Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

This week's recipe is a new one I just recently tried. I had bought some country style ribs a few weeks ago and had been looking for a good recipe to try them with. I found one for oven ribs that had excellent reviews. It was a very good recipe, but next time around I will try to kick up the flavor in the rub. I also will not be a doofus now that I know that the broiler is in the bottom of a gas range. Ahhh.

Oven Barbecue Ribs

4 lbs pork ribs

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1 tsp hickory smoke salt

1 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp garlic powder

2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Mix together sugar and spices to make rub. Completely cover ribs in rub mixture.

3. Layer two pieces of foil on a baking sheet, and arrange ribs on foil.

4. Cover ribs with an additional two layers of foil, then roll and crimp foil around ribs sealing completely.

5. Bake for approximately two hours, or until meat is starting to shrink away from the bone.

6. Remove from oven and heat broiler.

7. Brush barbeque sauce over ribs and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until sauce is bubbly.

8. Turn ribs over, brush with sauce and return to broiler for 1-2 minutes.

Enjoy!

Musical Monday

This week's song is Good Life by One Republic.

This MixPod thing is getting kind of aggravating. They just don't have the music content available. Finding music is getting kind of hard! I'm still looking for another site.

Stinkin Playlist.com!!

Woke up in London yesterday
Found myself in the city near Piccadilly
Don't really know how I got here
I got some pictures on my phone

New names and numbers that I don't know
Address to places like Abbey Road
Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want
We're young enough to say

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don't know
Where I've been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Col-or-ado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can' t jump out
Sometimes there's bull that don't work now
We are god of stories but please tell me-e-e-e
What there is to complain about

When you're happy like a fool
Let it take you over
When everything is out
You gotta take it in

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

Hopelessly
I feel like there might be something that I'll miss
Hopelessly
I feel like the window closes oh so quick
Hopelessly
I'm taking a mental picture of you now
'Cuz hopelessly
The hope is we have so much to feel good about

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don't know
Where I've been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Col-or-ado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can' t jump out
Sometimes there's bull that don't work now
We are god of stories but please tell me-e-e-e
What there is to complain about

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

This week's recipe is one of my restaurant knockoff favorites. Outback's Alice Springs Chicken. I came across this recipe years ago, and it tastes exactly the same!

I actually didn't make this for years because of a horrid experience. I made it for dinner one evening and sauteed up some mushrooms. Richard took one look at them and refused to touch them. He said they looked bad. I thought they looked fine, and said "alrighty then, more for me!" I ate them, they were delicious, and boy I sure regretted it after. I got extremely sick. I mean bad. To this day I can't make this dish without being reminded of that. I also take Richard's opinion a bit more seriously! Haha.

So now that I've totally grossed everyone out…here's the recipe!

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

5 ounces woozy sauce (Worcestershire sauce)

8 slices bacon

2 tbsp butter

8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced (or not!)

8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

16 oz honey mustard dressing

1. Place chicken in a glass bowl, poke with a fork several times, and pour woozy sauce over chicken. Let it marinate in the fridge for about an hour.

2. Cook bacon, drain, and set aside.

3. Heat butter in a small skillet. Saute mushrooms, then set aside.

4. Preheat oven to broil.

5. Remove chicken from marinade, and broil for about 5 minutes on each side. When it's almost finished, remove and top each piece of chicken with two slices of bacon, and then cover with cheese. Continue broiling until cheese is melted.

6. Serve with mushrooms and honey mustard dressing.

Enjoy!

Rants And Rambles

Well, it's been a while since I complained about something so I thought it was that time again! Hahaha.

I actually don't have much to complain about now that the a/c has been fixed.

Late Saturday evening I noticed it wasn't cooling the house down like it should have been. We checked a couple of things, but came up with nothing so we shut it down for the night. Sunday morning we tried it again, but no change. We also noticed the condenser fan wasn't working. Great. One more thing to add to the ever growing list of things we have to shell out money for.

Richard called Snyder and made an appointment for first thing Monday morning.

It was stifling in the house, and Richard had to work so Phoenix and I tagged along with him. Sitting in the cold truck for a couple of hours beat sweating to death in the house!

Dinner was spent at Panera that evening as I was not even going anywhere near the oven!

Night brought no relief either. It was so humid and muggy and just pulled the moisture right out of you. Yuck.

