We’ve been on several vacations throughout the past few years, and my husband would rely on our laptop GPS to navigate, especially when we would go downtown into the big cities.  It really came in handy when we were in downtown Chicago and also once when we were in downtown Denver looking for a certain restaurant.  It has come in handy and saved us from the frustration of getting lost countless times because my husband would plan our route ahead of time.  If you don’t have a GPS, then you check out Garmin GPS and the savings at Buy.com.

Prophix deals with corporate performance management (CPM) and received the 2007 Innovative Solution Award for Corporate Performance Management which is given to elite companies who utilize innovative technology solutions.  Congratulations to Prophix!

Here are some things to know about Prophix:

• * They have groundbreaking solutions for businesses.
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Remember Prophix if you have a need for unique software solutions!

You can substitute:

• 1 tsp. dried herbs…………………..………………………..for…..1 T. fresh herbs

• 1/4 tsp. baking soda plus 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar……. for….. 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. baking powder….. for….. 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1 T. lemon juice or vinegar & 1 cup minus 1 T. milk … for….. 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1 tsp. cornstarch……………. for…. l cup powdered sugar
• 2 T. flour or 2 tsp. quick-cooking tapioca………………. for…. l T. cornstarch
  

Back when I was in high school, my two best friends and I were known as the “Three Muskateers.”  We were always together!  We’ve gotten together just a few times through the years.  Well, to my surprise, one of the muskateers was visiting with a friend where we go to church now.  We were both so surprised to see each other this past Sunday!  (understatement)  

Years ago, we were on vacation in Austin, Texas, and we saw some of our dear friends who had moved away.  We hadn’t seen them in quite a while, so to see each other in front of the Capitol Building was really a surprise.

Another year, we were on vacation in Colorado and were at the Outlet Mall in Silverthorne. Our daughter and I were looking at clothes, and I heard someone say, “Charla?”  I looked up and it was a friend from college who had lived across the hall from me in the dorm.  It had been years since we had seen each other.  

Have you ever had an unexpected reunion with a dear friend you’ve known from way back?

Years ago, we had our own business.  We had a nice little music store, small but nice.  We sold guitars, violins, band instruments, keyboards, and small drum sets.  Sheet music, music books, and many types of accessories were available as well.  We accepted credit cards even though we did have to pay a merchant fee for them, but credit cards were a necessity for our business so we paid the fees.

If you have a small business or online business, I would recommend checking out Merchant Advisers if you accept credit cards. They have:

• Free credit card processing
• No setup fees
• No contract
• Next day funding
• Free credit card machine

Now that’s service!

I only had 10 minutes to fix a meal, so this is what I did:

Add to skillet which is preheating on medium:

• 1 can green chile enchilada sauce, 10 ounces
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (98% fat free is what I like to use)
• 1 1/2 cups chicken breast torn into bitesized pieces (or 1 can chicken breast)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 small can of dices green chilies - optional (I was in a big hurry and didn’t use them this time, but I always add them to my regular casserole recipe.  It was good without them, just not as spicy)

Stir well, and then add:

• 10-12 corn tortillas torn into bitesized pieces (this can be done after you have the above ingredients already heating)

Mix the corn tortilla pieces throughout the mixture which is still on medium heat.

Last, top with:

• 4 ounces of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (or your favorite) - reduced fat is what I use most of the time

Heat untill mixture is thoroughly hot and cheese is melted on top.  

Very quick & easy recipe!

Please pray for the people affected by this hurricane!

If you have not watched this professionally done video, let me urge you to watch it.  It’s very touching! Click here to watch SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL VIDEO TRIBUTE.

I remember what we were doing that day, and everybody I talk to can remember.  We sat stunned as we watched on TV, and my eyes welled up with tears thinking about those poor innocent people on the airplanes. After the plane crashed into the Pentagon, reality set in that our country was under attack. I called our daughter who was in college over 150 miles away. We all were praying for God’s protection! We wanted our family all together, so we went and picked up our son and headed out to see our daughter. All people could think about was how this awful event would affect the families of the victims, affect our lives, and affect our country.

We still have a minivan that we had back then. During the week of 9-11, someone tied red, blue, and white ribbons on my antennae. The faded remains are now just little short shreds of ribbons, but I have left them on there to always be a reminder of that day!

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#1. Egg salad or deviled eggs. How do you prepare?

I haven’t made either of those in ages.  In the past, I made deviled eggs more than I made egg salad.  I would just boil the eggs, scoop out the yokes and mix with mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, and a little pickle juice.
#2. French fries. Do you make homemade or frozen?

Neither.  I used to do both, but now we only have french fries occassionally when we eat out somewhere.
#3. Gravy. What do you use - homemade, jar, can or from a package?

We rarely have gravy, mostly on holidays, and I’m not the one who makes the gravy.  I used to make it from a jar, can, or package, and sometimes I would make it from scratch using broth with the fat skimmed off, flour or cornstarch, salt, and pepper.  

(I loved my mother’s giblet gravy she would make at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  She would use the drippings off the turkey, thicken it, add giblets and chopped hard-boiled eggs.  So good!!  My mother passed away in 2000, so I haven’t had her gravy in 10 or more years.)  
#4. Share a recipe for a hot (temperature, not spice) dish.

Easy Chicken Chow Mein