A day in the life....

I rarely clean the boys room anymore..at soon-to-be 11 and  8 they gratefully still share a room and it's responsibilities until we move.  I went in there the other day to bring out the winter clothes from the top of their closet and was amazed at what I saw!  The books were put away neatly on their shelves, the guitar was serenely propped up against a wall.  All of the boys traditionally messy 'treasures' were stored away in their Ikea 'treasure keeper'.  WOW, what a proud MOM I was!  Then I began to linger around the room and take note of how much has changed in the past 5 years living here in Rochester, MN. 

When we moved to Rochester, 'lil Ty was 3 and Brandon was just starting Kindergarden.  Eric Carle and Sandra Boynton were my boys favorite authors with books like, Very Hungry Caterpillar and Barn Yard Dance.  Now, my dear boys have grown up and as I look around the room I notice just how much has changed.  There are awards and prize-winning footballs on the shelves, sports illustrated stacks on the dresser, a grown-up daily 'to-do' list laying out and the selection of books has

 also progressed.  With titles like Hugo Cabret, Pearl Harbor, American History and The Dangerous Book for Boys, I 

 just sat in awe of how much they have grown up in this little house.  

Big changes are in the pipeline for us, both on the growing-up front and on the 'relocation' front.  This little house full of  memories will be in the past and new and challenging things are soon around the corner.  I just sat there, laid back on the floor and stared up at the boys bedroom celling.  With pirate ships whirling overhead and Peyton Manning posters looking down at me, I started to pray.  

Lord, bless my boys with Your Eternal presence.  Walk by their side, hold their hand when I can not.  Be, oh Gracious Lord, an ever-present constant in their lives, leading them on Your path for their life as you promised in Jeremiah 29-11.  Help them to be contributing members of society and of Eternity.  IJNIP Amen.

...Things are moving so fast.  Our world is an international jaunt between the past and the future. Hopping from place to place, here and there, meeting all kinds of new people and exploring new places, but as I lie there on my boys floor praying for them, I felt peace.  I was no longer the women flying from place to place every weekend, but I was grounded in my God and in my life, knowing that indeed God does have a plan for us, for our future and I had hope that at the end of the interviews and the journey we would end up exactly where we supposed to, following His lead.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29-11

French Onion Soup

I had always had French Onion soup at my favorite restaurants but little did I know how light and EASY it could be made at home.  This recipe freezes really well too!  Enjoy!

French Onion Soup – Noffze Style!

4 Tbs butter
4 c thinly sliced onion
2 c sliced mushroom
1 T flour
6 c beef broth
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
tsp salt to taste
fresh cracked pepper to taste
tsp Kitchen Bouquet seasoning (veg bouquet sub)
shredded or shaved parmesan cheese (light) OR thick slice mozzarella cheese
rye bagette

Melt butter in a soup pot
Add onions, tossing every few minutes until golden brown
(Cook for 15-20 minutes)
Add mushrooms
Cook 5 minutes & sprinkle and stir in flour
add 2 c beef broth
Continue to stir until the mixture is thickens
Add the remaining broth
Stir in salt
Bring to a boil
Cover & simmer for 45 minutes
Add the Kitchen Bouquet and balsamic vinegar
Taste for additional seasoning (I like fresh ground pepper in mine)

Toast rye baguette and lay over soup in bowl
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese for lighter version
OR go for the traditional thick mozzarella slice over rye
Broil bowl 6 in from element until mozzarella is nicely colored/scorched
Careful when removing bowl, soup is HOT and so is the bowl!

6 servings, 1 c each

Beef and Barley Stew

Winter is fast upon us and this house warming stew is a crowd pleasing favorite!

Enjoy!

Noffze’s-BEST Beef and Barley Stew!

