SKYPE is Awesome!

Okay, so today is Thanksgiving and unfortunately I wasn't able to spend it with my parents, grandparents or aunts and uncles and cousins. Well, thanks to technology I was able to SEE them all in the same conversation! We had Philly, St. Pete & Dover Florida, and Michigan all in one screen :) It was a little noisy...but so nice to see everyone together even if it was on a screen. Here's a pic of our family conference call using FREE Skype! I remember the days when I was younger and we only talked to them on special occasions because it was long distance. It was "hurry up honey, that's long distance" so we wouldn't be charged. Now, the world is a much smaller place with things like Skype. My parents got to watch their granddaughter play and show off AND hear her...sooo amazing! What a blessing when you live 18 1/2 hours from your folk....Thankful today for not only my amazing family and friends but for technology which I LOVE to HATE...

Happy Thanksgiving, Ya'll!

Dry Erase Shopping List & Weekly Menu

Okay, so I have a new addiction...Pinterest. Yes, it's a bigger time waster than Facebook...but at least Pinterest helps me with new creative ideas. I saw this on Pinterest and decided to try it myself. I love it! I already make a weekly menu before I head to the grocery store each week. It just makes life so much easier to know what dinner plans are ahead of time, plus it helps limit over spending and forgetting things. Also, I have an ongoing shopping list on my fridge so now I have a prettier one:) Whenever I run out of something, I just write it down right away..because on shopping day there is no way I am going to remember something like being out of chili powder.  So here's my step by step tutorial.

I bought 2 frames from Walmart. Super cheap!

Since they're gonna hang on the wall I took the stand off. The frames lie flat this way.

Next I traced around the glass from the frame onto the new scrapbook page I got from Michaels

Next I typed up on the computer the words I needed in a couple different colors for choices. I did a test page to make sure it printed correctly, then I inserted my scrapbook paper.

Using fancy scrapbooking scissors, cut out the words.

Next glue them onto a contrasting color of scrapbook paper.

Here I used just regular scissors for a straighter edge.

Glue the words onto the background scrapbook paper and insert into the frames.

Hang onto the wall of your kitchen, and voila! Useful AND decorative! Use a black dry erase marker. Just wipes off with a napkin! Genius! Wish I came up with it on my own... :)

Weci's Tacos

Okay, so today's recipe is from my Momma, Weci (pronounced wee' see, short for Louise). She and my Dad met at a Mexican restaurant called Famous Taco in Michigan where she learned how to make her own tortilla chips, nachos, tacos, burritos etc.. This was a staple in my home growing up and is still a staple in my own home. My kids love them! Which is great :) I usually serve them with Knorr Spanish Rice.

Tacos

1lb. ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 T. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste
vegetable oil
corn tortillas

1. Begin by browning ground beef and sauteing onion and garlic. Next add spices. Continue browning until cooked through.

 2. Drain. Next, in a skillet add vegetable oil to about 1/2 an inch deep and heat over med-med/high heat.

 3. When the oil bubbles like this around a wooden spoon handle then the oil is ready. Be careful not to heat the oil too hot. Remember, this process is very quick. Insert corn tortilla into hot oil.

4. Use tongs to press tortilla down in the hot oil for a few seconds..and by a few I mean like 2 or 3 depending on how hot the oil is.

5. Using tongs, fold tortilla in half pressing down to make sure the inside is cooked. Flip over to the other side. This process is about 20- 30 seconds. You don't want to cook too long because if it's too crispy the shell will just crack in the middle when you bite into it. You don't want to cook these as long you cook a tortilla chip. It will take practice but is not difficult. You want them to have crunch but still be tender. My mom is the best at these! Sometimes I get it right, but no matter what, they are delicious.

 6. Here are the finished taco shells! Aren't they pretty :)

 7. Now, let's build us some tacos! Here's a tip I use: put the sour cream on first..it acts like a glue for the meat and you get sour cream in every bite!

Please click HERE to print the RECIPE ONLY