Please Vote for Me!

well actually my recipe
that is....very Yummy!

A Lemon Sonata Dessert!


Voting polls are now open from today until the end of the month!


Thanks again for all your support!

Goodbye days 6&7 Hell week! Good morning to week 2

Yikes! I can't believe I made it through the day 6 let alone 7!
Had to go back to the DRs office on Saturday morning to follow up from Thursday!
Got up when my husband was listening to the news (6am) about a gas truck that tipped over on hwy 128 early in the morning. So up coffee shower, get the kids up lets go!! Told them they could eat a cereal bar in the car and go back to sleep if they wanted too but we needed to leave asap!
They were surprising well behaved on the way up in the car, went by the accident the hwy southbound (heading home) was closed for several miles! about a good 30 minute stretch as I could tell. Which pretty much looked like all day to me!! Plenty of trucks digging up the road, the side, dirt, trees etc. Flat beds taking away fried cars!! Literly TOTALLY FRIED NOTHING BUT THE BOTTOM FRAME TOTALLY TORCHED LEFT!! It was a site. All I could think of if how I was going to get home, another ways I could take would take me a long outta the way routes but at least 2 hours out of the way!! Lucky me!!
Get to the DRs, the kids were great! The DR kinda said your screwed you can go this way or that way but either way your screwed!! Thanks!! ALT: we could stay their at his office for the day! NOT!!

All this just to read a stupid TB test which was negative but they didn't' believe me and my DR was on call and would meet me at the office on Saturday!! not to mention he wants to repeat it in case it's a false reading? Are they for real?!!! I lived up that way most of my life and can't seem to find a DR around where I live to be my PCP!! So I have to drive 1 1/2 hours to them for the most ridiculous things sometimes that are so unnecessary! I think they just like to see me...
The cape to me is like rural America!
I barely made it back to get my daughter to cousins birthday party, a little late, almost 2pm so thought I'd take my son out for some fun to an arcade which he's addicted to video games at 6 I think!! He turned me down to that miniature golf, bowling.. He wanted to go to Blockbuster picked out a game to play at home and a couple movies for his sister... How sweet! He really wanted that game! A Spongebob game that he thinks is funny!
Back to get my daughter first... We got there in time for cake & presents.. the kids played in the pool and bouncy thing.. My son pouted out front because he picked the wrong game it was for an Xbox and we have PS. Would even come out to the backyard! Finally they hung up a pinata thing !!! Ohhh a weapon, even though it was a bunch of little girls I asked my son if he wanted to hit it!! He couldn't run out back fast enough!!after all the party kids left my cousins and I decided to BBQ it was getting late and we were hungry! My son wanted to go in the big pool not the little pool! I wont let my kids in without an adult because they don't know how to swim. It's one of those bigger type ones with the deck built around it, stairs inside the shallow end, volley ball near deep end...
Called my husband to bring some food and bathing suit over...
about 7 or so we cooked ate cleaned up! We all had leftover fireworks so went to the pond at the end of the road to finished lighting them off and get rid of the evidence!! (illegal in this state)
needless to say with all these people and a bunch of smokers between neighbors, friends and family showing up and 1/2 of them smoke! It was a extreme tough day (day 6)
yesterday day 7 not so bad, I tried to sleep late which is hard for me, but so exhausted I did rest and watch movies. My DH exchanged the game for my son so he played and daddy and our little girl hung outside swimming the pool and lots of yard work! Pheww! I don't need to do it today! YIPPIE!!
Day 8 Errands & LOts of laundry! mostly towels!! ope this week will get a little easier!

I've been playing around with different teas and made some really good blends everyone seems to enjoy! Been making them hot but pouring over pitcher of ice with a little splendor the perfect ice tea!

here's the link


and a $5 gift certificate for those who would like to try themselves! Enjoy! just enter your email in the space
and the gift certificate will be emailed right to your inbox with code to use right away or save for another day

Mail Deliveries!

