Cul-De-Dac Cleanout

Driving the tractor has got to be on Bruce's top 10 list of things that make him happy. He was out bright and early on Monday morning, cleaning up the cul-de-sac after Sunday's storm.

There's a system to this job. First, the driveway is cleared, then the everyone's mailbox is dug out so the mailman doesn't have to get out of his truck, then the extra snow in the road gets piled at the end of the road. It's a very good thing that there's not a house at the end of the cul-de-sac! My kids used to play on those big piles of snow, and now the neighbor kids climb and sled there.

 In Gus' opinion, that tractor is just too loud!

I'm Needing That Lighthouse Now.

Ugg, the weather! We've been suffering here, folks.

First we had 2 1/2 feet of snow.

Then two weeks of below 20 degree temperatures.

Then the freezing ice storm that has only happened 10 times in the last 70 years.

Now we're socked in with thick fog.  Looking out my front door right now I see this:

I know it's winter. I know it won't last forever. But I could sure use a break!

Curried Lemon Chicken Strips

As I may have mentioned before, Peter came home from his mission with a penchant for curry-spiced food. Since then, I've been taking baby steps in the curry direction since Indian food is intimidating to make! This recipe was perfect for my next curry adventure. These chicken strips are baked, (healthy!!), then drizzled with a lemon curry sauce. Give these a try- they are exotic enough to be different, but not too "out there".

(Unfortunately, not my photo.)

Lemon Chicken Strips

1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs 1/2 cup sugar, or to taste 1/2 cup lemon juice 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). 2. In a bowl, stir together paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle seasoning over chicken pieces. Dip pieces in egg, then dredge in bread crumbs. Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer in an aluminum foil-lined 15x10-inch jelly roll pan. 3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, turning once. 4. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together sugar, lemon juice, and curry powder, stirring until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. 5. Drizzle lemon sauce over chicken, return to oven, and bake 5 minutes more.

See, I Really Was There!

One last post about our trip to San Diego- mostly to prove that I was actually there, since I'm usually the picture taker. We went took a tour around the bay in mini speedboats and I didn't dare take my camera but Bruce took pictures with his iPhone.

See, this proves that I was really there!

Mini speedboats are a blast, and they let you go right up to the old sailing ships, the Midway, the pillions of the bridge over to Coronado Island and the stinky sea lions that live over on the chum barges.

Bruce made me drive since he'd done this tour before and I like to think that I was pretty brave- doing S-curves over the wake of our fearless tour guide's boat and making a tight 360. We were lucky that it was a a calm day, so it was more like boating on a lake than the ocean. There were military helicopters flying low and I had to wave at all of them!

Fun, fun, fun! I want to do this again! But only on a sunny day. When it's warm. And there are no waves.

Sunday Saying

Out, Out Darn Spot!

I'm giving you a link today- one that I used to clean some spots on my carpet. Not my new carpet, thank goodness. No, my older area rug off my kitchen that gets a lot of abuse. (Some of my children sneak over there to eat their chicken nuggets covered with Ranch dressing. ) This really worked!

Here's the link: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2011/12/homemade-carpet-stain-removerno.html