I've finished the Harry Potter series

Here is a cake of Hogwarts! How cool. I wish I could make awesome stuff like that!


Well, Deathly Hallows was a very good read. I enjoyed it more than Half-Blood Prince. It was a little depressing at times though.

Spoiler Alert!! Don't read below if you don't want to know.

Here is the short version on how I feel about the book.

Ok, did I care that Moody died? not so much. He wasn't that great of a character and we never really got to know him since Barty Crouch Jr. was posing as him. So, no hard feelings there. I have to admit, I was more sad when Hedwig died. I'm sure most were since Hedwig was so special to Harry.

I could have done without Ron being a bitch and leaving Harry and Hermione. That didn't seem all that important to the storyline and I feel that if she had left that alone the book wouldn't have been so depressing. Oh well.

I'm happy that JK actually took the time to explain what really happened between Snape and Lily. She has thrown hints at a possible romance between the two here and there and I always wondered if I was just crazy because I was thinking along those lines. I'm always upset though when I hear that people are told only half the story so as to make them think a certain way. Of course, for plots sake(ha), I understand why she did it.

I was honestly expecting everyone to die, and I mean everyone. The fact that Harry died and came back, sounded like a little bit of bs to me. If the Elder Wand had never taken to Voldemort, wouldn't it have backfired on him the first time? Instead of the second. Then Nagini would have been Voldemort and Harry would have had to battle a huge snake! Or, was it that since Nagini was still alive, the wand couldn't kill Voldemort yet...which is what she wants us to believe. It just doesn't make sense compared to the first time when Harry's parents died. I guess I need to think about this more. The ending was almost exactly what I was expecting though, Voldemort and Harry face to face. I like the way she didn't have them "dueling" so much as, talking. I get the feeling that in the movie it will not go that way and there will be explosions. (maybe even a giant mechanical spider...since they brought the Acromantulas out of the forest).

Anyway, I had high expectations for the ending and I think she did a great job.

The "19 Years Later" part at the end could have been left out though. I thought it was fitting that Harry & Ginny and Ron & Hermione got married and had kids, but I thought the fact that Harry named all his kids after people was kind of lame. I get why, I just thought it was lame.

Plus, now that Voldemort is gone, its kind of boring to think about their kids going to Hogwarts. I mean...if they sneak off it wont be to do exciting stuff. whatever.

The series was great. All in all it was good.

Rubber Snake in the garden

Well, this idea didn't work. I'm not sure if its because the snake is small and its a neon color, or if my pesky neighborhood animals are too gangsta for something so trivial as a plastic snake.

I found the snake in the back covered with dirt...so that's not working. Now I have to think of something else.

Someone told me in order to defeat the squirrels that you should just grow an abundance of whatever it is so you can enjoy some, while the squirrels enjoy some. I don't like this idea. Especially since only 2 of my 40 corms are coming through the dirt right now.

blah.

Chicken lo mein.

Chicken Lo Mein

Ok. I've made stir fry before...and it was ok.

This was yummy! In true Cheryl fashion..I altered the recipe a little bit. That's just what I do.

So make this recipe almost exactly as it says except...

I used chicken tenderloins.

I boiled broccoli and carrots and fettuccine nests.

In the skillet I added 1tsp chinese 5 spice, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, baby corn and green onions to the chicken to cook for a couple minutes before adding all the sauce ingredients.

Yummy yummy yummy.

Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas

Another Rachael Ray recipe that I hope to try soon.

Deathly Hallows & Half-Blood Prince

Half-Blood Prince:

The book was ok. I'd have to say that I pretty much forgot everything that happened in the book other than the last few chapters. Justin and I ran out to buy the movie so we could watch it. I originally wanted to wait until I read Deathly Hallows to watch HBP but once I started DH, I decided it would be best to just watch the movie and get it over with. THE MOVIE WAS TERRIBLE!!!! I couldn't believe how much they added and changed. I could really just scream the f-word all day long about it. It was just crap. I understand that some movies need to adjust the story a little bit to make room for a 2 hour movie but geez! It was 2/5 hours and it was so boring. They could have done so much more with the movie. Give the readers what they want, an accurate telling of the story. It was by far the worst Harry Potter movie yet. I have no expectations for DH. I am not sure if I will even bring myself to watching it. I'm definitely glad I didn't waste money to see it in the theater. But, I'm also upset that we spent money on the DVD.