Early Monday morning brought Josh from Snyder Heating & Air. I will take a moment and give this company some kudos. They were awesome. They called first thing and let us know the tech was leaving the shop and on his way. Josh was very friendly and professional. He even added freon for no charge, and gave us a discount. I was really floored when he took his shoes off to walk through the house! If you ever find yourself in need of an a/c tech, I would highly recommend Snyder.

Not sweating to death in the middle of Summer in a stifling hot and stuffy house will do wonders for your mood!

I think Richard would have paid anything just to get that thing fixed so I would stop whining!

Why does the a/c have to go out when it's a bazillion degrees outside? Why not in mid December? I'll even take September!

As far as companies I am not impressed with, Werner Ladders has been added to my hate list. Lowe's has also dropped to a new level of massive disgust.

If you keep up with me on Facebook, you'll know I am not a fan of Lowe's. If not, I'll save that story for another time!

A couple of months ago, we needed a new ladder. We headed to Lowe's, as we still had money left on our card we'd bought for their Tax Rebate program.

Werner ladders and Lowe's were offering a gift card if you bought a ladder. We had found another brand that was cheaper, but decided to upgrade and pay more money knowing we'd get most of it back via the gift card.

I went home and dutifully filled out all the paperwork and sent the rebate off with plenty of time to spare.

Yesterday, we received a letter in the mail. It was from Werner Ladders, letting us know that unfortunately we didn't qualify for the rebate. According to the letter, our rebate was not postmarked by the expiration date.

Ridiculous. It was sent out in plenty of time. However, I have no way of proving it.

So we spent extra money, and now aren't getting it back as expected.

This isn't the first time this has happened with rebates. It's really aggravating and makes you not want to take the chance.

One place that has always been consistent and keeps their word with rebates is Publix. I guess I will just stick with them and stop bothering with the rest.

Musical Monday

This weeks song is Samson by Regina Spektor. She has such a lovely voice. This is one of my favorites.

You are my sweetest downfall

I loved you first

I loved you first

Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth

I have to go

I have to go

Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed

Not much hair left on his head

He ate a slice of Wonderbread

And went right back to bed

And the history books forgot about us

And the Bible didn't mention us

And the Bible didn't mention us

Not even once

You are my sweetest downfall

I loved you first

I loved you first

Beneath the stars came falling on our heads

But they're just old light

They're just old light

Your hair was long when we first met

Samson came to my bed told me that my hair was red

Told me I was beautiful

And came into my bed

Oh I cut his hair myself one night

A pair of dull scissors in the yellow light

And he told me that I'd done alright

And he kissed me till the morning light

The morning light

And he kissed me till the morning light

Samson went back to bed

Not much hair left on his head

Ate a slice of Wonderbread

And went right back to bed

Oh we couldn't bring the columns down

Yeah we couldn't destroy a single one

And the history books forgot about us

And the Bible didn't mention us

Not even once

You are my sweetest downfall

I loved you first

Cake!

I remembered I had a piece of Publix cake in the fridge I had bought the other day. I know!! You're thinking, it lasted a couple of days in the fridge?? I forgot about it!!

Publix cake is my very, very favorite cake! Obviously it was also a favorite of the guy who bagged my groceries for me! He asked for a piece. I nicely informed him that I like to share, but I don't share my Publix cake. Haha.

So anyway, I just thought I'd post a picture of this delicious cake…and tease you all with it.

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

This week brings one of my very favorite desserts.

This recipe comes from Paula Deen so you know it's good!

Ahh, I'm drooling just thinking about it!!

Southwest Georgia Pound Cake. Mmmm good! The pound cake comes out perfectly every single time.

If I had butter I'd go make one right now. Alas, it will have to wait. And I KNOW! You don't have butter you say?? What kind of southern woman doesn't have butter by the bushels on hand. A very unhappy one.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (you may use lemon or almond flavoring instead)

Directions:

Generously grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan.

Do not preheat the oven.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Alternately add flour mixture and heavy cream to butter-sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour.

Stir in flavoring.

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Put into a cold oven and set the temperature to 325 degrees F. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes without opening the oven door. Bake for an additional 15 minutes if necessary.

Remove from the oven and cool in pan for 15 minutes. Invert cake onto cake plate.

For a real treat, serve yourself a slice while it's still warm.

Musical Monday

Hey All! I decided since I'm always changing my music up on my blog that I'd make it routine. Cuz everyone knows I am crazy weird and love routine!

