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September 29, 2010

Conversations with my sister

Her:  "What?!  They are giving that idiot Brad another chance on the Bachelor?  I hate that show!"

Me:  "Yeah, I know. Soooo STUPID!"

Her:  "You're totally going to watch it, aren't you?"

Me:  "Uh, well yeah...DUH!"

September 28, 2010

Tasty Tuesday - 8 Ball Zucchini

Ready for round 2 of Tasty Tuesday?  I made this recipe last week and it was so freaking amazing I almost couldn't wait to post it!

A couple of years ago my sister's co-worker gave her an 8 ball zucchini.  It is this cute little(ish) round zucchini that looks, well, like an 8 ball on crack. I guess you are supposed to pick them small but most people pick them when they are a little larger so they can stuff them.  So Stuff them we did!  It was delicious.  Jen made up a recipe with some hamburger, cheese, rice, onions, tomatoes, etc.

This year we decided to grow them on our own.  The seeds got planted a little late but they finally took off and I have a cute little 8 ball zucchini bush.  WAY smaller than the mondo sized regular Zucs I have growing.

I did a little research online and stumbled across an awesome recipe on this blog Never Enough Thyme.  It is so cute and delicious!  I tried to take my own pictures while I was cooking but I just couldn't do it justice like Lana did.  Please check out her blog for the recipe.  You will not be sorry!

One suggestion I would make is drain the bacon fat before cooking the rest of the veggies in it.  Another suggestion is to come hungry.  Because you will eat the whole darn thing and be scraping the inside of the zucchini for more!

Enjoy!

September 23, 2010

Quote of the Day

"I just had to move my protein shake so I could make room for my chocolate cake in the fridge".

- My friend Katy....a woman after my own heart.

September 21, 2010

Tasty Tuesday - Sour Cream Pork Chops

I'm not the world's best cook.  I have to read a recipe a zillion times before and during the whole process because I'm so bad with numbers.  And I certainly can't make up my own recipes like my sister can.  Or my bloggy friend Stephanie that makes amazing looking desserts from scratch!

Anyway, I thought it might be fun to post some favorite recipes every now and then.  Maybe call it Tasty Tuesday?  If anyone wants to participate let me know.  I'd love to feature some of your deliciousness!

My first Tuesday is a recipe that I made last night from All Recipes.com.  I've made it before with pork chops like they suggest, but last night I made it with spare ribs because that's what I had in the freezer.  The sauce is also delicious on top of rice or mashed potatoes.  Yum!

Enjoy!

Sour Cream Pork Chops

Ingredients

  • 6 pork chops
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • garlic powder to taste
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 2 cubes chicken bouillon
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream



Directions

  1. Season pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and then dredge in 1/2 cup flour. In a skillet over medium heat, lightly brown chops in a small amount of oil.
  2. Place chops in slow cooker, and top with onion slices. Dissolve bouillon cubes in boiling water and pour over chops. Cover, and cook on Low 7 to 8 hours.
  3. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
  4. After the chops have cooked, transfer chops to the oven to keep warm. Be careful, the chops are so tender they will fall apart. In a small bowl, blend 2 tablespoons flour with the sour cream; mix into meat juices. Turn slow cooker to High for 15 to 30 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Serve sauce over pork chops.  (Note: I boiled the sauce on the stove until it was nice and thick)

September 20, 2010

Why can't you be....

When I was growing up I got this question a lot.  "Why can't you be more like your sister?"  Mostly it was from teachers.  "I see your sister is a peer helper.  Why can't you get better grades".  That is an exact quote from my stupid 6th grade teacher. (good thing I don't hold grudges..ha ha!)

These days I get this dreaded question. "Stacy, why aren't you married yet"?  

Of course living in Utah, the capital of getting married at 19, I have gotten this question a lot over the years.  But I get it a lot more now that I am reacquainting myself with friends from highschool and college.  (Ah Facebook...you are a blessing AND a curse).  "Oh Stacy, you were such a social butterfly in college...we all were just trying to keep up with you".   I appreciate that you think I'm so wonderful that I should have been snatched up by now, but clearly it hasn't happened yet, and in case you think I hadn't noticed...I had.

The funny thing is that I think some of these people really want an answer.  Like I know the secret to why I'm not married.  I usually give them a silly answer like  "oh, well you know, all the men keep turning me down when I propose". But the truth is....who the heck knows.

Yes, I came really close to getting married once, many years ago.  This person was wonderful.  The love of my life.  I am probably still in love with him if truth be told.  But the timing wasn't right.  We were in different places in life.  But it wasn't right and that's ok.  Now he is married and has a son.  I hope he is happy in life.