First up
this AWESOME tea Kettle from Adagio
with my own personal Signature Blend that I personally created! It's surprising very good too!
It's very smooth soothing comforting and enjoyable while I sit relax watch TV knit or at my desk..... You can order yourself a can for $10 direct link also on my side bar as well as help yourself to a $5 Gift Certificate too!

the post is a bit pricey but well worth it!

some may not realize that you don't' always want to make teas with boiling water, temperature actually really does play a role in a great tasting cup of tea

My favorite feature on this is this neat dial green for green, white & light oolong teas and the brown for black herbal and darker oolongs....
Since I've really seriously noticed a difference in my tea! I HIGHLY recommend this kettle!

also look the pretty label on the tin with the tea name & my name! I also uploaded the photo
it's a nice blend (shh can't tell you my secret percentages....LOL) but I will tell you it's the perfect blend of a black (cream tea), chamomile and peppermint (and not over powering)
As soon as I created this there were 2 orders...As some of you know this is just one avenue of earning points , also your own orders, referrals and gift certificate redemptions.. It's like getting back 10% of your own personal orders too.....You can trade in the points for teas or anything else they sell...I've been ordering from them for about 6-7 years now and is one of my favorite tea companies......right up there to #1


I also received my new scale this week.. I needed a new one. my other one is mainly for my soap making measurements but doesn't go to these smaller amounts like this one.
It's a My Weigh Palmscale 6.0the appropriate amount for a cup of tea is 2.5g of course each variety of tea doesn't all weigh the same as a teaspoon. Some volumes are much larger than others depending on the eight of the leaves/herbs......Also this is approx. the weight on a tea bag. Example: his is mine tea from above
Here's the tea brewed after 4-5 minutes, yes this is also one of there teaware cups


their a current promotion for spending over $50 besides free shipping they connected with another great tea company called Zarafina
so with the order from Adagio they are offering FREE just pay them Shipping $5.95) through the link provided from Adagio at checkout (it is optional) a $40 value

They arrived separately in this reusable or storage tin. Packed very very well

Very cool saucer savings on the circle where the cup sits each piece is signed and numbered.
even included lids. I'm looking forward to trying them....

These really are so much prettier in person

I also use alot of my teas for cooking replace water or liquids with stronger brewed tea for marinades and give lots of flavor to other food.... I have another blog where I've posted some of them.. I've also won a couple times with my recipes though Adagio on the Tea Chef site.
Also they have a forum (teachat) similar to knitty......(where I'm also 'Soapy')

Hope to see some of you over there

Monkey Pound Cake

Voting polls are open today & tomorrow until midnight... I hope you enjoy it's really very good!
I made some for a function last week and everyone really enjoyed it! It went so fast , never had a chance of a photo op... sorry

Monkey Pound Cake

A rich & smooth sweet tasty treat that goes great with tea time! (or anytime)

Prep Time: approx. 60-90+ minutes
Serving Size: 8-12

Ingredients
1 yellow cake box mix
4 large eggs
1 cup strong Golden Monkey tea
1/3 cup oil
1 package dry vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup creamy frosting of your choice vanilla or
other flavoring

Directions
Preheat oven 350F. Grease & flour 10' bundt or tube pan
Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, tea & oil in large bowl.
Meat for 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool in pan for approx.20- 30 minutes
Invert onto serving plate. Cool completely

For Glaze
heat frosting in small saucepan over med/low heat, stirring constantly, until thin. Do not overheat.
Drizzle over cake

Enjoy!

Spicy Cranberry Nut Bread

Remember the nuts are optional on this...

Please stop over here and vote for me this month when you have a minute!

Boat, Icky Dough N Cookies!!

We were going to my cousins to help frame and shrink wrap the boat yesterday and I was baking a huge batch of Nestles chocolate chip cookies to take with us...Had to run to the store in the morning quickly and picked up a small box of baking soda.

Now who doesn't eat batter when making cookies?

