2010

I cannot believe how fast this year has passed. Do you feel the same way? 2009 has been a very tough year for a lot of people. For me and my family too. To improve our financial situation in 2010 is one of our New Year's resolutions. And second one is to keep eating healthy in new year..More veggies and less sugar. So, you will find more vegetable recipes here in 2010!

There are more in my mind but after a tough year I am not putting them on the list. Lol, they are my wishes and hopes for me, my family and all of us.

A new year brings the hope of new beginnings. January 1 is always a great time to make a resolution. And we still have 5 days to welcome 2010.

What about yours? Do you have any?

Here are 5 methods for keeping a New Year's resolution I would like to share with you.

-Be realistic while making a list of your resolutions,
-Define them,

-Share them with your friends and family members,

-Celebrate your success with something you would like to do,

-Analyze the results.

:) I wish you all a Happy New Year and all the best in 2010!

Zucchini Sticks

Zucchini Sticks

Zucchini Sticks are very easy to make and DELICIOUS! A great appetizer recipe for your holiday table. I just made this recipe and tasted them! YUMMY!

4 zucchini(sliced into sticks)
1 egg(beaten)
1 cup bread crumbs(dry)

1/2 cup parmesan(grated)

1/4 spoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon oregano, salt and pepper

Dip zucchini sticks in beaten egg. Combine rest of the ingredients in a bowl and dredge in the bread crumb mixture. Place the zucchini sticks on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce/ ranch or blue cheese dressing.

Snow+Sunday= Fun

I can't believe it really did happen! Yay for SNOW!

It is only about as big as me(almost!) But we did it!

Say 'cheese' snowman!

We did a good job!

Of course he wasn't the only one that got excited!!!What about daddy?
-Don't ask me! :)

Happy Sunday!!!

YAY! Snow!!!

Its snowing…finally!
He is so excited. He wished for snow and his wish came true.

It started to snow yesterday.

Yes!!!!

And this morning.. Still snowing! He is planning to make a big snowman today! -Mommy do we have big carrots? Oh, hope you didn't get the baby carrots.

-A snowman without a carrot for a nose?

-Mom???

-I have both. I saved the biggest one for snowman!

_Yay! Awesome!

(more pictures are coming up next..)

Smoky Corn and Potato Chowder-Updated

I made this last Sunday! Love easy recipes, especially weekends:D
1 can Del Monte Cream Style Golden Sweet Corn

1 can Del Monte Whole Kernel Golden Sweet Corn(drained)

1 cup smoked sausage(helved lenghtwise and sliced)

1 can Del Monte Whole New Potatoes(drained and coarsley chopped)or 2 potatoes(cubed and boiled)

1/ 1/2 cups milk

1 cup shredded cheddar

Stir milk into cream corn in a large sauce pan. Add sausage, potatoes and kernel corn. Heat through stirring occasioanaly. After removing from heat stir in cheeses until melted.

I garnished with chopped green onion. It was yummy!

Updated- Here is the picture!

Click to Join my FB recipe page

I would love it if you add yourself as a fan of this page :)

Have a great day everyone!

Unilever Products Review and Beauty Tips!

I got a package of Unilever products such as Dove, Pond’s, Vaseline and Q-tips and enjoyed pampering myself:)
I am a morning person, wake up every morning full of energy and after 9-10 pm I'm very very lazy and dont want to wash my face. I always use wet cleansing towelettes. But it was the first time I used PONDS Wet Cleansing Towelette. Smells beautiful, my skin was smooth, soft like a Baby's after cleaning:)It is more effective at removing make-up than others I used before. Love it!
Another product is Vaseline Total Moisture Conditioning which I have been using this product for more than 10 years. I can't imagine my day without Vaseline. It provides %100 of daily hydration.
The other Unilever product I received is Q-tips in a beautiful box which easy to use.
And Dove... I always use Dove soaps but never tried Dove Hair Spray and Dove Deodorant before.
Love the hair spray. It provided strong hold besides natural movement.
I didn't need to use Dove deodorant in the day again. Once a day was enough for all day freshness. Yes, all day!
Do you know what is the best time in the day to use the deodorant? I used to apply it every morning but just learned that applying a deodorant is the best when used at night. Because body tempature is lower at night and allowing to skin become more receptive to absorbing the formula. This wonderful tip is from Unilever Beauty Tips of the Day Widget.