So insert Musical Monday! And yes, I happen to be a big fan of alliteration!

Each and every Monday, unless I forget which is highly likely, I will feature a new song for your listening pleasure. I'll include the lyrics and any thoughts or special meanings, and have it playing for that week. Provided of course that the song is actually available over at Mix Pod. They are no Project Playlist let me tell you. But since Project Playlist wanted to be stupid and give in to greedy advertisers, I decided to dump them and head elsewhere. So if you know of someplace better than MixPod, give me a holler.

This weeks song is….

Wonderwall by Cat Power. This song was written by the massively talented Noel Gallagher and performed by Oasis. I think she covers it well though, and I rarely think covers are any good. She changes it up a bit and makes it her own. I like it.

Today is gonna be the day

That they're gonna throw it back to you

By now you should've somehow

Realized what you gotta do

I don't believe that anybody

Feels the way I do about you now

Backbeat the word is on the street

That the fire in your heart is out

I'm sure you've heard it all before

But you never really had a doubt

I don't believe that anybody feels

The way I do about you now

Today was gonna be the day

But they'll never throw it back to you

By now you should've somehow

Realized what you're not to do

I don't believe that anybody

Feels the way I do

About you now

I said maybe

You're gonna be the one who saves me

And after all

You're my wonderwall

Wordless Wednesday

Lucky Ladybug

Ramblings

I have sad news.

Monday afternoon I went out to check on the babies and made a horrid discovery. Something had climbed in the bush and killed my little Mockingbirds.

The bottom of the hedge was crushed. The nest had been torn out of the hedge, and was completely damaged. I found three of the babies, but never found the fourth. I didn't hear anything so I assume the last baby was also killed, probably carried off. There were feathers everywhere. Adult and baby feathers. I can't believe I didn't hear anything. It looked like Mommy and Daddy put up a good fight.

I have a fairly good idea of the culprit. We've had a nuisance cat hanging around from time to time. I always see it come from next door, so I am fairly certain it is hers. He likes to come over to our back porch and pee everywhere. He also likes to look in the window and drive my animals bonkers, and sit outside the sliding glass door and cry.

Next time I see him he is in for it. I hate when people let their animals run loose. We do have a leash law here, but some people just don't care. Last time he made a nuisance of himself Richard was going to call Animal Care and Control but being the nice person I am I talked him out of it because I didn't want the lady to lose her cat.

Next time around that cat is gone! If you're responsible and keep your pets contained you don't have to worry about losing them. And if your stupid enough to not put a tag on your animal so you can get them back if by chance they escape, then so be it. That's what you get.

I digress. So now I don't have babies to check on anymore. So very sad. Stupid cat.

In other news, what on earth were those jurors thinking??? Oh wait, they weren't. I was completely flabbergasted with their verdict.

I know I can't say for absolute certain that Casey Anthony did it. But that woman had guilt written all over her. Something was and is not right. If she didn't do it herself, I am telling you she knows what happened.

Cheney Mason is an idiot. It disgusted me watching his pompous self get up there and sound off. Gah, I had to get up and walk away.

And to add insult to injury, saying today justice had been granted for Caylee and Casey. There was no justice today. There was no justice in a guilty Mother getting a slap on the wrist. And there certainly wasn't any justice for an innocent little girl whose life was cruelly ended. Heartbreaking.

What I did find interesting was the obvious absence of Casey Anthony's parents in her little courtroom "celebration". She was surrounded by her ever giddy legal team, but Mom and Dad weren't anywhere to be found. Interesting.

I was so irked by the past couple days events that I rearranged my whole family room. I like it better this way. It's more functional and flows better.

I know this is out of left field. But I'm going to make some sugar cookies.

Tasty Tuesday

This week's recipe is an awesome comfort food. It's my favorite meatloaf.

I do switch this up sometimes. I sometimes leave steak sauce out, or Worcestershire sauce, depending if I have it on hand. Just put a little extra of something else. I also switch up Ritz crackers instead of bread crumbs on occasion. Whatever fits my fancy at the moment. And I always put more cheese in!

Kitchen Sink Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tbsp barbeque sauce

2 tbsp steak sauce

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

1 pound ground beef

2/3 cup dry bread crumbs

1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a loaf pan.

2. Mix all ingredients together and spread into loaf pan.

3. Bake for 55 minutes.

Enjoy!

Happy Independence Day