I had cookies in the oven and eating batter while they were baking the kids were so good waiting patiently for those nice warm gooey cookies to be done.

So I thought the batter tasted a little funny, then had some more thinking well I did brush my teeth, so eat some more.....Then it still tasted funny to me!!! ewwww! Now I'm feeling a it ill. hmmm ok I'll rinse my mouth and try some more... ewwwww! Ick! No nothing is wrong, I can't small very well since it's only been a couple months of so since the sinus surgery...eww What is it!! Immediately check all my ingredients for expiration dates, you know eggs, vanilla, flour sugar everything.. Last but not least I find the small box of baking soda thinking no way just bought!
Well guess what??? Look!!!

Not it's not expired but it's same color box and it's Cat Litter Deodorizer with baking soda & fragrance... Checked the box what in the world in is this crap???!! No listed ingredients anywhere on the package at all!! I do know from soap making & science education that the baking soda should be listed as sodium bicardonate
Gezz they do have an '800' number listed.. call it to see what the ingredients are.. Well not open only during business hours during the week but in case of immediate medical information is needed call this '888' number.. Ok call that number I know from fragrance as essential oil not fragrance can be safe but some are certainly not. I didn't panic though I knew I'd just feel ill and it's go away eventually not harmful but more curious as to what is in this stuff!!... Someone did answer and they have no clue as to whats in it because it's not listed on the package!
They are contracted to answer calls for several companies not just Arm & Hammer and don't no whats in the products... Thats no to comforting to know....

Needless to say It was quite disappointing, tossed remaining batter & cooked cookies in the trash. Explained to the kids what happened and my DS was more concerned about me then the cookies, how sweet, I reassured him I'd be just fine not to worry and lets continue on with our day... Appartently I was told the house smelled good!! HA!HA!!

Some good news I didn't let the kids eat the cookies or any batter!!! So I saved them from being ill!

Off to the boat we go..
They couldn't believe it was me who did something like this.. SO not in my character at all!! So all day everyone checked their food to make sure I didn't try to poison anyway, then the guys insisted on take out for dinner.. heehee hee

Worked out perfectly no cooking all day...DH thinks something is wrong with me. Well yeah!! I'm not getting enough oxygen to my brain everyday, so forgive me! (recently I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and am waiting for machines to arrive shortly)As soon as I did eat I felt even more ill some headache other then that I'll be fine...It's this odd taste that has been lingering on persistently thats annoying!


Now the boat is all framed & wrapped, you just know

the snow and cold weather isn't to far away..

A Taste for Fall?

DH played a golf tournament yesterday and won some of the raffles. Besides 2 gift certificate to restaurants, one for a local family owned steak/pasta house and the other a nicer fancy Greek restaurant about 1/2 hour away or so.
Then he brought these home too, for me of course....LOL
Great taste for fall aren't they....heehee

Blogstalking Dinner

Our knitty blogstalking is Whats for dinner at your house?

first we have boneless skinless chicken breasts soaking in milk

mixed up some italian breadcrumbs with instant potatoes, parsley, garlic, onion, basil salt & pepper and other herbs

dip in the dry mixture

fry them up

then bake them with some grated cheeses


glazed baby carrots are steaming

sour cream & chive egg noodles


along with some chadenay



I should've posted this last week of my Color Blox Soxs from the SixSoxKAL
I used 4 different yarns, a couple diferent shades of brown sheeps wildfoote greys and a couple STR colorways for the heels toes & cuffs. Great use of leftovers

My pattern is being featured for August & September of my 'SSS' Snake Skin Socks
here's s close up there been so many making them and posting such fun progress photos in all different types of yarns. Come on over and play

Interesting Tea Findings Fun & Interesting Contest

I've been reading this book my Sp7 sent me 'The Way of Tea' written by Master Lam has Traditional Medicine and was trained by masters in China, Hong Kong & Taiwan.
I've read about some interesting things I thoguht I'd share a few with you all