Are you planning to buy a flat iron or curling iron? Choose an iron with ceramic plates. Why? You can read it on this widget(on my side bar) in hair styling tool tips.

You will find more helpful tips and product information from Unilever products, page by page on this widget. Thanks Unilever for these wonderful beautiy tips.

Cinnamon Stars

Cookie dough;
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoons vanilla extract

Icing with cinnamon;
1 large egg whites
1 teaspoons milk
1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

(Beat the ingredients with a mixer)

************************

Mix the flour, salt and baking powder and put aside.

Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough. Refrigerate for about one hour(Don't forget to wrap it)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch on a floured surface. Cut out desired shapes using a lightly floured cookie cutter. Place the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for 15 minutes (It helps cookies keep their shape while baking)

Bake cookies for about 10 min. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet. Frost with icing. Also you can decorate with pecan/crushed pecan.

Aria cut them and we frosted them together :)

I call them Cinnamon Stars. We all love cinnamon in our house... hmmmm love at first bite. Anything with cinnamon gets me straight away!

Tags, awards and me :)

I love this award. It means a lot to me and I am so honored to receive this award one more time. 2009 Friendly Blogger Awards is coming from Tami at Hearts Make Family She is honest, she is funny and I love her topics. Visit her lovely blog and enjoy reading!

Another award I received one more time is Lemonade Stand Award. I'd like to thank Betty at Cut and Dry and Sophia's Mom at The Wannabe WAHM Don't forget to visit these two wonderful blogs.

Thank you ladies for this beautiful award. Hugs! I'm passing on these awards to all of you as usual:)

And yesterday I was tagged by Molly at I'm a Sleep Baker for this Christmas meme. Questions and answers! Here they are;

*Have you started your Christmas shopping? Yes, only one thing left for my son.

*Tell me about one of your special traditions. Making cookies.

*Are you a Black Friday Shopper? Online shopper:)

*When do you put up your Tree? After Thanksgiving.

*Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home? Home home sweet home! But maybe next time we can make a different plan.

*What is your funniest Christmas memory?
Last year my hubby was wearing a Santa hat when walked in saying 'ho ho ho' and that moment I decided not to make too much cookies. Lol, he is getting fat!

*What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time? Polar Express, Family Man, Noel.

*Do you do your own Christmas Baking. Sugar cookies! We decorate them together with my son. I'll post the recipe soon.

*Fake or Real Tree? Fake

*What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done? No, it's fun.

*Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve? I wrap every presents just after I buy and put aside.

*What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas? Watching movies.

*What Christmas craft do you like the best? Wreath. Love it.
*Christmas music. Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song? Oh yes, Let it Snow by Michael Buble, Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano, White Christmas by Elvis Presley.

*When do you plan to finish all your shopping? Next week.

You all are tagged now:) Love y'all!

cauliflower..cauliflower..(updated post)

My hubby didn't use to eat cauliflower. It has become one of his favorite veggies:)

Baked&Broiled Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower (separated into florets )
4 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

juice of one lemon

2 cloves garlic(minced)

4 tbsp olive oil.

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
salt and black pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 F.
Combine the olive oil, lemon juice garlic and cauliflower in a large mixing bowl. Pour into the large casserole dish. Cover it. Bake ~30 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese and parsley, and broil a few minutes until golden brown.

UPDATED...after it's broiled..

Have a great week everyone!

6th's!

In Good Days and Bad Days ...

My hubby and I got married in the local radio station we ran together 11 years ago today in Turkey, on the air! Even it is not ours anymore will be in our memories forever..
Our invitation

This number is very special for me. My birthday is April 6th. My hubby's birthday is January 6th. And our anniversary is December 6th :) Every big things in my life happend to me in 6th.

Sometimes good, sometimes bad things.. Life! It is full of surprises!

We have been together for 16 years and married for 11 years.

This picture is from a newspaper which they made a post about our wedding.

Mehmet used to play especially one song for me in his night show. Whitney Houston/I Will Always Love You... Still?Will he?? Hope so:)

We were much crazier ..Who am I kidding? We still are:) But sometimes life is crazier then us!!!

