ingredients, then I decided to add the Zucchini

Mustard, garlic (about two small cloves), onion (I used about a 1/4), Harvarti Cheese, Mild Cheddar Cheese, Light Cream, Zucchini, and butter, oh and ham (or some other meat).

I cut up the ham, like this.

                                                           And I fried it, to heat it up.

I crushed up the garlic, and chopped the onion...

....and fried them together with olive oil.

While the macaroni was cooking (please us a larger pot than I did. I had transfer it over to a larger pot, and thus had to wash two macncheese filled pots:)

Harvati...yum! This melted quite well. I would probably use more than I did, though.

                                     I am not sure on how much cheese I used..not enough..lol.

I grated the zucchini. I put everything on the plate before putting it over the macaroni.

First in goes the butter (or margarine), and cream..I used a bit too much...so maybe only a quarter of a cup of cream, or less.

As you can see, I had to transfer it over to a larger pot. Then in goes the cheeses.

Followed by zucchini, ham, garlic, and onion, and the mustard.

I also added peas to mine.

A better shot.

 

I think it turned out well. Anker is a pretty picky eater, and he had seconds, so I was impressed by how it turned out.

 

I went out for coffee (McD's this time) with a friend. We had a two hour chat. I was able to share with her with has been going on. It was great to have someone to talk to in person who understands, or at least can appreciate what I am going through. I felt a bit better after talking with her.

Baby Ice cream cone for .30. Perfect size for that late at night.

 

McD's PSL. I like it:)

I came home and had a hot Bubble Bath. Yes, one of the reasons I like fall and winter. Cool weather=hot (bubble) baths!

 

I ended the night with chocolate and doing my nails with some new NP that I got from my friend in our group. JJ+Pink Nail Polish Manicure+Chocolate=the end of a great day/night!

Pretty Pink nail polish:) This picture doesn't do it justice! I LOVE the colour!

 

I got my parcel from my friend L yesterday.

Necklace, mirror, lipstick and lipstick holder, earrings, and a towel gift.

I don't know for what it is. I think it is wrap of some kind.

                     I am going to use the mirror for my purse compact. It even matches!

See? It's a mirror.

My necklace and my nails this morning.

 

Well, that is all for now. As usual, it was longer than I had anticipate. Oh well:) And yes, some of this will be going on my Fof, TToT:)