The Teas

For Slimming: Oolong tea

For High Blood Pressure: Banana tea & Lotus nut tea

For Redusing Internal heat: Yellow Chrysanthemum tea

Tonic Teas: Peanut and Ginger tea, Lychee and Plum tea, Dragon Eye tea, Dry-fried rice tea, Eight Treasure tea

To Streanghthen the Immune System: Shrimp tea

To Restore the Blood: Chinese red date tea

To Replenish Blood Chi: Sesame and mushroom tea

For the Common Cold: Ginger and spring onion tea

For Colds with a Slight Feverish Headache: Sweet Ginger Tea

For Coughs: White Radish tea

For Itchy, Tickly Throat but No Cough: Licorice tea

For Dry Sore Throat: Honey and lemon tea

For Throat Infections or Sore Gums: Sweet tea

For Flu: Lei Ch'a

Summer Teas: Hot chrysanthemum tea, Chilled chrysanthemum tea, tomato tea

For Diarrhea or loose bowels: Mung bean tea

For Bowel pain: Rice Vinegar tea

I will type up some recipes with info each day and post them here Come back to view, try them and/or share your experiences

To make it a little fun & interesting
At the end there maybe a little surprise gift for someone who tries and shares each one with us. Please comment with each one separatly Thank you. If more then one accomplishes this then will put names in a bowl and pick one...Theres a free gift certificate link on my side bar for Adagio Tea in the amount of $5 for anyone who needs or wants one feel free to purchase some teas not all are available through them. You do NOT have to participate to request a gift certificate. Will try to pout a link or so with recipes otherwise for your references.

My Birthday Cup Cakes.........NOT! Or is it!?

Ok well not exactly birthday cake cups but definatley cupcakes.......lol My little cupcakes aren't they adorable?? My son really wants this pink one but little does he know I'm making him a chocolate & blue cup cake hat for himself.. He can be such the little girl sometimes I swear....


I'm going to make a half dozen or so for little gifts for the kids in the family, cousins, etc. Of course I may add some jimmies with white or colored yarn peices for the little ones and beads for the older kids......Who doesn't like al ittle cup ckae, even DH had to admit they were cute... There's some free paterns for hats on  Chole Con Yarne's blog... There all so cute but these had to be the cutest and most unique and how the kids hate to wear hats in the winter I thought they'd be perrrrrrfect!! Super quick to knit up in an evening too. I just used some left over junk and wiped one up to try and they really do fit a variety of heads but the others I'm going to make about 1/2-1 inch longer on the ribbing because the girls with hair it gets a bit slippery.

One hat I'm going to alter the pattern a tiny bit and make it to match my cousins strawberry shortcake theme of everything she owns.....but do the entire thing in red/pink color then on the top decreases use green and the pom pom green or brown for the stem and black specks .. Hopeully it will work...  Does anyone have some extra time I can borrow to do all these??!!  lol pretty please... really need more time

Local Blogger Party Dessert! w/Recipe

Ok so it's not my chocolate truffle, I'm sorry I really had an extremely busy 3 weeks with parties, my husbands surprise party, cooking, cleaning, knitting, shopping, kids, school meetings, appointments, loads fo yard work, again and again! The green film and caterpillers, inch worms and there doodoo is so gross, not to mention all those icky gypsy moths that came from the lab in Boston and making it's way down the south shore has gotten worse then ever!!!!

Anyway in-between it all I just finished tomorrow dessert for Maggie's! I will be a bit late have to go north west for a bit., I will be heading up there eariler for the graduation party so I can make it back to pick up our YUMMY dessert. It's in my truffle bowl!!  ;o)) Do I get points for that one???!!!  heeheeehee Does it look good??

heres the recipe for those who'd like it or can't be with

mix 1 contianer of cool-whip with a package of your favorite Jello

add 1 can of mandarin oranges a can of crushed pineapple and 1 package of colored mini marshmellows blend well place in refreigerator to set

Enjoy!!