S T O P and A D M I R E the~ ~ ~ * * * R O S E S !!!! Little ones..... B I G ONES>>>>> Just Simply A D O R A B L E !!!!!!! Once again.... the "Darling DUO has Dazzled Us with their Delightful Art work !!!!!!" Thanks Kids.... They are just Precious..... Just Sparkling..... like the Two of YOU !!!!! Thank you for the Pics!!!! and Thank you for the IDeas..... Guess * * * * ALL that Snow did Not Freeze your creatavity ...... and every time.... you give the Weather at your place.... I can see that shorty after that.... whats left of the snow storm.... arrives here in Illinois... and gives me that cardiovascular work out....SHOVELING SNOW!! so..... Thanks for everything.... the Flowers... the instuctions... and the Weather report!!!! tee hee..... Glad you guys had such a fun shopping trip... and gluing session.... GOD BLESS !!! SusieSunShine

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I think the china cabinet is the best deal I ever ran across. It had a price marked on it of $800.00 and I didn't want to spend that much, so I kept on looking. That night DH was online trying to find some plans because he thought he might build me a china cabinet and he came across the same china cabinet for $4700.00!! Now that changed things! So I went back to the DAV store and asked if they would take any less. The lady came down to $650.00. I stood around and thought about it until DH said, "Well, do something! Either buy it or let's go." He had gotten tired of my standing and staring stage! So I finally went back and asked if they would take $500.00 and they said YES!!!!!!! DH did an excellent job of repairing the claw foot, and replacing the side glass, as well as rewiring the lights to make them work. I love it! Betty

Wow! Lots of good ideas. We have frozen broccoli in the fridge. I'll give the combination a try when I make mac & cheese this week. I usually barely thaw the broccoli with a little water in a covered sauté pan and then drain the water, turn up the heat, and finish it with a bit of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. msazadi - I've followed DW's example in cutting way back on, rather than completely eliminating, problematic foods. Catsup is a good example. Instead of slathering my cheese steak with catsup, as I did in the good old days, I used just enough to taste that it was there when I made them for lunch today. And I will probably try a slice of Jersey tomato on a burger this summer.

There's always TTHD. TATER TOT HOTDISH -Ground meat (I like to mix Jimmy Dean hot pork sausage with hamburger) -Onion & celery (optional) -Vegetables (Whatever you like. Green beans are sort of "traditional" but I like corn or mixed veg) -Cream soup mixed with milk (Cream of mushroom is "traditional" but I like cream of chicken, broccoli or potato.) -Tater Tots -Cheese (optional) This is so flexible. Use amounts to make the size of dish you want. Use any kind of meat. Roast beef, turkey, chicken... I like to mix them occasionally. It's best to brown the meat and I usually cook the onion and sometimes the celery with it. Depends if I want the onion and celery with a bit of a crunch. Season as you like. I use Louisiana Hot Sauce, garlic, lemon pepper and Italian seasoning usually. Put the meat, onion & celery in the bottom of a baking dish, either in layers or mixed up, top with the veggies, top that with the cream soup and on top go the tater tots. Some like to bake the tots first for extra crunch or they'll be crunchy on top and soft on the bottom. Whatever you prefer. Cheese is optional in it or on it in the last 15 min or so. Bake it until the tots are as brown as you like. The good part is everything is cooked so you don't have that as a problem. Substitute mashed potatoes for tots and you'll have a Shepherd's Pie. You can even use fresh potatoes if you like. Like I said, it's so flexible you really don't need a recipe. Hot rolls, biscuits, toast, etc., all go well with this. Even garlic bread. Another easy option is Scalloped potatoes & ham (or other meat, or go meatless). When I make a macaroni hotdish I don't use a real recipe either. Again, you can add any kind(s) of meat or go without. Similar to baked ziti. Macaroni Hotdish -Meat of your choice -Macaroni or other pasta of your choice. I like the jumbo elbows -Sauce. Can be spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, with or without some diced or stewed tomatoes, or you can use cream soup(s) or you can use a can of gravy, again, it's flexible. -I like to add some kidney beans and sometimes mixed veg or corn Amounts depend on servings desired and the ratio of meat to pasta you like. A starting point would be 1#-2# of meat, 1-2 cups of macaroni, small to large jar/can of sauce and add the amount of other things you like. I also like to add some pepperoni for a bit of spice. Again, season as you like. Garlic bread goes great with it. Veggies can be served on the side or mixed into these. A crisp green salad is a good accompaniment to thse too.