What An Extra Rib Eye Steak Taught Me...

This post isn't about a recipe, just some random thoughts today. The boys gave me a new grill for Christmas and I christened it with bone-in rib eye steaks-very nice! We had one leftover steak that day.

Thought #1: When dinner was over I kept thinking about those smoky steak bones and how I bet they'd make a tasty stock for a small batch of soup...

In case you're worried... We did use a knife and fork for dinner, I have a good friend that joked that her family would be gnawing on the bone, but that wasn't the case here. I added the leftover steak, all of the bones and 2 cups of water to my ♥QVC 4 Quart Electronic Pressure Cooker♥ and set it for one hour. It made a very nice stock and I shred/cut the meat, then froze it to use later.

Thought #2: My ♥4 Quart Electronic Pressure Cooker♥ is without a doubt the best money I've ever spent on a kitchen toy! And if you know me, you know I love my kitchen toys:@) It produces great flavor, reduces cooking time and does not heat up the kitchen in the summer. Over the course of a year I use it at least once a week and if I actually put pen to paper, I'm confident it's much more often.

Thought #3: Don't be afraid to change recipes, use things up, mix things up, and make them your own in the kitchen! There is an amazing recipe in Food Network Magazine this month French Onion Soup With Braised Short Ribs, truly drool worthy and great inspiration!!! Well, I'm not buying short ribs but did have my rib eye stock and meat, so that's what I used and made a half batch. I also wanted to cut calories so I chose to caramelize the onions then add cooked barley (17 minutes in my pressure cooker) instead of bread and cheese. I made French Onion Beef and Barley Soup. This is a very flavorful soup and I never would have thought to caramelize the onions without seeing this recipe.

Thought #4: I know we're all feeling the $ pinch these days and think using the rib eye bones for stock is a very good example of the old-time saying "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!".

Have a happy day:@)

Works For Me Wednesday-Hodgepodge

Hey everyone! Let's mix it up a bit this week. Random thoughts:

• I keep a one page Year-At-A-Glance Calendar on my desk and write everything of importance on this one page: when I had oil delivered/how much per gallon, paid my taxes, had a doctor appointment, got my boiler serviced, bought a major appliance, etc. Makes it easy to track things and I keep every year's calendar.

• Treat yourself to an inspiration board! I honestly hope everyone has a little chunk of space that's truly their own, feed your spirit with a big cork inspiration board! Mine is full of sayings, sketches, clippings, cards and do-dads that just make me feel good! And yes, I might even have a pamphlet titled 50 Things To Do With Bacon pinned to the bottom:@) 

• Leave a bottle of vitamins at the office. Even if we tend to forget to take them at home, somehow we can always find the time at work-just keeping it real folks.

• Reducing magazine clutter-I get several mags and mostly save recipes. I am ruthless, if nothing catches my eye I immediately chuck it. I'll tear the recipes out of the others when the next edition comes and store them in a three ring binder with dividers (app, side dish, main, dessert, canning, etc.). If it's a full page I'll three hole punch it, small pieces of paper get piled into plastic sheet protectors. My friend has an accordion file where she stores decorating and gardening ideas by month. Full disclosure: I do save Martha Stewart Living (if I feel it's worth saving) and Christmas issues of Country Living.

• Made me chuckle... how's this for a little diet motivation!

Have a happy day:@)

Note Card Party

I see a bunch of my bloggy buddies have joined a fun new party! A Haven for Vee suggested choosing four pics from your blog that you think would make fun Note Cards-I'm in! I decided to go with the theme:

A Year In Garden Flowers

Late Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers and have a happy day:@)

Works For Me Wednesday-Cleaning Tips

Hey everyone! I've seen 'Works For Me Wednesday' on a few blogs and thought it was a fun idea. I won't be posting it every week, only when I have something to share and the topics will vary...

I can guarantee that you won't find many cleaning tips coming from me! My specialty would be helping you make a mess, especially in the kitchen. (More on that in my next post and it involves powdered sugar and a mixer:@) But here are a few things that work for me and may just be helpful to you too.

• Ever notice how much steam is given off when you microwave a potato? This is the easiest way to clean your microwave! Take your potato(es) out for the "rest" period and while waiting simply wipe down the inside of the microwave. I promise you, it doesn't get any easier!