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Do you like home made mushroom soup? I am making mushroom soup today! Let's get started. Shall we?? ;)

8 onces mushroom

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup half in half

1 medium sweet onion(chopped)

juice of 1 lemon

black pepper, paprika,tyme,salt

In a large saucepan, cook mushrooms with onion in 2 cups of broth until tender. In blender or food processor, puree the mixture with lemon juice. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly about 2 minutes, until smooth. Slowly add half in half and mixture while stirring and add remaining chicken broth. Add spicy and salt. Stirring constantly, bring soup to a boil and cook until thickened.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Let it snow!

2009, January-There wasn't too much snow but it was enough to make him happy:)

Last year with Snow Queen:) Tanger Outlet, Ice Skating Ring (Deer Park)

2005, December.

Doesn't he look so funny in this snowsuit with that shovel which is bigger than him?

Aria missed snow! But it is 49 degrees in Long Island today! He is planning to make a biggest snowman this winter:)

Double Celebration

It has been a busy week. "Thanksgiving" and sacrifise holiday "Kurban Bayrami" of Turkish people are in the same week.

I love technology :) Then we can make video calls and talk to our families and relatives in Turkey.

Today, I will share a turkish recipe we all love with you.

Forest Kebab with Lamb(Kuzu etli Orman Kebabi)

1 1/2 pounds lamb (cubed lean boneless leg of lamb, cut into 1 inch cubes)

2 tbsp oil

1 onion (chopped)

2 cloves garlic

1 cup baby tomatoes

2 potatoes(peeled and cubed)

1 can peas

1/2 cup baby carrots

beef broth

black pepper, tyhme, salt.

Sautee lamp cubes in a casserole until water is evaporates. Add oil, onion, garlic and spicy. Sautee a few minutes more.

Add remaining ingredients and enough beef broth to almost cover.

Cover the casserole and cook 30-40 minutes.

I serve with rice. Yum!

Also I and my hubby are online shoppers today! I'm having a fresh cup of coffee now:) Maxwell House! Mmmmm..Oh, it 's really good :)

Happy Shopping!

Thanksgiving Dinner

I know you have been expecting a golden brown turkey picture:) I don't have a pic of this food. But I'll definitely take a shot at this one on Thursday:)

A beautiful browned and flavorful turkey!
In a bowl, mix together light olive oil, light butter, salt, pepper, sage and just a bit of rosemary. Make sure the skin of the turkey is very dry, pat it off with some paper towels and work mixture directly onto the meat, all over the turkey skin before you put it in the oven.

I do not cook the stuffing inside the turkey.
Last year I got this idea while searching internet and stuffed the turkey with apples. Just cut in quarters and stuff the turkey with them. Perfect flavor and smells delicious when you take them out.

Gobble gobble is ready to oven :)

For gravy;

Melt 3 tbsp vegetable oil (or butter) and add 3 tbsp flour. Stir and cook. Then add broth (2 cups)slowly and whisk it. Add pepper and salt.

Bread Stuffing
The night before eating, break the one loaf of bread into small pieces in a huge bowl. Let the bread dry out.

Chop onion, celery and mushroom and place into food processor until minced.

Melt vegetable oil in large saucepan.
Saute onion, celery and mushroom. Do not brown!

Add dry sage and parsley.

Pour the veggie mixture directly over bread.

Add chicken broth slowly over bread. Be careful not to pour too much. Only enough to coat and mix.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour until the stuffing to have a nice brown crust.

Potatoes..potatoes..

Easy Mayonnaise Potato Salad

6 boiled potatoes,

2 cup mayonnaise,

1/2 tbsp mustard

2 tbsp vinegar, pickles for garnish.

Wash and boil the potatoes until soft, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from water, let cool, peel and cube and put in a bowl. Then add mayo, mustard and vinegar.Mix well and chill. Garnish with pickles.

And GREN BEANS!!!

Green Beans with Olive Oil. (recipe)

dessert...dessert!!!

Remeber my baked apple recipe??? We will definitely need a light dessert:)))

It will be fun to prepare those dishes. The best part is being together and having good time as a family:)

happy cooking!

Updated!

Easy Mayonnaise Potato Salad



And... Goble, Goble, Goble!!!!!

Do it online!

The most famous shopping day is right around the corner. Are you feeling excited about this coming shopping season again! Want to shop online? Shopping online is becoming popular. Then skip the crowds. Online shopping is easier to do than ever before. Every year, more retailers are bringing their Black Friday sales online along with their in store sale.

