A to Z CHALLENGE – Q

quaint, quaint·er, quaint·est

an odd word that covers so many bases!

1. having an old-fashioned attractiveness or charm; oddly picturesque: a quaint old house.

2. strange, peculiar, or unusual in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way: a quaint sense of humor.

3. skillfully or cleverly made.

4. Obsolete . wise; skilled.

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.