2-14.5oz cans beef broth
2 Tbs tomato paste
2lbs beef stew meat (lean-bite size)
8oz pkg sliced white mushrooms
½ medium onion, chopped
½ c barley, rinsed and picked over
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
4 Tbs butter
½ tsp thyme
¼ tsp rosemary
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp fresh cracked pepper
1 cube beef bullion

In bottom of stock pot melt butter on med-high. Add onions and cook until golden brown. Add mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Add stew meat and sear. Add remaining vegetables, toss for 1 minute and reduce heat to low. (caramelizing the veggies and meat is the key to this robust stew!)
Add beef broth, tomato paste, bullion cube and remaining spices, stir.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours on stove or 7-9 hours in crock pot. YUM! (freezes well, great solution to make ahead dinners for company too!) Serves 6

Pan Seared Tuna with Mango Salsa

I found a new recipe and I had to share!  Fast, super easy and, I LOVE IT!

It's from More Low-Carb Meals in Minutes by Linda Gassenheimer.

Pan Seared Tuna with Mango Salsa

Mango Salsa
1 ripe mango, cut into cubes
2-4 TBS red onion (to taste)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 TBS balsamic vinegar
1/4C fresh chopped cilantro

Combine ingredients and toss lightly. May be made 2-24 hours ahead of serving time.


Pan Seared Tuna
1 TBS cumin seed
1 TBS coriander seed
1 TBS olive oil
3/4lb tuna steak (enough for 2 servings!)
salt to taste

To prepare tuna, place cumin and coriander seeds in a medium nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Toss 2 minutes and remove from heat. Place in food processors or coarsely chop. Add olive oil and blend for a few seconds.
Rince tuna and pat dry with paper towel. Spoon the spice mixture over both sides of tuna, pressing the seeds into the fish with the back of a spoon. Heat the same skillet on high. It needs to be smoking before the tuna is added. Brown tuna for 1 minute on each side (high). Reduce heat to medium-high and cook another 3-4 minutes. Add salt to taste. Serve over mango salsa!

Back in Business!

I'm BACK, I'm back, I'm back!  And Ooooohhhh does it feel good!

I took the summer off of  jewelry making to quilt and now that school has started for the boys, I'm BACK to doing what I L-O-V-E!

On a roll with new color combinations and plenty of new gemstones to play with, I'm back in my studio snatching little bits of creativity here and there.

I've committed to the Mayo Art Show on November 17th at the Civic Center (mark your calendars) for one final year.  If you want a sneak peek at what I've been up to, visit: www.impressivelysimple.com for the latest creations. This hobby is WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!! luv it!

First Day of School and can you guess..........

Can you guess which Noffze Boy said what about the first day of school?

"I like my new classroom, but only have one friend from last year.  He IS my best friend though so it's OK."

"My teacher rides a Motor-Cycle, she said she has THREE.  I hope she wears a helmet."

"I'm going to DiE if it's that hot in school tomorrow, I drank like a million gallons of water today."

"Everyone wanted me for my peanuts today."

"Can I wear a collared shirt Mom, just so I can look cool for the first day of school."

"I checked out the girls Mom, and there are just too MANY in my class this year."

"My teacher's husband is a lawyer Mom, but I didn't tell her that you and Dad said I can't grow up to be one."

The Noffze house was FULL to the brim with chatter today after the boys got home from school.  On the whole, it was a great first day back after a very full summer of activities.  It appears that the boys are settling in well to their new classrooms, and I'm really excited to see what they will learn this year.

It's School Time Again.....

 It's that time of year again when the kiddos go back to school and the Mom's do the happy dance....oh, I mean cry.  :)

My wonderful bundles of joy and energy met their teachers yesterday.  Tyler has Mrs. Wendland this year in Second Grade.  He's a bit excited to be back in school and a bit nervous. He likes school a great deal, but is sad for summer to end.

Brandon on the other hand is my social butterfly in 5th Grade.  He immediately found his friends and went running around the school to visit their old teachers and see all the new renovations they have done in the school.  He has a new teacher this year, Ms.  McKinnon.  She's single, tall, and a world traveler with lots of stories to tell.  He'll LOVE her! :)

Bunny Relocation Program

The bunny wildlife relocation program is going well this summer.  

After returning home this winter to another dead bush due to the wild bunny propagation  in our neighborhood, we decided the best thing to do was to give them a new gene pool, and lots of land to roam on!  

This is bunny #8, the kids named him 'spiderbunny' because he didn't want to leave the cage at the relocation site, and just 'hung' around for a while watching US! 