• Keep an old toothbrush at the sink-ok, a new one for those that are eebied! They work great for cleaning the grill plates of George Foreman type grills. After grilling, unplug and place 2 wet paper towels across the surface of the grill, close the lid and enjoy your dinner (yes it's hot, yes it will sizzle, as long as the grill is unplugged don't worry about it). When it's time to do the dishes (provided you don't leave them overnight) that toothbrush and soapy water will clean the plates with no effort! I use old toothbrushes for anything that has an odd shape like the beautiful curves and dips on the edges of my Fenton Silvercrest, the rims of my tires, or to clean the holes on the inside of my Dyson vacuum.

• Keep a squeeze bottle of bleach at the kitchen sink, like those red and yellow condiment ones, mine is clear from Walmart. This is such a great tip for helping to keep things sanitary if you don't have an automatic dishwasher. My dish washer's name is Lynn and she really needs to be replaced, but has been with the family forever... I have a tub in my sink that I fill with sudsy water and add a squirt of bleach each time.  If I had a Cricut I'd add a cool skull and cross bone to the bottle:@). Bleach may be controversial but all I can say is, it's used in food service and that works for me. Please note: I don't have any little kids to worry about right now.

So there you have it, cleaning tips from Pig In Mud, bet you're as surprised as me!

Have a happy day:@)

Pig Alert! High Tech Style:@)

Hey everyone! Let's just say hi tech for me, ok? Couldn't help but post these different piggy things:

Hub and USB flash drives shared at inewidea.com (don't ask me what it's about, I just think it's cute:@)

Flash drive from Office Max

Pig speaker for your computer from Amazon.

Pig computer mouse, don't know why it's yellow... 

A fan that plugs into your USB port form Best Buy

the ihog docking station from Amazon

Pig ear buds... "Pardon me but is that a pig in your ear???"...

Have a happy day:@)

2011 Favorites

Hello and Happy New Year everyone! I wanted to share some favorite posts from 2011!

My Favorite Earl Post-Move Over Jim Cantore

My Absolute Favorite Recipe in 2011-Rustic Cabbage Soup

Not the prettiest picture, but a true comfort food that will warm the soul!

Simple/Healthy Meal-Oven Roasted Tomatoes with Garlic and Pasta

Hard to choose a favorite flower photo... but I like the warm colors in-Fall's Coming!

My favorite baked goodie-Candy Corn Cake

Favorite Junking find-Relish Dish

Most fun cooking technique (and second most viewed post of all time)-Dyed Deviled Eggs

And, my most viewed post of all time-Your Favorite-Yo Yo Pumpkins

Many folks wrote me saying they made them with their kids or grands-I love that!

I'd like to sincerely thank you for stopping by and spending a little, usually silly, time with me-

I've truly enjoyed your company!

Wishing you all the best in 2012 and as I say every holiday:

Eat much, stay safe and play nice:@)

Christmas Music

Hey everyone! I'm a huge country music fan and one of the things I like best is that in addition to re-doing the classics they create new Christmas music. Everything from silly to thought provoking.

My favorite CD is Toby Keith's Christmas to Christmas (1995).

There's not one classic on the CD and he touches on everything from religion, to surviving the holidays after losing a loved one, to Santa getting a Hot Rod Sleigh painted up like Richard Petty's car! Santa I'm Right Here is a tribute to the reality of too many in these hard economic times.

Another favorite:
The Elvis Duets (2008) CD is just fun! We've all heard him sing these traditional songs before but they've added in female voices (Carry Underwood, Martina McBride, Wynonna, etc.) and it's really neat.

Here are a few songs that you can Google if you'd like to hear something different:
Hard Candy Christmas-Dolly Parton
Let's Make A Little Christmas Tonight-Phil Vassar
What Made the Baby Cry-Toby Keith
Thistle Hair the Christmas Bear-Alabama
The Angel At the Top of My Tree-Kenny Chesney
Let It Be Christmas-Alan Jackson
Merry Christmas From the Family-Montgomery Gentry-silly

Redneck Twelve Days of Christmas-Jeff Foxworthy-silly

Have a happy day:@)

Bud Vase Napkin Rings on Clearance

Calling all Tablescapers and Hostesses! Or anyone that needs a gift idea for the person that has everything... I saw these cute acrylic napkin rings in QVC's clearance section and wanted to mention them. Not only are they great for any holiday/occasion, they are a bud vase too!

