Never Ending Tomatoes

(Here are a just a few)

Earlier this summer my Dad and I planted thirty tomato plants. I never thought they'd come in. Well, they've exploded! We have picked over two hundred pounds of tomatoes. We've made pasta sauce, salsa and tomato juice. I'm getting desperate for recipes. Tonight the girls and I made a pizza and calzone. We used the homemade sauce and Roma tomatoes from the garden.

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I highly recommend this bread dough for pizza.

Boule Dough

Recipe from "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day"

• 
  
  3 c. Luke warm water           
• 
  
  1 1/2 Tbs. Granulated Yeast 
• 
  
  1 1/2 Tbs. Kosher salt          
• 
  
  6 1/2 c. Unbleached Flour, unsifted.

Mix all together, then set aside and cover for 2hrs. This amount of dough will make three loaves of bread. I just pull off what I want (it will last up to 12-14 days in the frig.), usually bakes 25-35min (depending on how much dough used). Bake at 450 degrees. This dough is excellent for pizza or bread. Hope you like it!

Have a good night.

Am I at the Rented Cottage?

  Yes, you are at the right spot. The generic appearance just had to go, so I changed it up for now. I like it, I hope you do too. I still need to do some tweaking, especially centering the header. My blogging skills have improved immensely since day one (at least I think they have). Especially, for someone with limited computer skills. 
 
   I had promised I was going to post my favorite things weekly, sorry I haven't kept my end of the bargain. Here are a few of those favorite things.

   Now, I know I already did a piece on vintage cameras. They are my favorite collection. I did receive two new cameras this week, so I thought it would be okay for a repeat. My mother found them at a sale.

My new favorite.

Isn't she a real beauty! I absolutely love it.

She cost $8.

She also found this cutie for a few dollars.

Next, I really like vintage typewriters. I only own one, which I feel is sufficient (since some can be rather large).

I found this at a yard sale twelve years ago. I bought it for an old boyfriend, and I just can't remember why I didn't give it to him. Oh well, I'm glad it's mine.

Have a good weekend!

One last thing. The pickles from the earlier post were very weak, I recommend trying another recipe.

Gotta Love Those Big Girls and Toothless Frogs!

    A few months ago a very hilarious incident occurred at work (I'm still cracking-up about it). Some of you may not find it funny, but since I'm a "plus girl" and can laugh about it. I say it's okay. I'm a pretty laid back person, so most things don't bother me. This incident is one of them, however, my good friend Kim nearly blew a gasket. I was working in the urgent care area of the ER. There are seven beds lettered A-G, most traffic occurs in front of room A. The ice machine, bathroom, entrance and exit are located in this area, so there are not many ways to avoid it. A new patient was placed in room A. As I walked by and glanced in the room, a tall skinny toothless man was giving me sexy eyes. I thought to myself, you just imagined that. The next time I walked past the room, he was laying on his side (like some Casanova). I gave him a fake half smile, and continued to walk by. Finally, I knew I had to go in and see him. When I entered the room he proceeded to say "How you doin" (I swear it was just like Joey from Friends, except the Charles Manson version). "I'm fine sir. My name is Jessica, I'm going to be your nurse today. What brings you to the ER?" I couldn't believe what he said next. "I think you're really pretty...I like big girls." I looked over my shoulder to see if anyone had heard, and prayed no one had.  I didn't know how I should react , so I just said "gee thanks." "No Miss...I didn't mean anything bad by it, I just really like bigger women." I didn't know if I should be ticked-off, flattered, or start vomiting. "Look Sir, can you just tell me why you are here?" "Oh, my back hurts", he said. I left the room and sat down at the nurse's station. I looked over at my friend Kim, "you'll never guess what this guy said to me." I told her the story and started laughing. She jokingly asked if I wanted her to go talk to him. Before I could answer back, he was standing in front of us. "Look Miss I'm really not trying to offend you...I just like BIG Women." He didn't say it just once, he repeatedly kept saying it over and over again. I couldn't respond. Speechless, I  just couldn't say anything. I just kept laughing. At this point everyone was standing around the nurse's station, hearing how big and beautiful I was. It wasn't a big secret that I was overweight, now it was just out in the open. Could it get any worse! Then I heard a stern voice say, "Sir get back to your room!  Do you know how inappropriate you sound! You just get back there right now!" Kim was on fire (almost literally). He started up again, I told him to "please go to his room...that's enough." Kim fired back, "You've got three seconds to get back to your room, or I'm having security throw you out!" Needless to say, he followed her command. Almost everyone was laughing (including me), except for Kim. I think she could have kicked his a**. Anyway, he was discharged home and never heard from again (at least not this week). LOL!
                                  
                                Have a good night!

