Please check out my new home on the Web.
laxmom.net
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Check Me Out. . .
Check me out, I have moved. In case you did not see the last post please check out my new home of my new blog.
laxmom.net
laxmom.net
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Moving, Moving, Moving. . . .
My Blog is moving to a new location, please check me out at
http://laxmom.net
I decided to move my blog to a Word Press platform. Please check it out and leave a comment to let me know you found me.
There will be lots going on in these coming months: Lacrosse season is gearing up for both boys and the hubbs and I will be traveling to see Sprat play in Maine.
http://laxmom.net
I decided to move my blog to a Word Press platform. Please check it out and leave a comment to let me know you found me.
There will be lots going on in these coming months: Lacrosse season is gearing up for both boys and the hubbs and I will be traveling to see Sprat play in Maine.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
More Smoker Foods and a Hair Cut. . .
Maybe I should devote an entire blog to "the smoker?" We tried salmon on the smoker recently and the hubbs and I liked it, the kids not so much. I love salmon baked or broiled in the oven with lemon, butter, and dill. I could eat that all day long. There was something about the smoker salmon, it did not have the good lemon dill flavor that you get in the oven. Shhh, please do not tell my hubby I said that.
He did steak on the smoker the other day for Sprat as a last hurah! before going back to school. It was good and very juicy and tender. I am not a big steak eater either. He is going to fix a druken turkey this weekend. That is when you cook the turkey sitting on a can of beer. My sister makes an amazing smoked turkey on her smoker, I hope ours will be good.
Sprat is making his way back to school, he spent the night in Pennsylvania and he drove the rest of the way to Massachusetts the next day. He did run in to a little snow but thankfully no accumulation and roads were fine. It snowed a little this weekend in Massachusetts but, he was safe at the dorm by that time.
Big T went to the salon for a trim. I have been trying to get him to get his hair shaped up and he always fusses at me and thinks I am trying to drastically cut it. I am not trying to CUT his hair I just want it shaped up and for it to look nice. A few people that do not know my sweet Big T ask why I let him have his hair so long. I always respond with; he is a straight A student dual enrolled in college and high school and is playing varsity lacrosse. . . if he wants long hair that is his choice. This mama chooses her battles and his hair is not one of them. He enjoyed his visit to the salon, my hair dresser and dear friend washed his hair and trimmed it up and told him what product to use and how to take care of his hair. He also talked to her about donating his hair to Wigs 4 Kids, they talked about how long it would have to be to donate and they made a plan to cultivate his beautiful curls.
A few pictures to round out the post. . .
He did steak on the smoker the other day for Sprat as a last hurah! before going back to school. It was good and very juicy and tender. I am not a big steak eater either. He is going to fix a druken turkey this weekend. That is when you cook the turkey sitting on a can of beer. My sister makes an amazing smoked turkey on her smoker, I hope ours will be good.
Sprat is making his way back to school, he spent the night in Pennsylvania and he drove the rest of the way to Massachusetts the next day. He did run in to a little snow but thankfully no accumulation and roads were fine. It snowed a little this weekend in Massachusetts but, he was safe at the dorm by that time.
Big T went to the salon for a trim. I have been trying to get him to get his hair shaped up and he always fusses at me and thinks I am trying to drastically cut it. I am not trying to CUT his hair I just want it shaped up and for it to look nice. A few people that do not know my sweet Big T ask why I let him have his hair so long. I always respond with; he is a straight A student dual enrolled in college and high school and is playing varsity lacrosse. . . if he wants long hair that is his choice. This mama chooses her battles and his hair is not one of them. He enjoyed his visit to the salon, my hair dresser and dear friend washed his hair and trimmed it up and told him what product to use and how to take care of his hair. He also talked to her about donating his hair to Wigs 4 Kids, they talked about how long it would have to be to donate and they made a plan to cultivate his beautiful curls.
A few pictures to round out the post. . .
Before the fish hits the grill
Taking the fish off the grill, yummmm. . . .
The Before and a little shaggy
Don't you just love that sweet smile???
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Tidbits. . This, That, and the Other. . .
