A-Z Blog Challenge: Me (epic fail)

Posted on by April 21, 2013

Yes, I admit it. I failed. Miserably. I was so sure I’d have the discipline to get through the month and write a post a day, but I was wrong. I did get to “M” though, so I made it half way. Better than nothing, I suppose. Being on vacation during April does make it more difficult, but that’s no excuse. I know many people who blog daily who have much busier lives than I do. I’m putting it down to lack of discipline.

So, I need to find a happy medium. I’m going to try blogging on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as well as posting a snippet of a current book on Sunday’s Weekend Warriors.

Wish me luck. And if you have any tips for being more discplined and fighting procrastination, I’d love to hear them.

M is for Meatballs

Posted on by April 15, 2013

These are really the best Italian meataballs ever. I don’t remember where this recipe came from and I usually keep it a secret, but I’ve decided to share with you today.

1-1/2 lb ground beef (you can also use 1-1/2 lb of meat-loaf mixture if you want)
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup breadcrumbs (or enough to hold the meat together)
1-2 tbsp garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder or to taste)
1-2 tsp salt (to taste)
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper (I only use 1/2 tsp)
1/3 cup milk (approximately)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (optional, or to taste)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tbsp dried parsley)

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Shape into small meatballs (they can be frozen at this point or refrigerated up to 24 hours)
3. Simmer in pasta sauce, but do not move them around for at least 20-25 minutes or they might break apart.
4. Continue cooking for another 20 minutes or so (40 minutes total cooking time should cook the meatballs but you might want to test one if you’re going to eat them immediately.)
5. Or continue to cook for as long as desired.

Note:
* If you don’t have dry breadcrumbs, soak 2 slices of bread in the milk.
* Instead of cooking in sauce, you can bake the meatballs in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until cooked through.

L is for Limerick

Posted on by April 12, 2013

Hasn’t everyone heard the one that begins “There was a young man from Nantucket …?” There are some pretty crude limericks out there, but we’ll leave that for another time 🙂

Limericks are short poems with a sense of humor. They’ve been since the mid-1800’s and are generally assumed to have originated in the town of Limerick, Ireland. There’s no documentation I could find to prove this, though.

Limericks are simple little poems that all have the same rhythm. The first, second and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and fourth lines rhyme. So, in poetry language, the rhythm is AABBA. I’ve never written a limerick before, but I decided to give it a try.

There once was a young witch from Hawick
who tried to come up with a limerick
she wrote and she rhymed
til she almost went blind
then gave up and flew off on her broomstick

As you can see, I’m not poet. It was a good mental exercise, though.

Have you ever written one? I’d love to hear it if you have.

K is for Koala

Posted on by April 12, 2013

Exif_JPEG_PICTUREIsn’t he (I’m assuming he’s a he) the cuddliest? I’ve always loved koala bears. No idea why, but I always have. I even have a stuffed koala bear on my dresser that hubby bought for me a kazillion years ago. I’d show you a photo but I’m on vacation right now and didn’t think of this K word until today.

Koalas aren’t the cute and cuddly little bears we think they are. In fact, they’re not bears at all, but marsupials.After they give birth, they carry their babies in a pouch, just like kangaroos. After about six month, the babies emerge and cling to them until they’re about a year old before they’re independent.

Native to Australia, koalas mainly live in eucalyptus trees and feed off the leaves. They’re nocturnal animals, sleeping up to 18 hours a day.

But whether they’re bears or not, they’re still cute. But don’t get too close. Those claws are super sharp.

J is for John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

Posted on by April 11, 2013

I was having trouble coming up with a J word for today’s post. Juice. Jump. Jello. They didn’t do it for me, and the only other word I thought of was John – probably because that’s hubby’s first name. For some reason I can’t even fathom, the melody of the first line of John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt popped in my mind. It was one of those days where no matter what I did, I couldn’t get it out of my head, and since I only ever knew that one line, I couldn’t even finish the song. So I googled (Google is your friend :))

Its origin appears to be pretty obscure, but it seems it’s a nursery rhyme song. Here are the lyrics:

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt,
His name is my name too.
Whenever we go out,
The people always shout,
There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
Dah dah dah dah, dah dah dah

If you can’t remember the melody, it’s here.

Do you know the song? Fingers crossed you won’t spend all day today trying to get it out of your head.

I is for Island (the buying of)

Posted on by April 8, 2013

island2

Wouldn’t it be fabulous to own your own Caribbean or South Pacific island? You can! I was researching islands for a project I’m working on and came across a website listing islands for sale. Two hours later – yes, I admit it, I got sucked right in, searching for the perfect island. For my book, of course 😉

It might be a little tricky importing food, furnishings, etc. but it would be like living in a resort, with white sandy beaches at your front door, year-round sunshine, and R&R. What’s not to love?

Anyone have a few million to spare? I promise to pay it back 🙂

H is for Happy

Posted on by April 8, 2013

What does it take to make a person happy? Money? Power? Fame?

According to the www.dictionary.com, one definition of happy is “characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.”

Happiness is such an individual thing, that it means something different to everyone. I got to thinking about it, and other than good health, family, friends, what makes me happy?

1. Music. No matter what kind of mood I’m in, music is guaranteed to make me feel better and make my heart lighter.
2. Sitting in front of a fire with a good book on a cold winter’s night.
3. The beach – walking along the ocean’s edge, listening to the waves break, watching children play.
4. Snuggling with my hubby.
5. Movies, especially romantic comedies.

What about you? What makes you happy, other than the obvious three I mentioned above?