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Weekly Menu-
Monday- Shrimp and Clams in tomato broth over penne pasta
Tuesday- English Muffin Pizzas
Wednesday- Farmhouse Chicken
Thursday- Chicken Enchiladas (using leftover chicken)
Friday- Pasta w/veggies in tomato cream sauce
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The weather is finally getting cooler. The leaves are turning, the air is crisp.......I love this time of year. Apples are in season in Jersey now and I love cooking with them. The kids love my apple crisp this time of year, piping hot with vanilla bean ice cream. 
I'd like to do a thorough fall cleaning throughout the house this weekend. Lisamarie will be home from college and we have a Halloween party to go to on Saturday but I'd still like to fit it in sometime. I'd also like to bake some bread and try the recipe I received for honey butter. It sounds delicious! I found a fabulous recipe online at www.tammysrecipes.com called Farmhouse Chicken. My husband and children loved it!! It will definitely go into my favorite recipe section of my home management binder. 
Hope everyone is enjoying the weather!
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If you could live anywhere in the world you wanted to, what place would you choose?
I'd stay in the US and would probably like to live in the south, maybe Kentucky or Ohio.
...You could permanently delete one color from the 64 pack of crayola crayons, what color would you give the boot to?
burnt umber
...You finally saved up enough money to buy that something special you have dreamt about, what is it?
A farm in the south!
...You could have the world's biggest collection, what would it be a collection of?
Books
...You were asked to share something as a kid and you didn't want to, what did you out-right refuse to share?
My Holly Hobbie life sized doll. 
...You could do something you always wanted to do since childhood, what would that something be?
Open a dog shelter for homeless and abandoned doggies.
...You were stranded on a deserted island and you could only take one thing with you, what would you take?
A library....lol.
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I was raised Roman Catholic. My father is a devout Catholic, my mother not so much. I went to church every day until about 18 or so. I was not raised in an overly religious upbringing. However, I have always prayed, always loved the Lord, and believe that Jesus is my Saviour. That being said.....I am also no saint. I am divorced from my first husband. My husband is divorced from his 1st wife. I have a son from my first marriage, my husband has a daughter and son from his first that live with us. I am deeply in love with my husband and we've been married for 6 wonderful years.
After my divorce, I started to turn away from the Catholic church. When you are divorced, you can no longer receive the Holy Communion. I felt shunned and still do. I know that divorce is wrong. I know this. When I was going through my divorce, I turned to the church and got no help. It was very disheartening. I started going to a Baptist church and loved it.
Fast forward 9 years. I met my 2nd husband and moved an hour away from where I used to live. We do not go to church. Our children attend CCD or Sunday school though.
I am feeling a pull towards the Lord. He has always been there for me. I just don't know where to start. After going to Catholic mass on Sundays, I never "got" anything from the sermons. I wanted to, but it always felt so cold.
I'm just wondering if anyone has been in a position that I am in. I'd love to hear how you got back to religion. Sorry if I sound so ignorant. I just feel a little lost right now.
Thanks, Tracy
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I had such a wonderful weekend! My daughter came home from college to visit and although it was only one night, we were so glad to have her home with us. 
We miss her so much! But...we're very thankful that she loves the school she's attending. I miss my girl!!! 
I cooked and baked up a storm this weekend! Made a delicious marinade for steaks. I baked an apple crisp that turned out well. (I say that only because it was gone in one night! LOL) Made a meatloaf (Lisamarie's favorite) and we ate that while she was home yesterday.
The weather is slowly changing and it is so refreshing. It's still cool in the mornings but quickly warms up to 70-75 degrees F. I can't wait for fall. It's my favorite season. I'll take the boys apple and pumpkin picking and we're planning on going on a haunted hayride. I hate those things!!! 
Mostly because I am a big chicken!
Hope you all have a beautiful day!
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I usually try to have veggies and a starch at every meal. The kids eat the starch but aren't too keen on veggies. 
So I had to come up with a solution. Usually, I would just heat up the vegetables and put a little butter on them. Since that wasn't working, I decided to "jazz" up the rice with the veggies. First, I would saute some chopped onions, peas and mushrooms in butter. (which is also great like that!) Then I'd make the rice. When the rice was done, I'd add it to the veggie mix. I threw in a little garlic powder, a few splashes of grated cheese and salt and pepper. I cooked it for another minute or two. The kids ate every last bit of it!! I'm finding that I always have to create new ideas to get my children and husband for the matter 
to eat their veggies. One of my "secrets" is to puree about a cup and a half of string beans and put that in my meatloaf. No one knows and it makes the meatloaf more tender. I'lll have to post that recipe soon.
Hope you are all enjoying your day!!
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Zucchini Pineapple Bread Recipe:
Makes 2 loaves.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
4 eggs 1 (8oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a large bowl, mix oil, eggs, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Blend in drained pineapple and zucchini. Stir flour mixture into zucchini mixture. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.
ENJOY!!!
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I made a large batch of chicken soup last night. Don't you just love the way the house smells while it's cooking??? Since Jerry's Uncle was kind enough to give us his freezer that he no longer needed, I have been cooking and freezing a lot more. I freeze the soup in little tupperware containers so the kids can heat up one serving at a time.
So, about my chicken soup... I use the regular ingredients, chicken broth, chicken, carrots, celery, onions, salt and pepper, but do one added step that makes my soup stand out. (if I do say so myself!) After chopping the vegetables, I saute them in butter for about 5 minutes or so. Then I add it to the broth. It really makes a difference!
I also made two loaves of zucchini pineapple bread that came out great. It was a new recipe. I'll post it later on in case anyone would like to have it. I gave one of the loaves to our neighbors, Carol and Joe. They are the nicest people. Carol has advanced MS and instead of dwelling on it, she is always so cheerful and happy. I am truly blessed to know her!
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I thought I was having a bad day. Then I got "the call".
"Tracy, Dr. Hoffer (my boss) is in the hospital, they think he had a stroke." 
Suddenly, my "problems" seemed so small, insignifigant. I really don't like that I need to be jolted back to reality and what really matters by a call like this. I need to start practicing gratefullness more often. Little things shouldn't bother me. "Don't sweat the small stuff", right?
So today, September 18, 2007, I am grateful for:
My husband, my children, my doggies, my lving family, the wonderful food I cooked, the beautiful weather outside, my great neighbors Carol and Joe, the sunshine, my life.
Let's not forget what is really important. 
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I was soooooooooo tired!!! My doggies jumped up on my lap as I slept and my husband snapped this pic!
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I was searching online for a new apron. I've been using my grandmothers and although I love them, they are getting quite worn. So I was looking online and found a few but they were unbelievably overpriced! Some as much as $60!! 
Ok, time to go into frugal mode. I took a ride to Good Will, found some valances made out of pretty material and bought them. The total came to $7.00. When I got home, I washed them and then cut them right down the middle. I used fusible webbing to "finish" the side I cut. I then put a pretty ribbon (recycled from a gift of course!) through the hole where the curtain rod goes and..............................
VOILA!!!!!!!!
I had 7 new aprons for the low, low price of $7.00!! 
It's not only fun trying to think of new ways to do things but also very satisfying. I like the challenge of being frugal, not to mention liking the money that I am saving!