Product H168208 - $15.24 + S&H - Set of 8.

Not the best pic, but if you click here you can see the video.

(The vase is actually on the bottom in this pic, the rings would be turned vertically to use it.)

Have a happy day:@)

Halloween A to Z

I think this A to Z idea is fun! Here are the first things that pop to my mind for  Halloween...

A-Apples, preferably coated in caramel, chocolate and nuts.
B-Boggy Man, hope I never see him!
C-Cats, beautiful black ones. Bet you're surprised it wasn't Candy!
D-Dead... um, that's it.
E-Eerie, wispy, moonlit skies...
F-Frightful, I've been on a couple great hay rides:@)
G-Ghouls, seen on the above mentioned hay rides.
H-Halloween, a fun time to embrace your inner child.
I-Icky, gross, wet, slimy stuff (see H).
J-Just wanna fool my friends with this cool costume.
K-Kickin' great time at the bon fire!
L-Lots of candy for you and me.
M-Martha gets a little too gross for me at Halloween.
N-Nice night for make believe.
O-Owls are so cute!
P-Pretend you don't know who the kids are.
Q-Quit being a stick in the mud and have some fun!
R-Rats, but only the little rubber ones:@)
S-Skeletons run wild.
T-Tricks aren't as fun as treats!
U-Umbrellas would be such a downer for trick or treating.
V-Violins provide some pretty spooky music.
W-What will you dress up as?
X-Xactly who thought of the letter X anyway?
Y-You getting into the spirit of it yet?
Z-Zero in on the Snickers Bars before the kids do!

Have a happy day:@)

Randomness...

Hey everyone! Seems I'm suffering from a bout of Blogger's Block that's compounded by the things I've tried to do not working out. Don't you hate it when that happens?!?!

Even he's a critic...

Had high hopes to post a cute Halloween cake today... ain't happening. I'll just say I have the utmost admiration for folks that have the patience and skill to artistically decorate cakes and cookies.

I'm gathering mini ornaments for my small kitchen Christmas tree and found these cute glass Hersey Kisses today at HomeGoods. They're about 1 1/2". True Confession Time: I'm a bit of an ornament addict... I tell my sons the ornaments are their inheritance:@)  Yep, they're thrilled.

We're at that time of year where natural day light is at a premium. Most days I'm at work during those hours,  I also have a point and shoot camera... What do you do to help make your pictures the best you can? Do you have a light box (did you make it?), an extra lamp, do you point it at the ceiling? Any ideas? Just curious.

How's the weather where you are? It has been amazing here in Philly yesterday and today. High of 60, lows in the 40's perfect for haunted hay rides and bon fires. Hope Fall is treating you well!

Have a happy day:@)

Halloween T's for Tots!

Hey everyone! Ok, how stinkin' (pun totally intended) cute is this first onesie! 

  

  

   

I think my 28 year old would like the zombie one himself!

Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday Scent winners are:

3-Char

14-Cathy

39-Marybeth

I'll e-mail you for your address. 

Thanks for playing along everyone!

Have a happy day:@)

Getting To Know Me From A to Z

Hey everyone! First and most importantly, Earl is home! I heard a big splash in the driveway during this rain storm tonight, when I looked out the door there he was wishing he had his wet weather gear! Thanks for your support of my little porker:@)

I think this is the cutest idea, I first saw it on Faithfulness Farm  but it started at AKAGramma. I wanted to play along. Simply give an answer to the letters... No big linky party, it's just for fun!