Deathly Hallows:

I am not at all happy with the way things are going. I'm half way through and I'm just upset. I get the feeling a lot of people are going to die soon. :( I'm excited to read on, but I hold no hope for anyone. And, I get the feeling that Harry dies. I'm not sure about Voldemort though. I guess I need to go read....

:( poor eaten freesia corms.

Today, amongst 2 deep holes in the front "gardens" I found the dry outer part of my freesia corms resting on the ground.

Leslie, you sonofabitch. This resolution, of being a better mommy, isn't working out too well. But, Vi does love to go outside and pat the dirt for me. Its pretty cute actually. At least I can give her a moment of happiness before I remove her from the dirt and wipe off her hands. :)

I think I will need to be buying the mesh screen stuff.

Also, the bowl of water on the back porch...not working. Each pot and the planter has been dug into again. This is getting old.

The Pot Stickers were Fabulous!

Rachael Ray's Pot Stickers

Everyday Food's Pot Stickers

Epicurean Ginger Soy Dipping Sauce

Oh...My.......Goodness.

Ok, so here goes. I combined all of these recipes to make the extremely flavorful and disappearing pot stickers that used to exist but are all gone now.

I forgot to take a pic too. Sorry. My eyes & stomach could care less about a photo. Plus, I was eating them right out of the pot. omg. they rocked my socks off. I love this resolution more than any other one. I'm definitely going out of my cooking shell and LOVING it!

Final Recipe:

Filling:
12oz ground pork
1/2C finely chopped napa cabbage
1T finely chopped ginger root
2 chopped scallions(white & green parts)
1 clove finely chopped garlic
1T soy sauce
1t toasted sesame oil
1t Chinese 5 spice

24-ish Won-ton wrappers(the square ones)
1-2T vegetable oil
scallion greens for garnish.
1C chicken stock

step 1: chop that shit!
step 2: gently combine in a bowl. (I always use glass when dealing with raw meat)
step 3: keeping wrappers under a very slightly wet towel(I put a paper towel between the wrappers and the wet towel so they dont get too wet and sticky) and put a teaspoon of filling in the wrapper and wet the sides and press together gently.
step 4: Heat a 12" skillet (with lid) over med-high heat and pour in 1T of veg oil.
step 5: brown both sides of pot sticker (1 min each side)
step 6: pour in 1/2 cup of stock and put lid on skillet for about 3-4 min until pork is cooked through..or until stock is absorbed/cooked off.
step 7: once pot stickers are done, remove them and set them on a paper towel lined plate to catch some of the excess fluid. (this step is probably optional)

This is very easy. I took me about 45 minutes, but I think that's because I've never made them before.

I served them with the exact recipe for the Ginger Soy Dipping Sauce from Epicurean.

I ate 12....along with all the rice and the big bowl of fruit. (the snow peas I made were yucky..I over cooked them.)

Gardening tips

Craftzine.com

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this website!!!

Pot Stickers!

Here is a recipe for Pot Stickers.

I love me some pot stickers but have always lacked the courage to make them. Maybe I will try next week. maybe.

Lester...is a girl?

I saw her nips.

I think a name change is in order.

I think I'm going to go with a transgender name because I'm sure there are 3 squirrels at least that come to my backyard every evening to scrounge for food.

So, Leslie...which means "from the gray fortress" it's perfect!

Leslie.

All the squirrels from hence forth,in my backyard, shall be Leslie. So let it be written, so let it be known.

Lester Proofing..

10 ways to keep squirrels out of your garden or pots.

1. Take the squirrels at least 15 miles away from home.
2. Sprinkle hot sauce/pepper flakes around garden.
3. Place kids pinwheels around garden.
4. Sprinkle human hair clippings around garden.
5. Sprinkle coffee grounds in flower pots.
6. Place toy snakes in garden, moving them around every once in a while.
7. Read the book "Squirrel Wars."
8. Use a bird bath/bowl of water. Squirrels eat plants because they are thirsty.
9. Place mothballs around garden.
10. Place loose plastic mesh over dirt.


ok..I'm ok with most of these except the hot sauce/pepper flakes. That just seems mean. Poor little guys with burning mouths.

