Too Good NOT to share!

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that Congress members could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States".

Each person contact a minimum of twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise. Then in three days, all people in The United States of America will have the Message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.

Green Tip of the Week

Tips for Greener Travel

Reducing your speed to 55 mph from 70 mph could increase your fuel efficiency by 23 percent.

I've been Featured

Our Child

Each little child God sends our way
Is like a piece of soft, new clay;
'Tis ours to mold and shape and trim;
To make it pleasing unto Him.

Each little thing we do or say
Makes an impression, day by day,
On every growing mind and heart,
Forming a pattern from the start.

Oh! What a solemn trust is ours,
How we must guard these precious hours!
Too soon this clay will be a stone
Our chance is gone... our child is grown!

If we but take the time to pray,
And seek God's guidance every day.
He'll give us strength and wisdom, too,
To help out child grow strong and true.

- Dorothy V. Garka

I thought this was worth sharing. Hope it touched you as it did me. Oh how she's grown! This picture taken when she was not yet 3!

Scrumptious Saturday, on Friday

Citrus Mahi Mahi Meal

This first one is one of our favorites. Citrus Mahi Mahi, served on a bed of Jasmine Rice with Steamed Broccoli and Strawberry Salad.

The Fish:
Mahi Mahi Fillets (or Halibut Steaks, about 1" thick if you use the Halibut)
1/4 cup butter or margarine (really folks, butter DOES taste better)
3 Tbsp. Chopped Onion (I prefer green onion, it adds a color dimension)
2 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Parsley
6 oz. Frozen O.J. thawed (it comes in 8 oz. cans - just be sure its concentrated)
1 Lemon Sliced (for garnish)
2 pinches sea salt for seasoning
pepper to taste


Saute onion in butter until tender, stir in the o.j. and some of the salt and cook until heated through, then add the parsley (be careful not to heat the mixture to boil as it can scorch). Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, drizzle with the O.J. mixture. Broil for approximately 5 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. You can also cook this on the grill if the fish still has skin on it and when removing from the grill be sure to separate the fish from the skin (and don't forget to clean it off the grill when it cools).

Jasmine Rice:

Follow package directions, but here's the trick an old friend from Baton Rouge LA taught me. When you cook your rice, boil it for 5 minutes on high and then wrap a towel around the lid of the pot as pictured here (be sure to keep it out of the flame or off the burner, please no fires) and turn the temp on low for 15 minutes stirring maybe once or twice to keep it from sticking. This will give you a good sticky rice instead of fluffy (which is what I prefer, sticky rice).

Steamed Broccoli:
Well this is pretty simple. For those who might not have steamed their vegetables this is an excellent way to keep the most of the nutrients in the vegetable AND since its not mushy like boiling it the kids seem to like it a little better. Use fresh broccoli for best results, cut the stalk off as close to the "flower" as possible. Get a large pot and put only an inch or two of water in the bottom and put the vegetable (in this case broccoli) in a steamer basket (if you don't have a steamer basket they're pretty cheap and available at most grocery stores, invest in one). Put a lid on it and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, sprinkle a pinch or two of sea salt on the vegetables, put the lid back on and steam for about 5 minutes or until the color of the vegetable is as bright as you've ever seen it. Its done then!


The Salad:
I used the freshest ingredients in season locally at my Farmer's Market.
I was able to get:


Red Romain Lettuce, Fresh picked Strawberries (don't these look good?), Green Onions (same as used in Citrus Sauce), Mushrooms (the farm is in the next county so I'm pretty sure the grocery has the fresh ones), Almond Slivers (store bought, I didn't roast and slice my almonds), Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing added a nice touch of flavor.

This is one of those that you can really add what ever you want to it - I really like Strawberries in the spring time when the Tomatoes are not yet ripe locally. The local produce has much better flavor than anything shipped in and I always recommend it for supporting your local growers is another way of being GREEN too (but that info will be in a different Super Hero weekly Green update).


Presentation is everything, well it has to taste good too...



Bon Appetite!

We had vanilla yogurt with some of the sliced strawberries for desert.
This is an older post that I thought I'd bring back (slightly edited) for those who might have missed it a few years back. Its really easy and great and might make a nice Valentine's dinner for your special someone.

Monogramming

Maddie & ME, Children's Handcrafted Couture now offers monogramming and embroidery in house. Simply choose the item you want (dress, nightgown, apron, boo boo bag, etc) and choose one of the monogram listings and tell me the name to be monogrammed in the notes. Its that simple and makes a perfectly gift that is ready to give.

Back on the Horse!

I've been offline, off blogging, off etsy and off in LaLa Land for long enough.
I am going to get back on that horse! So to start, here's my new and MUCH smaller (and still a work in progress) workroom. I am proud that I hung all shelves by my self and they're level!