Toys&games, electronics, jewelery, shoes,books, music& video, gift, phone&services, sport&outdoors...Many Black Friday bargains are available online too.

About Black Friday;

Beginning day of the traditional Christmas shopping season Black Friday, Day After Thanksgiving, is the best time of year for shoppers to save. Shopping online makes this easier. No waking up early, no wating on lines and no caos!

I love Black Friday Sales for electronics. My hubby and I prefer online shopping on Black Fridays, because you don't have to go outside early in the morning. Besides, you are not waiting in long lines.

You'll find hot deals online. In the times of economic crunch it is a good idea to try and save as much as possible. Look out for website that promise free shipping of the goods. Compare the prices before grab a deal available in the market.

Savings.com. offers pretty good deals. Compare prices! Audio Cameras, GPS/Navigation, IPod & MP3, TVs, Video, Video Games and more. Savings.com has recently featured Black Friday Coupons. Check their site for Black Friday goodies!

Are you a fan of Cyber Monday sales? Some online stores will use Cyber Monday as an opportunity to offer special -one day- only promotions to get people excited about holiday shopping.

Internet shoppers can beat the early birds by shopping online in the pre-dawn hours of Black Friday. You’ll save money and if you buy on Internet you’ll also save precious time.

Buy online clicking mouse while drinking your coffee :) Stay safe and have fun shopping online on Black Friday.

Pumpkin Bread

I made pumpkin bread yesterday! My hubby and Aria loves it! Hope you like it too:)

1 cups of sugar

2 cup flour

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup pumpkin puree

3 large eggs

1/3 cup milk

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmag

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup chopped nuts

I reduced the sugar and added 1 cup sugar instead 1 1/2 cup. Nobody complained:) Hehe..The spices make this bread quite tasty. Anyway, they love it!

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda. Mix the pumpkin, oil, eggs, milk, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients. Before baking add your nuts right to the top of it. Bake 50 minutes.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Awards!

Latest awards!!!

I'm so pleased to receive those blog awards in last a few weeks. Thank you sooo much!!! I feel loved:) Please visit my beautiful blogger friends who passed all those WONDERFUL awards on to me. And I would love to share them all my followers and visiters, all of you as usual. Love y'all!

The Being on the Cake Award is coming from Personalized Sketches & Sentiments

She is a very talented lady. You will love her drawings on her site. This award is definitely SWEEEEET:) Love it! Thank you so much!

2009 Friendly Blogger Award

And one more time Good Blog Award
Those two bolg awards are from Tami@ Hearts Make Families Whenever I visit her blog makes me feel cozy inside. Stop her site and enjoy reading this lovely blog. Thanks Tami !!!


Honest Scrap Award is coming from four lovely ladies.

Connie@ Living My Glamorous Life Absuletely one lovely blog too see. You will love it!

Vicki@ Frugal Mom Knows Best. If you haven't stopped her site yet, GREAT Frugal Fun Stuff is one click away :) Frugal Mom really knows best!

Heather@ Two Little Monkeys Plus Hubby She is real and honest! And also I love her blog title, so cute :)

Flory@ A Women Life Stages . I really enjoyed her interesting writtings about circle of friendship. Stop her site, you don't want to miss it!

Thank you Connie, Vicki, Heather and Flory!!! I'm so honered. Hugs!!!

Rules of The Honest Scrap Award; You must list 10 honest things about yourself and then pass the award along to seven other bloggers.

10 honest things about me

-I like my hair straight (my hair is naturally wavy)

-Love to watch the sunset.

-Little things make me feel happy; ice cream, orange juice.

-I broke my nail today. Ugh!

-When I was a little girl, my dream was being a doctor.

-I like hazelnut cream in my coffee.

-Pampering my self makes me feel new and happy. Love it!

-I always order different things I haven't try, when I eat out.

-Love, love surprises!!!

-You all know I do love cooking but once a week I don't wanna be in kitchen :)

And another beautiful award from Connie,
Lemonade Stand Award - Thanks Connie!!! Hugs!!!

Kreative Blogger Award

I'm so happy to receive this lovely award one more time. Kreative Blogger Award is from Crystal@ Me, My Boys And a Little Dog. Her little boy Ian has flu. Hope he feels better soon. I will keep him in my prayers. Thank you so much Crystal!

