Stri-fried Rice with Vegetables and Beef

Making Stir-fried Rice is a great way to use up vegetables you have onhand. This time, I added some fish sauce, along with hoisin sauce and a few Asian seasonings. Yum!

After Christmas: The best time of year for many

The presents have been opened, some have been returned, and the cleanup begins for many after Christmas. But, for several people, after- Christmas shopping is "the most wonderful time of the year." With gift certificates (and cash) in hand, many people will hit some of their favorite stores after Christmas in search of good buys on items they wanted for Christmas. And, others (like me), will do a lot of browsing in hopes of finding something at a great mark-down prices. For those who love to shop and find bargins year-round, after-Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year.

How time flys!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is almost here? It seems like it was only yesterday I was enjoying a Thanksgiving feast with my family. Now, it's time to break out my favorite recipes and decide what to make. My homemade apple pie is always a hit with my family, and of course, so is Sweet Potato Pie! Yum, I can hardly wait.

Quick Stir-fry Cabbage

Some of my best-tasting dishes were made quickly and without measuring. The stir-fried cabbage I cooked tonight was one of them. I fried one slice of bacon (cut into five pieces) until crisp with two cloves of minced garlic and half a cup of chopped onions. Then, I sprinkled about 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, sage, and red pepper flakes and mixed together. I added the shredded cabbage (half of a medium-sized) and tossed with the onions, garlic, and seasonings until coated. Lastly, I poured in about 1/2 cup of chicken stock and simmered for about 10 minutes. It went well with the turkey meatballs and rice I served with it. And, it tastes great, too!

New Bobbi Brown colors

If you like Bobbi Brown makeup, you're probably aware of the new colors she's added to her makeup line. I tried on a new pot rouge color "raspberry" and liked it instantly! It gives your lips and cheeks a pretty pop of color for spring, summer, or fall. The new package is pretty, too, with a round glass mirror attached, making the $1.00 increase from $24 to $25 well worth it. I like the new cream eye shadow "copper", too. The color isn't as bold as "bronze", yet equally pretty and powerful - a perfect gold shade! Though this product increased to $24 (from $22), it's still a good deal. It lasts all day without creasing! Visit a Bobbi Brown counter at Macy's or Nordstrom to see what colors work for you.

Two great buys at Macy's!

Every once in a while, we all need to treat ourselves to something nice, especially when it's on sale! Today while browsing at Macy's, I purchased an elegant white and gold necklace at 60% off, plus an additional 15% off. My total price came to a little over $13.00. And, the dressy, stylish, and comfortable turquoise, black, and white blouse I found was a steal, too, for a little over $10.00 after tax and an additional 15% off. You can't beat Macy's for fashionable clothing and jewelry at bargain prices.

Smoked Sausage & Spaghetti Skillet Dinner

You know I love trying new recipes, especially ones I can throw together quickly with ingredients I have on hand. I knew I wanted a home-cooked meal today but wanted to prepare something quick. While grocery shopping today, I decided to try a package of Johnsonville Smoked Sausage (premium cooking sausage). I read the recipe on the back of the package, and it sounded good! Turns out, it was. Of course, I added a few extra ingredients for more flavor, and shook a little Parmesan cheese on top before serving. It was light, flavorful, and filling.

Smoked Sausage & Spaghetti Skillet Dinner

8 ounces spaghetti, cooked and drained
1 package (13.5 ounces) Johnsonville Smoked Sausage, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 package (8 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in hald
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

In a skillet, brown sausage in oil for 3-4 minutes. Add mushrooms, garlic and seasonings. Continue to cook until vegetables are tender. Stir in tomatoes, basil and prepared pasta. Toss lightly; heat through. Serve.
6-8 servings. Ready in 30 minutes.

Note: I added about two tablespoons of white wine, 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and some diced onions and green bell pepper I had in the refrigerator.