A to Z CHALLENGE – N

  • Natural – how I like my make-up.
  • Neat – an unavoidable Virgo quality, or maybe it’s genetic 🙂
  • Necessary & Needed – my 2 new always asked questions as I pare down our home and lifestyle.
  • Neighborly & Nice – 2 qualities that I try to live by.
  • Nimble – more and more each day!
  • Nourishing- how I cook.
  • Nurturing – my ultimate goal.

A to Z CHALLENGE – M


M is for:

  • Magical – aka memories – I try to only keep the happy memories that make for a magical time.
  • Magnanimous – I try to put others first and always be giving.
  • Magnificent – Hubby says I am 🙂
  • Managerial – my Virgo qualities shine through!
  • Malleable – always adaptable!
  • Mannerly – Emily Post would be jealous.
  • Maternal – YEP!
  • Matter-of-fact – ALWAYS!
  • Meaningful – I try to find significant meaning in absolutely everything I think, do and say.
  • Meditative – at all the important times.
  • Mellow – when necessary. 
  • Miraculous – LOVE being alive.
  • Mischievous – at all the right times.
  • Modern – most of the time, but love a little old fashioned in cooking and family.
  • Modest – most of the time.
  • Moral – always!
  • Motivated, Motivating – part of being an optimist!
  • Multidimensional  & Multi-disciplined & Multifaceted – all part of what makes me a WOMAN.

Chicken Pasta Soup

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  • Cooking spray 
  • 2 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces 
  • 1 (8-ounce) container refrigerated prechopped celery, onion, and bell pepper mix 
  • 1 cup matchstick-cut carrots 
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 7 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 
  • 1 cup uncooked whole wheat rotini (corkscrew pasta)
Preparation
  1. 1. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken and next 3 ingredients; cook 6 minutes or until chicken begins to brown and vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Add broth; bring to a boil. Add pasta, reduce heat to medium, and cook 8 minutes or until pasta is done.

Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast, Oxmoor House 2009

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Happy Eating…

A to Z CHALLENGE – L


L is for:

  • Ladylike – which I try to be, but now and then the inner tomboy sneaks out.
  • Laid-back – which I try to be, but now and then the inner anal Virgo sneaks out.
  • Law-abiding – which I try to be, but now and then the inner outlaw sneaks out – HA HA.
  • Lavish – which I never am, but now and then the inner princess sneaks out.
  • Lenient – almost too often.
  • Levelheaded – once again almost too often – I need to find my inner daredevil.
  • Light-hearted – ALWAYS!
  • Likable – which I try to be!
  • Limber – better and better each day.
  • Lionhearted – almost always!
  • Lively – more and more as I get my energy back.
  • Lovable – try to be :).
  • Loving – ALWAYS!
  • Lucid – LOL most of the time.
  • Lucky – to be alive and I thank God every day!

PICKLED EGGS

 I used to make these for our VFW and they were a favorite!

PICKLED EGGS
1 dozen JUMBO eggs
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 onion, sliced into thin rings
1 whole dried chile pepper

  • Hard boil the eggs.
  • Drain and fill with cold water. Allow eggs to sit in cold water for 20 minutes.
  • Peel the eggs and place in a glass jar, alternating with the onion rings. Add the red pepper.
  • In a medium saucepan combine the vinegar, water, sugar, salt and cloves. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes.
  • Pour the hot vinegar solution over the eggs. Cover tightly and let stand in refrigerator for several days before serving.

A to Z CHALLENGE – I

I is for Idealistic, Illuminating, Illustrious, Imaginative, Immaculate, Immune, Impartial, Impeccable, Impish, Improvisational, Incisive, Incredible, Independent, Indestructible, Indispensable, Individualistic, Indomitable, Industrious, Influential, Informative,Ingenious, Innocent, Innovative, Inquisitive, Insightful, Inspiring,  Instinctive, Instructive, Instrumental, Integrated, Intellectual, Intelligent, Intense, Intent, Interactive, Interesting, Inventive, Invincible, Irreplaceable, Irrepressible,  Irresistible – ALL THINGS I STRIVE TO BE.

A to Z CHALLENGE – G

G IS FOR GOODNESS
GOODNESS is a moral excellence, virtue, kindness, generosity,  the best part of anything, essence, strength – bottom line, something we all need to be and have in our life.