Hearthfelt Blog Award(2nd times) is from Holly Bowne @ Write Expression.
If you haven't read her writings yet, you will find interesting topings on her blog. Thanks a lot Holly!
A Strong Cup of Coffee Award is from Grissell at Stay@ HOME MOM WHO KNEW

She says 'hope this blog will make you smile, laugh, and cry....' Stop her blog if you haven't yet and enjoy reading! Thank you Grissell! Hugs!

And one more time One Lovely Blog Award. This award is from beautiful Lauren Braddock Havey. She is singer/song writer and actress. Visit her wonderful parenting blog Mud Mama. Thank you so much Lauren!

Until next time stay healty and happy!

Golden Moon Tea Review

I got the package from Golden Moon Tea yesterday. I stopped blogging, stopped cleaning, stopped eveything! As soon as I opened the package, prepared a cup of fresh brewed tea in my porcelain tea pot. And I really enjoyed the taste of this high quality fresh loose tea.

If you have been using tea bags, it will take a few minutes longer to prepare loose tea. But trust me it's worth the wait! Brewing loose leaf tea is not difficult at all. Pour the boiling water over tea in teapot. (1 tsp loose tea for each cup). Let stand 3-5 minutes. When the leaves have infused, pour the tea out into the cup. No paper, no bag and no waste after use, it is environmentally friendly.

Tea is a great beverage for any time of year or day. I love to taste different types and varietals of teas. If you would like to take a look benefits of tea or if you missed this post you can read here.

Here is a shot of Snow Sprout/ Golden Moon Tea. I don't even need to use a strainer to pour the tea through. Leaves all sink to the bottom of the teapot.

Jasmine tea is so different. Green leaves are layered with aromatic jasmine petals, you smell jasmine and enjoy this delicious green tea scented with floral aromas of jasmine blossoms and jasmine leaves with the rich aroma taste while drinking. Before tasting I thought it would be a little too much like drinking a cup of perfume?? But I liked it. This aroma made me feel happy!

Snow Sprout and Jasmine Tea contains very low caffeine. See low caffeine teas.If you prefer caffeine you will find medium caffeine teas like English Breakfast, French Breakfast and Irish Breakfast Teas on Golden Moon Tea Website.

Green Teas, Black Teas, White Teas, Oolong Teas and different kind of Flavored Teas-Honey Pear, Kashmiri Chai, Tippy Earl Grey, Madagascar Vanilla, Lapsang Souchong, Rose Tea, Pu-erh Chai, White Persian Melon, White Ginger, White Licorice, Jasmine Pearls, Vanilla Mint, Vanilla Jasmine, Moroccan Mint, Sugar Carmel Oolong, Jasmine Tea and Coconut Pouchong(awarded best tea at the 2007 World Tea Expo). Coconut Pouchong is made with natural coconut flavor from real coconut milk, instead of the artificial flavoring. Click the picture to read more.

Visit Golden Moon Tea and find your favorite tea! Buy it online!

The best part I really like it on their site is, you can find a tea for nearly any mood. Waking up, relaxed, fun, formal, powerful, exotic, sexy, happy. OK, next time I decided to try Rose Tea. What mood do you think it is for???

Enjoy your tea time!

Hubby and me!

Yesterday, I was home all day with Aria. I cleaned the house, organized his closet. I took some of his clothes out, getting them ready to pack away what does not fit him anymore... helped his homework and cooked for dinner. I kept myself busy, wasn't in a good mood all day. After dinner, Aria was watching tv in his room. I made popcorn, when I walked in his room he was already asleep!!! He usually doesn't fall asleep too early. Yep, first thing I thought of was if he had a cold. Thank god he was OK. I sat on his bed and watched him sleeping a few seconds. He was sleeping like a little angel :)

A big bowl of popcorn, hubby and me! Great time for a movie :) Nope, it wasn't a new one. We watched Fantastic Four. I don't know how many times we saw it but we do this sometimes, watching some movies over and over again. Let me tell ya, watching this movie AGAIN, wasn't boring at all! At least helped me to get things out of my mind for a while :)

How did you spend your time out?

If you like to share with us, click Theta Mom's button and join us!

Happy Thursday!