A. Apples or oranges?: Love them both... apples make better pies!
B. Bed: Full size, love my Northern Nights Chunky Flannel sheets from QVC.
C. Chore you hate: Mowing the lawn... one day I hope to have a lawn boy:@)
D. Dog: Had the sweetest beagle, nicknamed The Brat-it fit!
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee, the computer, then a shower.
F. Favorite Color: Most fond of yellow, red and orange.
G. Gold or Silver: Gold.
H. Height: Little under 5' 2", I'm a runt.
I. Instruments you play: I don't play any but love music. The piano would be my choice.
J. Job You Most Liked: Working at a Nursery (selling trees, poinsettias) over the holidays!
K. Kids: Two grown sons.
L. Live in: North of Philly!
M. Make of Car: Ford
N. Nicknames: Fabby calls me Piggy, always cracks me up:@)
O. Overnight Hospital Stays: C-Sections.
P. Pet Peeves: People that don't do what they say they're going to.
Q. Quote from a movie: “What we have here is a failure to communicate”
R. Right or Left Handed: Right
S. Scary Movies-yes or no: No!
T. T.V. Shows: Very little TV, but I only watch sports or Food Network.
U. Underware: You betcha!
V. Vegetable You Hate: I don't want to say hate (so harsh) but I know I wasn't fond of broccoli rabe when I tried it. Of course, that could just be because I didn't prepare it right...
W. What makes you run late: Nothing, just can't do it, gotta be on time.
X. X-Rays: Not many.
Y. Yummy Food That You Make: I like to bake and make a few comfort foods.
Z. Zoo Animal: Funny but I don't have fond memories of the zoo... I only remember that I kept getting sneezed on by the animals! I'll stick to pigs:@)

Have a happy day!

Early Fall By The Creek

Hey everyone! It was a gorgeous afternoon so I took a walk down to the creek to look for signs of fall:

I'm sure the squirrels are excited!

There's a blush on the crab apples, and...

Berries 

Some leaves are beginning to turn colors.

And of course it wouldn't be Fall without...

Ragweed.

That's what's happening North of Philly, hope it's beautiful where you are too:@)

Ever Question Yourself?

Hey everyone! I have an inspiration board in my studio and one of my favorite quotes is from George Jones, yep the country singer. George was asked about his song He Stopped Loving Her Today during an interview and this was his response:

"I told them, it ain't never gonna sell, it's just too damn sad!"

Obviously it's all a matter of personal opinion, but I don't think anyone would question 

that this is truly one of the most powerful country songs of all time.

Moral of the story:

Sometimes you just have to complete the task,

because if you don't, you may have missed out on your signature song!

Have a happy day:@)  

Randomness...

Hey everyone! I saw this little stray flower growing near the creek as I took a walk this morning.

Here's hoping we all bloom where we're planted.

This post has been edited to omit whininess, ugh.
Have a happy day:@)

Rainbow!

Hey everyone! After what seems like weeks of rain... I glanced out the window and saw this amazing rainbow! Of course as I was taking the picture, it started to rain again, but it was nice while it lasted:@)

Not a bad pic for my little point and shoot camera.

If you click to enlarge it you can even see pink on the bottom!

I'm joining:

Pink Saturday

Piggy Glass!

Hey everyone-Happy Pink Saturday! We've had this glass for a long time and Ma brought it over the other day, we thought it might give you a chuckle:@)

When life gives you lemons, 

sometimes ya just gotta pour a little something over rocks and add a twist!

A piggy with a purse?

Woo Hoo it's Friday night!

Maybe not such a good idea after all!

The reason it's a Piggy Glass, it's a 3oz shot glass!

Have a happy day:@)

I'm joining:
Favorite Things

Randomness...

Hey everyone! I've been lost in an allergy driven haze and I got nothing, nothing to post about. So here are some random thoughts off the top of my head:

I found a new linky party that I like the idea of today, Meet Me On Monday. I'm not ready to jump in today but did love one of the questions: Where were you born?

I was born in Albert Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia, PA! 

Only wish the namesake rubbed off a bit more... I mean, besides the hair do.

Do you ever listen to music, I mean really listen to the music and not just the words to a song?

My absolute favorite song right now is Keith Urban's If I Knew What I Was Doing. 

The build up to the last chorus is truly amazing!

They placed a fake wolf in the yard at the office to try to deter the geese. 

It worked as long as someone went out and moved it every day. 

It was stolen over the weekend... 

I'm thinking it was the guy that had to move it every day:@)

Have a happy day!

Hot Pink Kitchen Aid Mixers!

Hey everyone! Looks like Kitchen Aid wants to be a part of Pink Saturday-introducing Raspberry Ice!

They unveiled a few new colors at the International Home and Housewares Show.

I saw this on thekitchn.com you can read the article HERE.

How's this little cutie for my St. Patrick's Day green:

Have a happy day:@)