It was hot here today! Summertime is definitely here which means a time for cooler clothes, flip flops, and slimming down. More people seem to think about losing weight during the summer than during the other seasons, and they might take nuphedra to help them in their effort. (They should always consult their doctor before taking any diet pills.) As for me, I try to go for a lot of walks and get more exercise during the cooler part of the day.
If the avocados weren’t in the picture, would you know the name of this utensil? If I didn’t already have one, I wouldn’t know. My daughter and son-in-law gave this to me last year, and it has been so handy. My first attempts to use it ended up with smashed looking avocado slices, but then I finally figured out the correct way to use it. It’s so quick and easy to make nice looking avocado slices now.
These cookies bring back warm memories of childhood and growing up. My mother made these often, and they were so delicious warm out of the oven. They’re like a brown sugar cookie, and kids of all ages like them.
INGREDIENTS:
Cream the eggs, brown sugar, and butter. Add the dry ingredients. Mix well. Form cookie dough into a long roll about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap well with wax paper. Chill for a few hours. Slice and bake at 350 degrees as needed. Bake 8-9 minutes for a soft cookie and 10-11 minutes for a crisper cookie.
The cool thing about this recipe is that the dough can be made a day or several days before it’s needed as long as it’s well-wrapped. If it’s going to be kept for several days, it would be good to store the dough in a large gallon size plastic bag after wrapping with wax paper.
A lot of people are concerned about their weight, and there are many different ways they try to lose weight. Some cut back on how much they eat and try to get more exercise. Others might check out a weight loss pills review to find what might work best for them. And others try one of the many diets available. Each person has to decide what works best for them and check it out with their doctor.
Austin is a fun place to visit and can provide an inexpensive vacation. It really is a pretty area, and one part of the vacation can include driving on the west side of Austin and enjoying the beauty of the hills and the Colorado River.
There are several free things to do while visiting Austin.
Freebies:
* Texas State Capitol – open daily. It’s 14 feet taller than the National Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., and is recognized as one of the nation’s most distinguished capitol buildings. It is definitely impressive inside and out. The view from the ground floor looking straight up to the top of the rotunda area is awesome! Children enjoy going up the beautiful staircases. Located at 1100 Congress Ave. (512) 463-0063
* Austin Nature and Science Center – provides families, individuals, and also groups with recreational and educational experiences including a “living museum,” trails, interpretive exhibits, programs, and collections. Open on Saturday 9- 5 & Sunday 12- 5. Located at 301 Nature Center Dr, Austin, TX.
(512) 327-8180
* Texas Memorial Museum – a natural history museum which contains exhibits about Texas’ geological and zoological history. Children especially enjoy the first floor. They are open on Saturday from 10 – 5 & Sunday from 1-5 and are located one block north of the UT football field at 2400 Trinity St. Austin, TX (512) 471-1604. Free admission.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS WITH ADMISSION FEE:
* Texas Rowing Center located on the Hike and Bike Trail on Town Lake – a fun place to rent canoes. They are open 6 AM until dusk every day. (512) 467-7799. (We have done this a couple of different times, and it’s a fun activity for the whole family. Town Lake provides a great view of downtown Austin.)
#1, Kelly’s question. What is your favorite memory associated with the smell of a certain food? As in, you smell it, close your eyes and are instantly drawn back to a magical moment in time….
It would probably be the smell of my grandmother’s recipe for brown sugar “ice box” cookies baking in the oven. My mother made those a lot when I was growing up. (It’s a great cookie recipe that you chill in the fridge and then bake whenever you want.)
#2. Name something red that is in your cabinets.
Spaghetti sauce
#3. Ice. Do you have an ice maker, use ice cube trays or buy by the bag?
We have an ice maker and also use trays to make distilled water ice cubes.
#4. Pepper. What kind do you use most often? Is it in a grinder or a shaker?
I have both kinds, but we use the pepper grinder the most.
#1. Mashed potatoes. Do you usually buy the boxes, the frozen or make from scratch.
Make from scratch.
#2. Cottage cheese. What kind do you like? (large curd, small curd, 2%, 4%, no salt, etc)
I buy low fat cottage cheese.
#3. Is there a food that you are brand loyal to?
For lunchmeat, I always buy Hormel Natural Choice Turkey with no nitrates or preservatives. Get coupons!
#4. When cooking do you usually use fresh onions or the ones from the spice aisle that are chopped or powdered?
I nearly always use fresh onions.
We made an overnight trip to Austin this past weekend for State UIL Band Solo Contest. This is the third (and last) year we’ve done this. Our family tradition is to eat at Chuy’s when we’re in Austin, and so we had to eat there this time, too. Besides, we had to celebrate our son getting a score of “1” which is the highest score one can get at UIL.
Chuy’s is big on atmosphere and great food. They have awesome enchiladas, guacamole, and salsa, just to name a few items. Tortillas are made there on location at their restaurants, chicken is cooked there (not frozen or canned chicken), guacamole and salsa are freshly made…does that give you an idea about the quality of their food?
They are also known for their cool T-shirts which they sell at the check-out counter, and probably their most famous T-shirt is “Keep Austin Weird.”
Their locations have spread from Austin to other Texas cities. I looked online, and these are the Texas cities where Chuy’s is located:
* Austin (3 locations)
* Dallas
* Houston
* Round Rock
* San Antonio
* Selma
* Arlington
If you visit one of these places, try to eat at Chuy’s while you’re there. It’s a fun place to eat great Tex-Mex Food. Maybe it will become a family tradition with you, too!
NOTE: The original Chuy’s from Austin is not located in Ft. Worth. The one in Ft. Worth is “Chuys Mexican Restaurant” and Google just happens to have a link to the original Austin Chuy’s beside each Ft. Worth listing. However, I made a phone call to verify and found out those are two distinct restaurants.
In a hurry for a really quick meal or snack? Just open a can of refried beans, a jar of queso, and a jar of salsa. Serve in small bowls with tortilla chips, and you have your home-made version of a fast food restaurant’s popular food item! Kids think it’s cool because it’s like eating something from a Mexican fast food place.
FormalTux.com offers new tuxedos and accessories from the top designers as well as discounted new tuxedo jackets and pants. They carry a great selection perfect for weddings and formal occasions and offer name brands such as:
Women’s formalwear and a large line of career apparel are also offered as well. They offer just about any tuxedo style, have been in business for over 70 years, and offer great customer service.
If you’re in need of a gift to give for graduation, for a wedding, or for Father’s Day, then you might consider Amazon books. They have a selection for each occasion.
Our son has received a lot of nice graduation gifts recently, and two of his gifts were books. He received Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, PH.D. and another book called The Power of Attitude by Mac Anderson. Both look like excellent books!