Visit to Grandma's House

  My grandmother has never let us call her "Grandma", we've always called her "Nanny". Then when my children were born, we were to call her "Marmee" (like in Little Women). Now I just call her "Darlene", her real name. Confusing, isn't it? Any who, this afternoon we stopped by her house to pick-up a food mill (I'm making spaghetti sauce this week). When we arrived, I realized there were many photo opportunities in her backyard. I was planning on posting "favorite things" tonight, however I thought this was more interesting. I apologize things have been kinda bland lately, so I'm going to try to spice it up a little bit. Just so you know, I will not be posting tomorrow. I'm working a long shift.

Have a good night. See you soon.

Updates

   I'm very excited about my new job! I'm working as a nurse of course, but I'm going in a totally different direction. I will be working in the Cath Lab Care Unit, which basically means I'll be caring for pre and post heart caths (mostly posts). The process to get the job has taken a couple of months. I've been very anxious about the whole thing. When I got the news, it felt like a million pounds had been lifted. The only thing I regret, is leaving all my friends. I've been in the ER for eight years in October, it's hard to believe. I truly feel this job has shaped me as a person, because eight years ago I was a totally different individual. I'm no longer a quiet backward push-over. Now, I'm like a lab/pit bull mix (do you understand). A year it's taken me to come to this decision, but I know it's for the best. No longer will I be missing holidays, or weekend outings. I'm FREE! Well, not totally. I couldn't say goodbye completely to the ER, so I'm going casual. This will make a total of three jobs I have now (I also work as an instructor for a local community college). I'll keep you updated on the new job. I plan on doing an ER tribute before I leave.

   Just some other updates. I'm behind on the office makeover, I'll get back to you when I'm closer to finishing. Also, the monster cookies I promised did not turn out. I have to check and see where I messed-up.

   Lastly, for some humor (maybe not for some). You've gotta watch this. Please pause the music at the bottom of the blog before playing.




I think Dave might be speechless too.

BIG NEWS

I can finally announce the BIG NEWS!








                                           It's official!











                                        I got a New Job!!!!!!

No holidays or weekends!

I'll be back soon with more details.

No Vision Check Needed

I'm working on some technical things tonight. You may see some unusual activity, don't fret (I promise you're not seeing things).

See you soon.

Busy Life

Life has been very busy lately. Work is absolutely crazy, I can't remember it ever being like this. And the fact that I don't get enough sleep at night, plus could stand to lose a few pounds (actually a lot more than a few) doesn't help matters. Sometimes I'm so exhausted, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the day. Then I look at these two beautiful girls (and grab a cup of coffee), and keep on moving.

Hopefully (I said hopefully), things will slow down soon. I'm working on a few things to help life run smoother, and be a little less stressful. No, I'm not going to get child support. I'll let you know what's going on soon. I just pray all will fall into place shortly.

Thanks for reading! Have a good night.

Oh Pickles!

Update! The girls and I tried these pickles today, we didn't care for them. They were very weak in flavor. I did notice A Country Farm House posted similar results as well. 

I'm noticing a trend from this past week, I'm publishing a lot of food things. Tonight it's refrigerator pickles. The recipe is from A Country Farm House. These were very easy and quick to make. I'll update you in couple weeks about how well they taste (that's when they'll be ready).

The jars were $5.99 at Meijer.

                                    The girls and I also made zucchini bread.

Have a good night. See ya tomorrow.

Some of My Favorite Things!

   Every week I'm going to list a few of my favorite things. Anything from household items, foods to antiques.  I hope some will be helpful, others I hope you will enjoy. Lets get started!

Favorite Pasta

This is the best pasta ever! I don't care what anyone says. Any pasta will not do. Pasta is just pasta is not true. I started eating this years ago when I was a professional nanny. The family I worked for ate De Cecco, and the minute I tried the linguine I was hooked. I can't explain it, but you can eat it plain. I LOVE it!

Jenna if you're reading, tell your mother I loved her pasta.

Favorite Salad Dressing

You can't beat this salad dressing. I've used it a lot! Girard's Caesar dressing is outstanding as well. The thing about this dressing, is that you'll never be ashamed to serve it  (like some of the other pre-made salad dressings). I've served it  at parties and showers, and everyone wants to know what it is. 

Fans

I love vintage fans!

                                        They certainly wouldn't pass the safety
                                         standards of today. I can just about
                                         imagine the children that stuck their
                                         fingers in them.I know a couple of girls
                                         that would have! Can you guess who ?

                                          HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND !

SALSA!

Today we made salsa!

Salsa Recipe

12 Lg. Tomatoes

2 Green Peppers

2 Med. Onions   

      1 c. Red wine Vinegar

1 Tbsp. Salt        

                  Jalapeno Peppers 1/4 c. for Mild 

                                         or   

                                             3/4 c. for Hot

Optional: We added banana peppers also, you can add whatever you'd like.

Chop veggies to desired size. Cook everything except tomatoes until slightly tender, then add tomatoes. Cook until you get the desired consistency.

Next, just can. This recipe makes 4 large quart jars or 8 pint jars.

Dad chopping. He loves it!

YUM!