Shrimp Dip for chips!!

So, I was thinking about dinner… we have hot dog buns that need to be eaten. We had chili yesterday, so I don’t want more chili today. What to make to go with them that will be semi-special and filling? Growing up my mom would make a special dip for parties and gatherings. It was for chips… wavy/ruffled chips but made them seem so special. I have the supplies, so why not! Mom told me it came from my Aunt Teri, I don’t know where she got it.

Shrimp Dip

½- ¾ cup of Chili Sauce

½ - ¾ cup of Mayo (mom uses miracle whip)

8oz cream cheese, softened

¼ cup chopped onion

2tsp horseradish

4 ½ oz can of tiny shrimp (rinse and drain)

Cream mayo and cream cheese, add everything else Except the shrimp, blend well. Stir in shrimp by hand and chill.

Soooo easy! But the trick is to use a good sturdy chip like Ruffles or Wavy Lays.

 

Extra tip: 

While chopping the onions, I went ahead and chopped extra, we’ll use them on the hot dogs tonight, and I like to keep some in the fridge for morning eggs.

Onion Gouda Melt- or Lunch!

Onion Gouda Melt

Well, our lives have been on an adventure. I am not the greatest at making regular posts, but I do check in on Facebook. So, friend request me there if you really want to follow along my crazy ride of a life! So today I don’t want to focus on catching up, just a quick fun post.

I have not been doing well with going through my food supply. When we were moving all the time, I would stop shopping, take inventory and plan meals out to finish up what we had, so we didn’t move food around the country, more room for stuff. Since settling down, I haven’t had the need to go through everything and more space to stock up. Now, we have too much stuff and I want to reduce some spending for a bit. While I have not gotten up enough energy to do a full inventory, I am looking at what needs to be used up and planning a few meals around those things.

Today, I decided to use up an old roll of French Bread. It really was past it’s best-buy-date, but since it had to bake, I knew we’d be safe eating it. I opened and removed it from the package. I put it on a parchment covered cookie sheet and sliced down the center of the roll. Opening it to a larger flat dough. I then covered it with a bit of leftover Onion spread… if you have never tried this stuff… it is amazing! I then used some basic ham lunch-meat and slices of Gouda cheese. I baked it for 20 minutes at 350. Once out of the oven, I lightly dressed it with Onion dressing and sprinkled 21 Seasoning Salute. So yummy!! There was only the 3 of us for lunch, but it was all gone!

You could probably find other seasoning, dressing or mixes to use, or even dressings, but I loved the play on the strong onion flavor here. We are also a family that enjoys onions… so if fit us!

Random tips for using Baking Soda!

Baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate,  helps regulate pH—keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering. This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent’s power). It’s a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.

1. Add to soak water for beans- research dating back more than 25 years found that adding baking soda to the soak water of dried beans before cooking (about 1/16 teaspoon per quart) significantly decreases the content of the raffinose family of sugars.
2. produce wash— just put some baking soda on a damp sponge, scrub and rinse.
3. Remove baked-on residue by shaking a generous amount of baking soda on pots and pans. Then add hot water and dish detergent, let sit for 15 minutes and wash as usual.
4. Make your own bathroom scrub by mixing ¼ cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add vinegar to give it a thick, creamy texture.
5.  Clean the dishwasher and coffeemaker by running an empty cycle with baking soda.
6. To shine tarnished silver, combine three parts baking soda with one part water. Rub onto silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
7. For instant relief from bug bites, sunburn and poison ivy, mix baking soda with a little water and apply it directly to the sore.
8. Pour in 1 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup hot vinegar to quickly unclog the kitchen drain. 
9. Make a fluffier omelet by adding ½ teaspoon baking soda for every three eggs.
10. Use a pinch in a gallon of freshly-brewed iced tea, to take out the bitterness and prevent cloudiness.
11. Discourage weeds by sprinkling baking soda into the cracks on your driveway and walkways.
12. Mix a little baking soda into your conditioner and lather on your hair to keep it healthy and resistant to split ends.
13.  Have heartburn? Create an antacid by mixing ½ teaspoon of baking soda with ½ cup of water.
14. Exfoliate your skin with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Apply gently with your fingertips in a circular motion, then rinse
15. To clean a toilet, add ¼ cup baking soda to the bowl, swirl, then scrub.
16.  Scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, or 3 parts baking soda to gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.
17. Surface Soft Scrub For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks–even fiberglass and glossy tiles–sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, course salt and liquid dish soap—let it sit then scour off.
18. Clean the Microwave, sprinkle baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.
19. Clean the Oven, sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.
20. Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.
21. Remove light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush. 

Hope these tips will help you.
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Fake It "Til You Make It!!

I was doing some philosophical thinking today. I have been working with the boys on acting more grown up, doing things like a grown up should do and being more confidant in everything.

I have told them, “Fake it ‘til you make it.” Meaning when you have to do something you don’t want to, instead of being grumpy and letting everyone know your unhappy, fake a smile and pretend you’re enjoying yourself until you find you really are enjoying yourself. I don’t allow lying, but everyone needs to know how to put on a smile and just do what needs to be done.

So that got me thinking about people who grumble about everything. Tell me, what kind of person would you rather hang out with, #1: A person that treats life’s tough times as the end of the world? Or #2: A person who treats troubles as just a bump in the road that causes a course correction. I like to think that everything happens for a reason and that there are lessons to be learned. My life is not planned out by me, it is an adventure that I am on and learning new things at every turn. When something happens, it’s for a reason. It’s time for a course correction and keep moving on the journey.

Back to bad attitudes, think of a person you don’t like to spend much time with or that complains a lot. Now, think of something nice about that person, or anything good. It’s hard to think about the good things, right? All your brain can think about is the whining voice, complaining or crying. Is that the kind of person you are sharing with the world? Is that what you want to be remembered as? If not, “Fake it ‘till you make it!”

I saw a video on Facebook the other day, a mom talking about how she doesn’t care if she’s not her children’s best friend. She didn’t care that they were mad at her, because she didn’t want to be their friend, she wanted to be their mom. I have always said that too. But my kids do like me, they want to spend time with me, sit by me, even when they have a chance to spend time with other kids. Does that mean I am too soft on them? Not if you know my boys! I have always follow a belief that kids know that if you are willing to “SAVE” them from themselves, that means that you will save them from the hurt of the world. That means that it’s my job to correct their behavior and actions how I see fit. So while I have been saving them, they have learned to trust me. With that trust comes love and respect. That in turn makes them want to spend time with me. Other kids, adults and teenagers are unpredictable compared to me. I always tell my boys the truth, even “Yes, a shot will hurt.” And made them be accountable for their actions.

So now, how do I teach them confidence? It’s hard for a young teenager to be confident in the world today. They hear so much going on in the world and yet they don’t understand it all. It’s hard for an adult to be confident too! I guess some of confidence is “faking it!” I am just as nervous as the next guy. I wonder if I look alright for certain events or if I will meet anyone new. I question myself after an event and wonder if I could have done or said something different. I am sure that I am not the only one! But how do you teach that…... I am trying to by sharing like I just did, showing them by example.

 I know, it’s funny how I can go on from 1 little starting point…... but I did warn you all that I was doing some philosophical thinking today!