Alarm Clock!

Everyone Up!

These days it seems that my life purpose is being an alarm clock.  My day is run by the soft sounds of the second's hand ticking away and I'm tired.

You would think that by the time your kids hit their teenage years you'd be over that.  No more feeding, changing, nap, etc schedules. In reality, it's still the same - with the exception of the changing thing, only with more attitude.  

Daughter A has finished  high school but is taking an extra class at a local adult learning center to upgrade before heading to university, works basically full time, and like any teenager has a social life.  Sounds like she's pretty much got it together, right?  Nope - the only thing that keeps her on schedule is me.  

Her shifts at work vary but it's usually midnight's and with that she could start at 11 pm or 3 am until 7 am.  Then comes home in time to change, hopefully eat, and get to class for 9 am.  After that it's either hang out with friends or do her homework.  Depending on the day she could come home to sleep for a couple of hours before going out, then coming home to sleep again.  No matter which way it goes it up to me to make sure she's up for whatever is going on.  

I wish she'd wake up for an actual alarm clock but not a chance.  Every one we've ever bought her, she manages to turn off and/or sleep through it or she doesn't even turn it on.  Yes, she's that dead of a sleeper.  I don't know what to do. She's going off to school next year and I don't how she's going to manage. I feel like I've failed.  It's not like I can even let her screw up on her own.  These are the things you can't be late for or miss entirely. Sigh.

Last night is a prime example of my life.  She was scheduled to work at 3 am and asked me to get her up at 9.  I proceeded to go down at 9, and then continued hourly until 2:30 am - the absolute, very latest she could sleep. Even after getting her up I still didn't get to sleep to closer 3:15 because she was running so late that I had to switch the cars around while she got ready.  That wouldn't be so bad, I am naturally a night hawk, except I have to be up at 6:30 to get Daughter B up for school and I was falling asleep at midnight because the previous night was basically the same. This Mommy is running on 2 hours sleep a night!  I know I could take a nap during the day but that will only screw me up completely. I would end up sleeping all day and being up all night.  Getting out of that habit is way to hard - so this soldier marches on; even if only half awake.

Daughter B's schedule is like any other 14 year old.  School, homework, friends, the occasional after school activity - pretty normal...thankfully!  When she decides to get a job I just might lose my marbles because I don't how I'll manage keeping track of them both and sleep.

Do you think is pay back for having such an easy time when the girls were born because both of them slept through the night almost right away?  Seems like it.

Stay Sweet!

Tammy

Easy Meat Sauce

For a family whose roots are embedded deep into English soil.  We sure do love Italian cuisine. Lasagna, fettuccine, pizza, and especially spaghetti.

Week nights can be hectic to say the least in any household these days. Any quick fixes are a god sent for most.  Here is yours for today.

Easy Meat Sauce
 

Ingredients:

1 lb Lean Ground Beef, defrosted

1 Jar Ragu Pasta Sauce

2 - 3 Green Onions, chopped ( or 1/2 small yellow onion. I like the green onions for the colour) 

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Dried Parsley flakes

1 can Sliced Mushrooms Stems & Pieces, drained

Salt & pepper

Grated Cheddar or Parmesan for topping

Directions:

1. Place a large pot of salted water on to boil for your spaghetti noodles.  Cook according to package.

2. In the mean time start browning your ground beef with the onions, garlic, salt & pepper.  Once almost completely browned add the mushrooms and continue until done.  Drain any excess fat or liquids then add your jar of sauce and let warm.  It's done when the sauce starts to bubble.

See, it's that easy! You should go from start to sit in about a half an hour.  

Stay Sweet!

Tammy

Is it SPRING yet?

I think I'm coming down with cabin fever!  Seriously; who ever pissed Elsa off please apologize so we can get back to normal temperatures. I haven't been outside for any length of time in days.  I'm not the biggest fan of winter.  If you can wrap your head around this I do love snow, snowman building, tobogganing, skiing, skating - love it all.  It's the extreme cold I have issues with: -10*C is ok, perfectly acceptable - this is Canada after all; -40*C consistently for a month and half is down right ridiculous!  Thankfully, according to Environment Canada things are warming up this week.

To kick off this fantastic occasion, I'm posting my favourite summer salad.  A pasta salad that while great freshly made is even better the next day.  It's perfect to make ahead for those family get-together's that is inevitable over the warm, long, beautiful, summer days.

Ingredients:

3 cups Uncooked Macaroni Elbows

1 cup Diced Medium Cheddar Cheese

1 156 gram Can of Flaked Ham, Tuna, or Chicken (I've made this salad with all three variations - either is a winner)

1- 1 1/2 cups Mayo

2 Green Onions, chopped

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Onion Powder

1 tbsp Parsley Flakes

Salt & Pepper (Give your salad a taste test prior to adding salt.  The flaked meats can be salty on their own and sometimes adding even more salt is unnecessary - use caution!)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions.  Drain and allow to cool.  You can speed this process up by running the pasta in a colander under cool water for a minute or two. 

