Zucchini Bites

Have you ever planted zucchini plants are haves so much zucchini that you don't know what to do with it all.  I may have that problem this year; our zucchini plants are huge! And so far, the one plants in our garden actually produce normal (and larger) sized vegetables.  Usually we just steam our zucchini and sprinkle with dill and salt and pepper.  Or there is always zucchini bread.  But sometimes eating it the same way can be boring.  Why stalking around Facebook one day, I came across a yummy looking recipe for zucchini. And they were delicious! I can't take credit for the recipe (Thank you Gregg's Skinny Friends & Weight Loss on FB) I did however tweak it a little to make it gluten free and add some spice.


Here's a simplified recipe.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cover cookie sheets with aluminium foil.

Slice zucchini about 1/4 inch thick.

Mix zucchini and olive oil in a bowl.  Enough olive oil to cover all the zucchini slices.

Mix together grated parmesan cheese, dill, Red Cayenne pepper, salt and pepper (Recipe doesn't call for dill or cayenne pepper, but i like spice)

Take a slices of zucchini (with oil on each side) and dip in the cheese mixture covering both sides.

Place the zucchini slices on your cookie sheet previously covered with aluminium foil.

Once all the zucchini are covered, take the left over cheese mixture and sprinkle on zucchini slices for a little extra.

Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 min. (Or until they look done) You don't need to flip them over. Just set the timer and wait.

And Enjoy!!!

The original recipe call for breadcrumbs, but I left them out to make them gluten free. And they were delicious! I think I'll keep making them without the bread crumbs.

She Says it Best

Sometimes, someone else just says it best. (Like Elise)

http://www.elisespiecesblog.com/2013/06/some-days-im-really-grateful-for.html?m=0

I'm Good with Math

I own this shirt (see below. Couldnt find my shirt. Pic courtesy of http://blankthis.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/an-engineer-in-the-kitchen/ ).  Pretty much it says I am a nerd. And I am.  I graduated in 2012 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering (plus a minor in math).  I choose engineering, well, becuase I liked calculus and physics. Not because I liked taking things apart. Not because I was intrigued with how my radiator worked or why the ferris wheel went around. It was all because I liked math.

There's a quote from "Mean Girls" that is along the lines that math is great because it is the same I'm every language. Very true.  But as classes get harder, math literally becomes Greek. So mant Greek symbols. I almost think we should get a minor In Greek when we graduate too. (Ok its not that much Greek) 

So why am I telling you all this. Because yesterday was my 18th first day of school. I started my first semester as a mathematics graduate student! Yipee! I'm only taking one class during the summer but start as a full time student in the fall. I hadn't always planned on getting my masters. Somedays I'm all for it. Other days I ask myself what in the world was I thinking. But I'm going for it  you can never have too much education. And idealy I'd like to teach someday. And with the way schools could be headed, I know its important for me to have an education (more on that later)   Right now in my life when its just the husbamd and I, I have the perfect opportunity to start this exciting adventure in life. I don't want to loom back wishing I had done it. Its now or never.  I'm nervous and scared. But it will be fun. Plus I can focus on just school and not the social aspect. (Already found my perfect matcb last degree)

I'm so thankful for all the support of family and friends. Especially the husband. Friends have stood up for me when I am questioned why I am going back to school. Also my work has been great to work with me to start school while working, and supporting my decision to pursue my degree full time (I told them this one month into the job) 

Education is so important. Our knowledge is one if the things that is ours and can't be taken away. Knowledge is power. Power to Influence others to do good. Influence for positive change. Influence our families. Influence the world.

I may never end up "teaching" math in some fancy school with some fancy classroom, but I will teach my family and teach the community. And that is what is important. Knowledge blesses our lives.

So I guess my point of this post is, things in life are scary and hard. But they bless us. They strengthen us. They make us who we are so we can lead others. Let us all seek for knowledge. Knowledge of worldly things and knowledge of spiritual things.  Now matter if your knowledge is gained in a classroom or in your home. The Knowledge you gain will bless your life and the lives around you.

Seek for knowledge!

A Shinning Example to the World

Watch "Moore, Oklahoma, Woman Leaves For Mormon Mission in Wake of Tornado" on YouTube

What an amazing young women. Her family will truly be blessed. And she will bless the lives of those in Mesa, Arizona.

DYI: Chevron Skirt

Eariler I posted about this cute skirt I made (See it here).  Here's a DYI of how to make it yourself.  It took me about an hour to make.

First, choose some extra cute fabric. I got mine from Hobby Lobby.  They even deliver! Woot Hoot! Plus I got 40% off one yard. Yeah for discounts!

Fold the fabric so that the right sides match (pretty sides together)

I then folded it in half again.  Instead of cutting out the full skirt pattern.  I was only going to cut half out.  Similar to folding a piece of paper in half and cutting out a heart.

I then measured how long I wanted the skirt.  I made my extra long.  I'm 5'8'' and made my skirt 40" long.  That was close to the long side, but it still works.  I pinned the inside seem at 40" long.

Then I measured how wide I wanted the skirt at the top and bottom.  Measure you're waist and add a few inches (It's an elastic skirt).  Cut that measurement in half (remember you folded the fabric in half earlier).  My measurement was rounded up to 40" so I measure 20" at one end.  Then add 10" for each fold for the bottom.  So I pinned at 20" at the top of the fabric. And 30" at the bottom (pinned location)

Use the measuring tape as a straight edge between your two marks.  This will be where you cut the skirt pattern.  It should be an angled. This will make the skirt flow.