Some days. . . are just hard. . . Whether you just do not get enough sleep or you hit unbelievable traffic trying to get to work, or the pesky migraine that makes the most mundane task next to impossible. Yes, it was one of those days last night. I worked night shift last night and it was a busy night shift. When I woke up this afternoon Sprat was just coming in, he had been to work out at the gym and gone to get his hair cut. He looked so handsome, he came in the kitchen where I was trying to find caffeine for the migraine that followed me home from work, he said, "you up now?" I nodded groggily. He sat on the couch shopping for his text books for next semester. He is home for a few more days and then back to school. He has a busy semester, with lacrosse season and his classes he will be taking in his major and a new "girlfriend." See how I used quotes around the girlfriend, they just realized that they liked each other three days before leaving for Christmas break, she is now in England doing a week abroad for school. He is not calling her a girlfriend at this point or at least that is the story I am told.
Every now and then you see glimpses through your kids that you did a good job raising them. Remember I said every now and then sometimes it takes longer to see. I got to go to breakfast with Sprat the other day, that is kind of our thing. We go to breakfast and talk about whatever is going on with him. I found out the story behind the last girl that he was interested in, it turns out there was an old boyfriend that she had feelings for. When the old boyfriend finally gave her the brush off she came back to my sweet Sprat to say she could go out with him now. This was a proud mama moment, when the hussy came crawling back because the old boyfriend did not want her, my very sweet boy told her he was nobody's second choice. My heart was a little broken for him but at the same time I was so very proud that he stood up for his heart that he was confident enough in himself to tell her to keep walking. The new girl has been in a few of his classes this past semester so they have been hanging out as friends. I am a firm believer in being friends first and everything else will fall in to place, that is how the hubbs and I got together. We worked together and hung out as friends before we started dating.
Made our plans to go visit Sprat later in the Lax season, I am so excited to see him play in his first real college lacrosse game. He did not get a true season last year and in fact since his school closed last year they gave him his year of eligibility back so he could play in his year of his Masters if he wants to.
Every now and then you see glimpses through your kids that you did a good job raising them. Remember I said every now and then sometimes it takes longer to see. I got to go to breakfast with Sprat the other day, that is kind of our thing. We go to breakfast and talk about whatever is going on with him. I found out the story behind the last girl that he was interested in, it turns out there was an old boyfriend that she had feelings for. When the old boyfriend finally gave her the brush off she came back to my sweet Sprat to say she could go out with him now. This was a proud mama moment, when the hussy came crawling back because the old boyfriend did not want her, my very sweet boy told her he was nobody's second choice. My heart was a little broken for him but at the same time I was so very proud that he stood up for his heart that he was confident enough in himself to tell her to keep walking. The new girl has been in a few of his classes this past semester so they have been hanging out as friends. I am a firm believer in being friends first and everything else will fall in to place, that is how the hubbs and I got together. We worked together and hung out as friends before we started dating.
Made our plans to go visit Sprat later in the Lax season, I am so excited to see him play in his first real college lacrosse game. He did not get a true season last year and in fact since his school closed last year they gave him his year of eligibility back so he could play in his year of his Masters if he wants to.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Recipe Day. .. .
The smoked meatloaf was good, I do not think I seasoned it enough though, it was a little bland. Next time I will go a little heavier on the seasonings, I was afraid I would over season. The boys do not eat my meatloaf so more for the hubbs and I. We have a pork shoulder for the weekend, I will have to let you know how that one goes.
I took some mac and cheese to my sister's for Christmas, I tried a new recipe and when I went to buy my macaroni they did not have any left. There must have been an awful lot of mac and cheese around the tables for Christmas this year. I am curious to know how many of my readers served the old faithful carb delight this year? Along with my new recipe I used a different pasta with it. I used a small penne pasta, I though it was good, the hubbs complained because it was not the traditional elbows. I always can adapt and overcome when it comes to my recipes.
Adjusted Mac and Cheese:
1 box of pasta (elbows, mini penne, )
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1/3 cup flour
3 cups milk (suggest whole but I used 2%)
1 cup heavy cream
1 block shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 Parmesan cheese
smoked paprika
Boil your pasta one minute shy of being done, drain and drizzle with olive oil to coat and set aside, grease your baking dish and pre heat oven to 350, ( I never preheat) melt your butter in a deep sauce pan, whisk in your flour making a rue, it should be bubbly and golden, gradually add milk and cream whisking so as not to lump your flour mixture, continue whisking once all incorporated add your shredded cheese a little at a time and whisk till smooth. Save about 2 cups of cheese to top your dish. When your sauce is nice and thick stir in your pasta and coat.