I think I will try putting a bowl of water out on the porch near the pots and I might try the plastic snake in the front "garden" and see if that works.

I will keep you updated.

Lester Strikes again!

This time he didn't make as big of a mess.

Time to research squirrels.

Taco Pasta Toss PUKE!!!

Yuck. I threw it out!

I think the idea for this meal is a good one and I will be creating my own. Minus the BEER! ew. ew. ew.

Justin actually got a stomach ache.

If I make something soon I'll let ya know.

Lester!

Everyone, meet Lester the Pester! My menacing squirrel friend that was caught in the act of digging in my planters! As soon as I got my camera he was on the post. Darn little guy!

Minor Setback

Well, after a week of sulking, I'm back in the game. Screw the big companies. There are plenty of small ones out there that I can dominate!

Now, time to come up with a name/brand, set up my budget & time-line and make some major purchases. Bye Bye money! See you in a few months! (I hope)

Thank you Bright Sunshiney Day for making me realize that I want to enjoy you in the summer with the family!

Now my only setback is daycare. :( I'm sure I can find someone, I just DONT WANT TO!

Ok, new quilt idea.

Look at the quilt with hearts on it

I'm glad I haven't even started this project yet because here is another idea.

I could sew up a normal quilt (normal meaning, cotton only) and then applique pieces of Vi's clothes onto it in different shapes. I think I really like this idea since I will know that the quilt is all cotton and wont finish in a weird shape because of the Jersey knit clothes all being different.

hmm..decisions.

garden, 4 days later.

Thanks to the little critters running around outside I had to replant 2 corms and refill 3 holes in the front....and look what they did to my planters! Thank goodness those were empty. Darn it! Go eat the neighbors flowers, mine are just babies!

Taco Pasta Toss!

Taco Pasta Toss

Have I mentioned how much I love Rachael Ray! I will definitely be buying these ingredients for one of next week's meals. If I felt like grocery shopping I'd go buy the ingredients now...but, nah.

My small garden.

A small start is better than no start!

Why haven't I been gardening??? Oh....yeah, its time consuming.

So, sadly I will not be planting a sidewalk border...because I'm apparently lazy. Here are pics of my beginnings. I have slowly been prepping the soil. I wouldn't really call the "earth" that I have surrounding my house soil, I had to buy some good quality soil from Home Depot. I first dug and raked all the dirt and got rid of the grass. I then bought the cheapest separation device I could find, 4 for $6! haha. They look really retarded but that's not the point of the garden. I am hoping they will blend in and be hardly noticed. I then bought some sphagnum peat and some humus & manure and mixed it in with the clay that I have been blessed with. So, once it was all clumpy n stuff I raked it and raked it and tried to make it small and pretty and eventually had to go buy a couple of big bags of garden soil. It also has miracle-grow in it which should last for 3 months.

I am also germinating some Vanilla Impatiens for the back porch so I can enjoy some pretty flowers back there too! I wont be able to transfer the impatiens for another 7 weeks or so.

I just planted my lily of the valley, which was supposed to be 2 but I think it was just one....or else I'm going to have one huge lily of the valley..haha. You live, you learn!

I also planted all the freesia around it. I'm concerned about the freesia because it says it needs full sun and the place I put it isn't quite full sun. Its more like, the dividing line between the shade of the house and the sun. So, hopefully as summer progresses and the sun becomes a little more straight above the house it will even itself out. I'll have my fingers crossed at least. If it doesn't work out, I only have to dig up the corms and save them until next year.

Anyway, yada yada yada, here are some pictures.








I probably wont be blogging about the garden for a while since I am expecting nothing to change for at least 7 weeks.

Pork loin Steaks.

Bridget & Dave gave us this huge hunk of pork loin.

So I have cut it into 14 steaks and 3 roasts. Like I said, huge! And it was only like $14 at Sams. Go Sams!

So, I will now be accepting your pork steak recipes....I have no problem researching chicken recipes because I eat chicken all the time and can envision the flavors but I never ever eat pork and will be requiring help with this one! I trust you and will try almost anything..

Things to keep in mind:
I try to eat healthy, but if something sound yummy enough I will try it.
I'm not a fan of bacon unless its used to flavor the pan.
I don't like asparagus/eggplant.
I can grill/bake/saute/fry/etc.

That's pretty much it. Ok...help me out here folks!