I get LOTS of advice on what to do to find a spouse.  Oh...you should go to singles activities.  Oh, you should go to parties.  Oh, you should go out of your comfort zone.  Oh..you should internet date.   My cousins friend's uncle's neighbor's sister met her husband on blah blah blah.com.  I've been set up on a few blind dates which have gone either really badly, or really great, only to never hear from the person again.

The truth is, I have tried internet dating.  Once.  It was horrible.  I will write about that one of these days.  It's a pretty funny story.

Anyway, I don't know why I'm not married.  Nor do I know why the earth spins on an axis.  Or why my left eye is a little more round than my right eye.  Maybe one day I will learn the answers to all these questions.  But I am happy.  I am single.  I am woman..hear me roar.   I'm ok with it.  Will you try to be ok with it too, please?

September 17, 2010

I'm still 17...right?

This weekend is a huge milestone....my 20 year high school reunion!  Crazy, right?  There's NO WAY I'm old enough for this. I still remember high school like it was yesterday.  

Now lest you think I'm actually taking part in this momentous occasion, let me set the record straight.  Nope. No way.  Not a chance.  Can I get an Amen?

First of all the tickets are $100 per person.  And why?  Because of the open bar of course.  I don't think this is very fair for all of us non-drinkers.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get my 100 bucks worth of Cranberry Juice with gingerale (and a little slice of lime thank you very much).  Add airfare to that and you're looking at a pretty penny for one night of uncomfortableness. (yes, I know that's not really a word).

Second of all, most of the people I went to high school with were pretty mean.  I had some really amazing friends, all of which have decided to skip the reunion as well, but as a general rule my graduating class was filled with a bunch of not very nice people.  Now I know what you're thinking.  It's been 20 years.  They've probably changed. I know I am not the same person that I was WAY back then.  But even if they have, we weren't friends then so the chances of us being friends now is not strong.  Or desired.

And lastly....I'm fat.  And have zits.  And no husband.  3 strikes and I'm out.

So instead I am going to lunch today with one of my college roommates that I haven't seen in 15 years. She found me on facebook!  I'm so excited to see her!  Now I am just trying to figure out how I can lose 30 lbs in the next 2.5 hours.  Maybe I shouldn't have had a donut for breakfast.  Ok. Fine. 2 donuts.  Geez...you guys are so judgy!!

September 15, 2010

Um...Essscuse me?

Apparently I am having an identity crisis.  The other day I received something in the mail addressed to Mr. Stacy Lxxxx.  It was a little odd, but I didn't think much about it since I have gotten those things before, and Stacy is a very common male name in the South.  When I was little I lived in Georgia and knew a few boys that spelled their name the same way as me.  I hated it.  I was always so jealous of the Staceys or even the Stacies.  And forget about finding a cool rainbow pencil or awesome key chain with my name spelled the right way.

Ooops...back to the subject matter at hand.  My male identity.

Today I signed on to Classmates.com and this ad was waiting for me:

Stacy, more than 6310 women near Salt Lake City want to meet a man like you.

Wait...what?  Are there REALLY 6310 SINGLE women in Salt Lake?  I mean seriously, with that kind of competition it's no wonder I can't even get a date.

I wonder where I could move to that there wouldn't be quite so many women wanting to meet a man like me?

September 9, 2010

Candy Corns....

While delicious, are not the best choice for breakfast.  I’ve eaten a zillion so far today and my brain is buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing!  My hands are shaking and my teeth feel like they have sweaters on them from all the sugar.

I curse Brach’s candy for only releasing these once a year!  Ok, not true.  They have them at Easter too.  But that was like 6 months ago and really that’s just too long for me to get my candy corn fix!

HELP!  I need an intervention!  Somebody call A&E!

September 8, 2010

Dear Blog,

It's me.  Stacy.  You know, your author?  I'm sorry I've neglected you.  You are like a bright shiny toy.  When you were all sparkly new and fresh out of the package I loved you and played with you constantly.  I took you for a spin a few times a week and thought of you every waking moment.

But then, as it often does, life got in the way.  Work got crazy, life became intense and I had a little breakdown.  Everything got pushed aside, including you.  When I wasn't working crazy hours I sat around on my couch and watched a lot of HGTV.  And played Bejeweled Blitz.  And worked in my backyard.  And perfected my chocolate chip cookies, much to my waist line's dismay.

But now things have slowed down at work.  The weather has cooled a bit.  I am feeling more like myself.  And I have decided to refocus my attentions on you, my little friend.  I will start thinking of some awesomely funny topics and get back to work!  Be patient with me...I'll be back soon!!!

Love,
Me

P.S. I will still be making chocolate chip cookies.  No need to change EVERYTHING!