 As sad as it will be to NOT have 'Jack and Jill' (the original TWO wild bunnies in our yard) waiting for us when we arrive home each day, it will be nice NOT to have to play 'dodge-the-bunny' when pulling out of the drive way.  :)  Dah-bunny, Dah-bunny.....yea  for the Dah-bunny's new HOME!

Oh Brother...

Brotherhood lays the foundation for collaboration and teamwork...Charles & William Mayo

...What will these brothers do?

I found myself looking at my two growing boys this weekend and wondering just what they will be when they grow up.....What kind of fathers will they be.....What careers will they pursue to provide for their family.  There is contentment in my heart that they will grow up to be great men at whatever they do because they are being taught by their gracious father.  When I look at the three of them I feel very blessed to be apart of this family and to be given such a gracious gift of love in each and every one of them.

Ebay Funnies!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675

Ok, I read this ebay auction post because a dear friend emailed it to me.  As a stay at home mom, I laughed so MUCH.  It's hilarious!  Enjoy!

NEW PHONE NUMBER

Hey everyone, we have a new phone number.  Check your email in-box to see if you received it.  If for some odd reason you did NOT get an updated contact email......just email ME and I'll give it to you!  :) thx

New Favorite Artist

Meet my new favorite artist!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=49305

Mandy Budan from Pickering, Ontario, Canada

LOVE her artwork!

Artists Abound!

The children and a few of their friends, Kate and TJ, had a blast this week creating original works of art. Starting as a raw piece of parchment, brush, and paint, it's glorious what they came up with!  Tyler did some amazing free-form art using a wide color palate.  Brandon did detailed depictions of blue angels in flight.  TJ created a very life-like turkey and deer while Kate was a bit more adventurous and her painting changes every time you look at it!  Imagination was abounding this week! Ahhh, the joys of summer!

Cooking Kids

The children learned how to make calzone's from scratch this week.  They were fascinated by the biology lesson using fresh yeast and 'feeding' it with honey.  NOT so thrilled with the yeast's smell though!!!  They mixed, kneeded, and rolled their way to a fine supper for all!  Now, about the gigantic mess they made, well let's just say, it was ALL WORTH IT! :)

Trip My Legos!

Brandon took on new revisions to his previous air creation this week.  He's 'tripped it out' with new features and, I have to admit, it looks very cool!

Amanda's Orzo Recipe

Another picnic, another shared recipe!  Thank you Amanda for sharing this AWESOME summer favorite!

Do you recognize these people?

A hot summer day means staying inside, but who said it had to be boring!  Some time with friends turned into a carnival fun-house day complete with mirrors of 'mac'dom.

ENJOY these home made treasures! LOL

Share your Recipes!

Ok, ladies and gents, it's time to brush the dust off your recipe books and dish the dirt on your good old family fav's.  I'm a HUGE fan of recipe swaps and would LOVE some new ones to add to the pile!  My all time favorite swapped recipe came from Kristi Dawson in Dental School.  Go Kristi, Go Kristi!

Kid Pleasing...Honey Mustard Chicken

1/2C Margarine (melted)

1/2C Honey

1/2C Mustard

Pepper to taste

Mix above ingredients and pour over frozen or fresh chicken breasts.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.  WAY EASY!

So lets see them!  Just email me and share your recipes with the rest of us....sick of ours! :)

Pie anyone?

To those of you who know Brandon, you know that his nick-name is Piemaster!  In fourth grade he and his best friend Matthew literally drove their teacher to retirement working the word PIE into EVERY sentence, verbal or written.  She was such a dear that in parent teacher conferences she actually asked us if we could talk to him about using the 'Pie' word less, just to calm her aging nerves.  The boys thought this was doubly-funny and refrained from using it directly with her and instead just walked around the school saying 'PIE' every chance they got.  What a year!  This summer we went to a local restaurant specializing in pie's, and Brandon said that he wanted to be buried here under the 'pie' case.  Gotta love them!

Natalie's Spinach Calzone

Click on this AMAZING recipe shared by one of our new residents.  It's Un-believably awesome and FREEZABLE!  Enjoy!