2.  Open & drain your canned meat.  In a large bowl mash the meat with a fork so there's no large chunks.  Add the cooled pasta and the rest of ingredients stirring until well combined.  Remember to give the salad a taste test prior to adding any extra salt.  

NOTE:  If you prepare this a day ahead you may need to add some extra mayo prior to serving to give it back the creaminess.  The pasta will absorb it over night.

Bring on Summer!

Stay Sweet!

Tammy

Music Monday

We're going old school to today's musical selection!

The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup

Nice Buns!

Is there a better smell in the world than fresh baked bread?  I don't think so!  Ok, maybe the smell of a man wearing Calvin Klein Obsession, yummmm..................Focus Girl! Focus!  Your 1990's is showing.

Sorry about that!  Let's get back to the bread.  I grew up in a place and time that homemade breads were the norm.  I can't remember ever having store bought until moving to Ontario.  Every weekend I would be enticed from wherever I was in the house (or even outside if I was close enough in the yard) by the smell of fresh bread baking either at home or at one of my grandparents houses.

When I came across this recipe for hamburger buns from a Taste of Home ( http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/40-minute-hamburger-buns ) I thought I'd give it a go.  I love the fact that it doesn't take hours and hours of rising, punching, rising, etc.....Although I did tweek it a little and my edits are the ones that I've listed.  If you want to try the original click on the link above.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp + 1/2 tsp Dry Active Yeast
1 cup + 2 tbsp Warm Water (110*F - 115*F)
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/8 + cup Sugar* (I used a little more sugar than 1/8th cup probably around 1/6th cup.  Honestly I scooped out the 1/4 cup that the original directions called for and poured what I thought would be enough to achieve a less sweet bun.  I edited it because it just seemed like A LOT of sugar for this recipe)
1 Egg
1 tsp Salt
3 - 3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add oil & sugar; let stand for 5 - 10 minutes -  You want the yeast to be nice and frothy.  Add the egg, salt and enough flour to form a soft yet slightly sticky dough - I used closer to the 3 cup mark for the flour but it all depends on your location and humidity for the exact amounts.

2. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 3 - 5 minutes.  Do NOT let rise.  Divide into 8 equal pieces and shape each into a ball.  Place 3 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.

3. Cover with a dish towel and let rest for 10 - 15 minutes.  Bake in a preheated 425* oven for 8 - 12 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Now will this be the ultimate bun recipe for my house?  I don't know.  It was very good but a little heavy.  It will be the one I'll turn to when time is of the essence.  But I'll will be experimenting with others.  Don't touch that dial!

Stay Sweet!
Tammy

Music Monday

My usual Music Monday doesn't involve a lot of "talk" - I like you guys just to listen and form your own opinions.  Every song I post means something to me and I hope that I can introduce you to something special.

However, this is a combo post. I just celebrated my own birthday and having an older teenage daughter does have it's perks in situations like this. I've officially graduated to getting seriously cool gifts like floor seats to the Nickleback concert! And to commemorate our awesome night out.....

Best Friend Birthday Tribute

I met my best friend, Jenn in 9th grade.  I remember the day perfectly.  I bumped into my then bff and her in the hall going to the cafeteria.  We chatted for a few minutes when she brought up that her finger felt naked because she'd forgotten to put on the ring she wore every day on that morning.  I don't know really the conversation swayed that way but it did - the cosmos had a plan..... I happened to be wearing a ring that day and wasn't particularly attached to it.  It was cheap and left a green mark if you worn it too long but I handed it over without a single thought - with the warning of potential green marks.  And the rest was history.

Today is her birthday. I can't believe that one little cheap ring started a 25 year relationship.

We've been through everything together.  I think I realized she was something special when I was going through the worst break-up of my life. I won't get into the details of the break-up but it was pretty bad.  I really, truly loved this boy and he ripped my heart out and tromped on it.  When I didn't feel like I had a friend in the world, she showed up and stayed with me for an entire week.  I still can't believe that our parents allowed this because school night sleepovers were completely against all the rules on both our parental sides.  We cried A LOT, we talked, and eventually we started laughing.  She made all my decisions for me that week.  It's a bit of a blur really, but she was my constant. I don't know if she knows how much that single act meant to me.

Never would have thought that I'd find a friend that is so much like me, it's scary.  We love shopping, taking pictures, reading, cooking, writing, the list is endless. Although I did question her brief cherry whiskey fetish.  No matter what interests me I know she's on board and I'm on board with her. We can sit in complete silence and never be bored.  Time and distance has no effect on us.  When she told me she was moving 3 1/2 hours away it broke my heart.  I was scared that I was going to lose her.  But nope - ties like ours can ever be undone.

I love her humour, her sincerity, her honesty, her intelligence.  I'm jealous of her beauty.

So, for your little look into the lives of two crazy ladies strolling down this life together birthday after birthday.....

The Biggest of Happy Birthdays Jenn!

Much love & stay sweet!
Tammy