Fried Cabbage & Noodles

This is one of my family's favorite recipes.  It only has a few ingredients and it's easy to make.

Fried Cabbage and Noodles

1 head of cabbage, sliced
5 slices of bacon
1/4 cup onion
soy sauce
egg noodles

The great thing about this recipe is that you can make it to suit your own tastes.  If you want to add more bacon or onion, you can.

Fry the bacon until it is crispy.  I usually fry the onions at the same time that I fry the bacon, but fry them separately if you'd like.

Remove the bacon from the pan.  Add the cabbage.

Crumble the bacon and add to the cabbage.  Add soy sauce to taste.  Cover and let cabbage cook down.  While the cabbage is cooking, boil the egg noodles until done.  I used three handfuls of noodles.  Drain noodles.

Mix everything together and serve.

Orange Chicken

I originally found this recipe on Pinterest; one of my friends that I follow had pinned it and it looked so good that I re-pinned it.  Here's the recipe.

1 lb. of boneless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup flour
olive oil
1/2 tbs. of salt
1 tsp. of balsamic vinegar
3 tbs. of ketchup
6 oz. of frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw)*
4 tbs. of brown sugar

* I used fresh orange juice -  from my oranges on my tree in the back yard

In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup.

Put the flour in a gallon bag and add the chicken.  Shake until the chicken is coated.

Pour a small amount of olive oil in a skillet and brown the chicken.  The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked.

After cooking the chicken, put it in a crock pot and cover with the sauce mixture.

Cook on low for 5 - 6 hours or on high for 2 - 3 hours.  Serve over rice.

Very easy and very yummy!

I Love Books

I love books.  I love the smell of a new book, I love how the pages feel.  I have an E-Reader, but it's just not the same.  There's something about sitting curled up in a chair with a blanket over your lap, and a good book in your hand that you can't get from an E-Reader.

For Christmas, I received the Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks, and the Autumn series by David Moody.  I have to admit - I love zombies!  World War Z by Max Brooks is one of my favorite books.

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved to read.  The first book that my mom gave me was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  I think that I still have that book lying around someplace.  I have a tattered collection of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series and the Hobbit.  I have a set of  Zane Grey books from my dad.  I'm a huge fan of John D. MacDonald and I hope to one day have copies of all his books.  I have books piled around my bedroom just waiting to be read.  I love books! 

Another Crocheted Scarf

I'm still on my scarf kick.  I've started crocheting a hooded scarf in lavender.  Purple is one of my favorite colors.  The pattern is very easy but it's taking me longer to finish because I started back to work full time this week - almost 2 months after my car accident.  I start to poop out around 2:00 pm and by the time I get home a little after 4:00, I pretty much just want to rest.  I am hoping that my strength and stamina return soon.  As soon as I finish the scarf, I will post directions and a picture. 

Cascading Potato Chip Scarf

I'm on a bit of a scarf kick and when I heard the words "potato chip" in the same sentence as "scarf", I was intrigued.  It turns out to be a super easy scarf to crochet.

I found the pattern at http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Hats-Scarves-Gloves.  Just search for cascading potato chip scarf.  If you're new to crochet, this is a good project to start with.  I love the blue (Red Heart Blue) against the brown (Coffee Fleck).  Hope you enjoy!

PS - I am now the proud owner of a 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan in metallic blue :)

I'm Off To Buy A Car - I Hope :)

I think that I've found my new car.  I've been doing a lot of research.  I decided to go with a new car because the cost of buying a good quality used car is more than the cost of a new car (or so I read).  I believe it, because I have looked at a lot of cars online and the difference in price is not significant; in some cases, a used car actually costs more than the new model.  OK. 

My primary source of information was  http://www.edmunds.com/.  You can search for new or used cars based on make, design, price, options, etc.  I decided that I wanted a 4 door sedan under $15,000.  I was leaning towards a Nissan because my old car was a Sentra.  I went and test drove a Nissan Versa and I loved it - four doors, automatic, power windows & doors, power locks, 6 cup holders (very important), a big trunk, and lots of leg room. 

Next I went to http://www.truecar.com/ and found out where I could get the best price for a Versa.  I printed off my price guarantee certificate and talked with a salesman who told me that he could give me an even better price and the color I want.  How great is that?

So here's a picture of the car that I want and hopefully, by the end of the day tomorrow, I'll be driving it.

A Simple Winter Scarf

It doesn't get cold here in Florida very often, but we're looking at a second night with a hard freeze - time to cover the plants and pipes and bundle up with a jacket and a scarf.  Most of the time though, wearing a scarf  in Florida is more of a fashion statement.  My daughter-in-law loves anything purple, so for Christmas, I crocheted this simple scarf for her.

It's easy to make and only uses one skein of yarn.  I used "I Love This Yarn" in mixed berry from Hobby Lobby.

Use a size K crochet hook.

Chain 27.

Foundation Row: single chain (sc) in 2nd chain from hook.  1 sc in each chain to end of the chain.  Turn.  You should have 26 single chain stitches.

First Row:  Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet (dc).  Skip first two sc.  In next sc, *(1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc).  Skip next 2 sc.  Repeat from * to last 2 sc.  Skip 1 sc and 1 dc in last stitch.  Turn.  You should have a total of 26 stitches.

Second Row:  Chain 1.  1 sc in each chain to end of the chain.  Turn.  (26 sc).

Repeat First and Second Row until you run out of yarn.  Finish with a 2nd row.  Fasten off.  Scarf measures approximately 45 inches.