Saturday, October 29, 2011

Snack Cabinet

The kids are in charge of the snack cabinet in our house, that means keeping it neat & organized, where as I keep it stocked.  From time to time they need reminding that it is a disaster and if they want me to buy stuff I need to know what we are low on.  This morning they cleaned it out and while they were doing so I snapped this picture.

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011 is upon us, the kids have a handful of events/parties to attend, which is a good thing since we really get our money out of costumes.  This is what they are dressed as this year.

A Witch & A Ninja


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Scary Movies

I don't like scary movies, plain and simple.  I don't feel the need to be startled by things jumping out, or wathcing blood, guts and gore.  If I want to watch a movie it's because I want to be entertained, and this genre just doesn't do it for me.  Not that I haven't seen my share of movies, I've watched all the Friday the 13th, Halloween, slasher movies.  Those were big when I was growing up and as a teenager that's what you watch even if you don't particularly enjoy it.  You won't catch me watching recent ones, no Saw, Hostel, The Faculty or whatever else is out there now.  It's not entertaining to me it's torture.  That said in honor of Halloween there are a few out there that have either scared the absolutely crap out of me to the point they have left a mark or for some bizarre reason I actually enjoy.

5. 

A Nightmare on Elm Street.  Came out in 1984, obviously I didn't see it in the movies I was only 12, but I saw it a few years later on cable, back in the day when we had Preview (not even HBO out in West Methuen).  This movie left it's mark on me.  I didn't sleep well for a few nights and every now and then it would creep back into my brain.  I mean come one, who wasn't freaked out by Freddy.

4.


Aliens.  Another great movie from the 80's, 1986 to be exact.  Another cable seen movie.  I can remember watching this at about 10 at night in the small den off the kitchen.  I was all alone in the house, my parents had gone up north.  Bad idea.  I was totally freaked out.  Now looking back I will watch this for entertainment, I mean come on Sigourney Weaver totally kicks ass in this movie. 

3.


I am Legend.  This is the latest movie to scare the crap out of me.  Why?  Because to me this could be a reality.  Maybe not the darkseeking man eating hybrid people, but the man made disease that wipes 99% of the population out.  Think about it. 


The Exorsist.  I've seen this movie once.  That was enough and I have absolutely no desire to ever watch it again.  Just the thought gives me shivers.

1.


Jaws.  I watched this, through hazy lines and interference at my aunt JoAnne's house when I was about 7.  I didn't swim in my pool that summer (never mind the ocean), convinced the shadows from the maple trees were a rogue shark behind me.   Now I have probably seen this movie 200 times since then.  I love it, I can recite it, because of it I learned to scuba dive.  I watch shark week fanaticly every year.  To me it is by far one of the best movies ever made, but that music still creeps me out.   

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Allen's Birthday!

Great night out Mi Mexico Lindo for Allen's 40th Birthday Bash!  Here are some pics of the evening.

 Dad & Lyn
 Darren & Michelle
 Michelle & Rachel
 Michelle & Allen
Ron & Patty

 Don, Darren & Pam
 Randy & Kristine
 The 4 of us!
 Renee
Dad & Lyn  Rachel took the majority of the pictures this evening, which is why they are from a low perspective.  I think she did a fantastic job!

Bob & Gail

More football pics

Another great morning of flag football.  RB Becotte took off down the field for about a 50 yard TD run!  Played his little butt off and at the end of the game announced he wasn't feeling that well and is now curled up on the couch in footy pj's. 




 This is how Ms. B gets through each Sunday morning, playing her DS and listening to her ipod.
And this is how Mom & Dad get through Sunday mornings!  Playoffs next weekend and then a few weeks off until YBL starts, but that's on Saturday mornings.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Flag Football Pictures

I'm sure most of you know Alex is playing flag football this year.  And he loves it.  And he's really good at it.  The fact that he's an absolute speed demon helps, and believe it or not that he's small.  The other kids can't get him since he's so much lower to the ground than them.  Allen's coaching yet again, I know you are all shocked.  He actually went into this season saying no I'm just going to sit on the sidelines, and on the first day left with a team. 

These pictures may seem random, they didn't want to download so I am getting them directly from the disc, which makes it tough to tell which is which.  Here he is waiting for his assignment from coach Dave.










he made another great play this week, and played some fantastic defense.  They are playing on the turf field at Merrimack College which is fantastic. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Picture

I was going through some old YMCA files today and I found this picture.  Not sure if I ever posted it before but it made me smile.   Thought I'd share.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings

Made this tonight for dinner (yes I know it's only 5 pm and I'm already blogging about it-we ate like old people today).  This was very good, I would make some alterations next time which I will write in a bit.

Ingredients

4 boneless chicken breasts
2 T butter
2 cans cream of chicken soup
water
1 onion finely diced
1 can corn
2 packs biscuit dough torn into pieces
herbs & spices of your liking (I used poultry seasoning, thyme & parsley)

place chicken, butter, soup, corn & onion in crock pot, and fill with water to cover.  I used 2 cans of water.  Cook on low 8 hours.  Put biscuit pieces over the top and cook for another 30 minutes.

This was very good but I couldn't get past the slimyness of the dumplings.  I think next time I will just make bisucits and ladle the chicken & gravy over the top.  Botht he kids really liked the chicken this way.  Alex even asked if there were leftovers could he have it for lunch tomorrow.  That my friends is a success.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Frito Pie

I've been checking out Frito pie recipes for about a year.  For some reason they've peaked my interest but I never made it, then this week one of my favorite blogs had it as a feature, then I read Cooking Light and a version was in there, then it showed up on another blog.  This was a sure sign I needed to make it.

Ingredients:

1 lb. group beef
1 cup chopped onion
6 garlic cloves minced
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t ground red pepper
1/8 t salt
1 T tomato paste
1 cup FF low sodium Beef broth
1/2 cup water
1 can diced tomatoes w green chiles undrained
Fritos
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream
green onion

So cook the ground beef, drain and then use same pan to saute onions.  Add in garlic cook about 1 minute then add beef back in.  Add in cumin, pepper & salt.  Stir in tomato paste cook 1 minute, stir occasionally.  Add broth, water & tomatoes, bring to boil then reduce heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes or until slightly thick.  Serve over Fritos with other items as toppers.

This is the Cooking Light version, obviously the others are probably better tasting but also loaded with fat and calories.  Overall it was good, not anything I would rush to make again but once in a while it's an easy weeknight meal.  It couldn't have been that bad there were no leftovers.

Weekly Menu

So we are trying our best to avoid take out or eating out in general, and overall we did a good job last week.  We did grab a quick lunch when we were out and about yesterday but it was inexpensive.  So here's to another successful week.

Sunday-Frito Pie (new recipe)
Monday-Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings (new recipe)
Tuesday-Ham & Scalloped Potato casserole
Wednesday-Thai Coconut Chicken
Thursday-Work for Me, & Hot Dogs & Mac & Cheese for Allen & the kiddos
Friday-Slow Cooker Salsa & Chicken

We have seen a trend in me getting home later and later so Allen has been making the majority of weeknight meals.  I'm throwing in 2 crock pot meals to make it a bit easier, plus 2 new recipes that I will recap later.