Pour into your casserole dish and sprinkle bread crumbs and extra cheese this is where I added the Parmesan cheese, I did not do the bread crumbs for mine. I sprinkled some paprika over the top and baked 30 minutes.
This was really good.
Stay tuned the hubbs has a whole lot of smoking recipes to try and we will share our successes and failures. So far I give this one 2 thumbs up.
I took some mac and cheese to my sister's for Christmas, I tried a new recipe and when I went to buy my macaroni they did not have any left. There must have been an awful lot of mac and cheese around the tables for Christmas this year. I am curious to know how many of my readers served the old faithful carb delight this year? Along with my new recipe I used a different pasta with it. I used a small penne pasta, I though it was good, the hubbs complained because it was not the traditional elbows. I always can adapt and overcome when it comes to my recipes.
Adjusted Mac and Cheese:
1 box of pasta (elbows, mini penne, )
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1/3 cup flour
3 cups milk (suggest whole but I used 2%)
1 cup heavy cream
1 block shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 Parmesan cheese
smoked paprika
Boil your pasta one minute shy of being done, drain and drizzle with olive oil to coat and set aside, grease your baking dish and pre heat oven to 350, ( I never preheat) melt your butter in a deep sauce pan, whisk in your flour making a rue, it should be bubbly and golden, gradually add milk and cream whisking so as not to lump your flour mixture, continue whisking once all incorporated add your shredded cheese a little at a time and whisk till smooth. Save about 2 cups of cheese to top your dish. When your sauce is nice and thick stir in your pasta and coat.
Pour into your casserole dish and sprinkle bread crumbs and extra cheese this is where I added the Parmesan cheese, I did not do the bread crumbs for mine. I sprinkled some paprika over the top and baked 30 minutes.
This was really good.
Stay tuned the hubbs has a whole lot of smoking recipes to try and we will share our successes and failures. So far I give this one 2 thumbs up.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Cooking with the Man. .. . The Hubbs . . . .
The hubbs got a pellet grill for Christmas this year and he has driven me crazy about it. This was one of those gifts that he wanted and researched and picked out what he thought would be the very best one. He has done nothing but talk about it for two and half weeks prior to Christmas. I do not begrudge my sweet hubby something that he wants, he works very hard and we have the cash to buy it and he does do his research on the best brand, type and what company has the best deal. I am so thankful that the best deal on this grill was local, otherwise we would have been trecking all over to find one.
It was delivered on Friday and he did the initial burn and then on Saturday he smoked a ham. Neither of the boys like ham very much but they both raved over the one the hubbs smoked. I must say it was a pretty good ham. We went shopping today and I have fixed a meatloaf and it is currently resting with the smoker. I will share with ya later how it was. We also bought a pork butt to smoke this weekend. Hanging out with the family tonight, very low key New Years in our house. Spending some quality time with the boys.
This smoker grill thing is pretty high tech, you can sync it with your wifi and your phone and it will send alerts when your food has reached optimal temperature. I have to admit that is very cool.
Here are a few pictures of this very tech savy pellet grill and my boys.
It was delivered on Friday and he did the initial burn and then on Saturday he smoked a ham. Neither of the boys like ham very much but they both raved over the one the hubbs smoked. I must say it was a pretty good ham. We went shopping today and I have fixed a meatloaf and it is currently resting with the smoker. I will share with ya later how it was. We also bought a pork butt to smoke this weekend. Hanging out with the family tonight, very low key New Years in our house. Spending some quality time with the boys.
This smoker grill thing is pretty high tech, you can sync it with your wifi and your phone and it will send alerts when your food has reached optimal temperature. I have to admit that is very cool.
Here are a few pictures of this very tech savy pellet grill and my boys.
My Loves
The Hubbs new love
The meatloaf cooking
I will share later how the loaf was. I have had smoked meatloaf before at one of our local BBQ restaurants and it was really good. I hope mine will be good too.
Stay tuned as we prepare for 2020: Sprat will have his first official college lacrosse season, Big T will start his junior year lacrosse season, and I might get to go to Maine and see Sprat play.
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