Hard to tell there's an angle in the next picture, but it is.

With the right sides still together, sew the two pieces of fabric together.  Then at the bottom, add a hem.  I folded mine twice to make the hem.

At the top you'll sew a larger hem to fit the elastic through.  Don't sew it completely shut or else you can't get the elastic in.  To measure the elastic I placed it around my waist until it fit comfy and then cut.  It needs to be able to keep the skirt up, so stretch it a bit, but not too tight it's uncomfortable.  Attach a safety pin to the elastic and feed it through the hem you just made on the top of the skirt.

Feed the elastic through making sure to keep both ends out of the hem.  

Sew the two ends of the elastic together.  Make sure the elastic is laying flat inside the top skirt hem before you sew it together.

Turn the skirt right side out and Ta-Da! You just sewed a fabulously cute skirt in less than an hour! (Sorry don't know how to turn picture in Blogger)

Here are the measurements that I used for my skirt.  I would guess it's a Medium/Large skirt.

Happy Sewing! 

PS. If you have an questions or I need to explain more... Leave a comment!

This is My Home

Home. My place of comfort.  My place where I can be lazy and lounge around in my mismatched pj's and awesome #dailybedhead.  My home has changed a few times.  And once I was in college, my home changed with every passing year.  I grew up a city girl, claiming the big city with all the lights as my home town.  And now, I am in the middle of the USA, enjoying the small town life.  To be completely honest, I cried when the though of moving to small town USA was even brought up. But I love it here.  The is a slower paced feel living in the small town.  Also, its BEAUTIFUL! Yes its flat, but there is a beauty around here.

I live in the middle of the USA. (Literally.) I live in what Jason Aldean calls "fly over states." Here the plains are covered in the fields that feed America. ("We're Farming and We Grow it." I live in small town USA. Right now, the wheat is turning golden and the corn is about a foot tall.  Picture Perfect! Living out here you truly live in the amber waves of grain.  You come to appreciate the beauty is what the Earth has to offer.

It doesn't matter if you live in the big city with the bright lights or small town USA; Home is where you are.  You are what makes a house a home.  "Home is where the heart is."  It wouldn't matter where me and the Husband lived.  Anywhere together is our home.  Family is what home is all about.  Really family is what is the most important in life.  Family is what makes life have meeting.  I don't know where I would be in life without my family.  So where ever you live, live it happily with your family all around you.

Chevron to the Max

Chevron is in. Not the gas station, but the pattern.  It seems to be everywhere. From shirts to skirts to blog backgrounds (teehee.... mine is)  I kept seeing the cute chevron maxi skirts.  My mom kept looking for one for me, but couldn't every find the particular one I wanted.  Yes, I was a little picky. So a thought occurred to me.... yes another thought. "What if I just make one?" I knew exactly what I wanted so I thought that I might be better to just make one instead of searching and never finding exactly what I wanted.  One day I found some cute fabric from Hobby Lobby online and bought it. So excited for it to come in the mail.  It showed up and I was excited! One downside.... It wasn't the stretchy maxi fabric I was hoping. But it was still cute.  So I improvised and make a knee length skirt for church.  I made it without a pattern.  I am not always the most patient when it comes to sewing, I just want things done.  The skirt turned out great!  I was so excited I wore it to work the next day and then church today.   I'm quite please with how it came out. And it only took an hour! Woo-hoo for homemade skirts!  Look back this week for the tutorial on how to make your own.  It's super easy!

Happy Sewing!

Got Milk?

Sometimes I try to be frugal.... or at least save my family some money.  I've watched "Extreme Couponing" on TLC.  Sadly, we don't get the newspaper. And there aren't many choices of grocery stores in out neck of the woods.  But every once in a while I get a good deal, or at least think so.  I like to stock up on food too for our food storage.  Someday I hope to have a 1 year supply of food for my family.  Right now, I would guess we're about 3-6 months worth.  (but that's another post)  Back to my beginning thought.  The husband and I were grocery shopping Saturday and milk was on sale. 1/2 gallon for 1$.... which makes a gallon for 2$.  It's been a while since I've seen milk for 2$.... usually I get excited when milk is under 3$. (Usually it's always the 1/2 gallons on sale at Kroger Stores)

 So there I was in the milk aisle..... thinking to myself...."self, this is a good deal.  I should stock up."  Now you are probably thinking to yourself.... "Self.... how can she stock up on milk. It has an expiration date.  And milk is something you HAVE to drink by the expiration date."  Well, did you need that you can freeze milk? Yup, freeze milk.  So I bout 7 gallons of milk. Yup 7 gallons for my two person family.

Here's a links about it.
http://www.favoritefreezerfoods.com/freezing-milk.html

I pour out a little bit out before I freeze it, it will expand once frozen. Also, the husband said it doesn't deform the bottle as much if you don't screw the cap on so tight.  The milk takes about a day to defrost in the fridge.  So plan ahead. Also, because the milk was frozen, it is still good past the expiration date.  I would suggest drinking it within a few days.  Usually the smell of milk will let you know if it's not good.  But since we bought it in 1/2 gallons, it doesn't last long at all.   Like the link stated, the milk doesn't also have the same "mouth taste," but it's still milk. And it saved us some money.  So next time your in the milk aisle and see milk on sale, don't hesitate to stock up and save a few pennies.  Happy Saving!