From the monthly archives:

May 2010

blog-focaccia breadMr. T. and I are always trying to come up with ideas for new and tasty things to eat.  This chicken and pesto sandwich is a variation on a sandwich Mr. T. had at one of the local lunch spots.  They served it cold with lettuce, tomato etc.  We heated everything up with provolone.  Either way it’s an amazing sandwich.  Perfect for lunch or dinner and so satisfyinng.

Ingredients

3 chicken breasts

1-2T olive oil

1 t salt and/or garlic salt

1 package of your favorite pesto

3-4 slices provolone cheese

loaf of focaccia bread

Directions

Mix salt and olive oil then, brush on chicken.  Bake the chicken at 350 for about 20-25 min, or, if you’d like grill it.  Meanwhile, if you’re serving the sandwich hot (or if you’re not but you like it on toasted bread), butter the bread and bake in the oven for about 10 min. or just until a bit crispy.

Once the chicken is done, mix it with the pesto sauce.  Use as much or as little as you’d like.

Then cut your focaccia right through the middle into two sandwich style layers.  From there, cut it into the sizes you’ll want for sandwiches.  Take the bottom half and put a piece of cheese on it, then spread the pesto coated chicken onto the cheese covered bread.  Put another slice of provolone on what will become the top half of bread, and bake in the oven for about 10 min or until the cheese is nice and melty.

If you’re serving cold with veggies, you’ll want to be sure you chicken has cooled enough, then but a piece of cheese, followed by pesto coated chicken, some lettuce, tomato, etc and another layer of cheese then, your condiments if you really want any.  It’s enough with just the pesto, but, if you want a spread why not coat your chicken a bit less and spread the pesto onto the bread a bit as well.

However you choose to make it, you now have an absolutely awesome sandwich to eat – so head to your favorite spot and enjoy!

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The Big 100!

by AKA MOM on May 28, 2010

in Thoughts and Ramblings

blog - 100th post fireWell, here it is, my 100th post on this blog!  Guess I actually do have something to say.   When I started this blog I thought I might post once in awhile but not too much.  But, here I am at the 100th post.

Wanna see me get to 200 or how about 300?

Heck, why not dream big….Wanna see me get to 1,000?

Well then……keep reading : )

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Our Lovely Swimming Hole

by AKA MOM on May 26, 2010

in The Great Outdoors

010Oddly enough, it’s been in the high 80s here in Maine..and It’s only May!!  That usually doesn’t happen until the end of July/beginning of Aug.  In fact, my friend who grew up in Maine was telling me a funny story in which the state actually closed the State House because it was……93 degrees!!  She and her husband were back visiting her family in Maine from Texas; he laughed his a$$ off.

So, what I’m trying to say is, high temps, especially in May are really really rare up here in the great North.  But, when they do get hot, we’re so blessed and lucky to have a fantastic swimming hole nearby.

It’s a beautiful spot, and the lake is clean and cool because it’s spring fed.  There are quite a few other options for swimming in the area too, but, this is our favorite because it’s close, has a float for jumping, has a beach and shade…..and did I mention it was beautiful!

We’ve been there the last 2 days and the boys are ready to be in the swing of going to the lake every day.  I, however, am hoping that really isn’t where were at quite yet.  I don’t like really hot weather and will be glad to see it return to normal spring temps tomorrow.  When it does get hot though, it’s priceless to have a lake like this one right in your backyard!

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My haul - There's at least something for everyone!

My haul - There's at least something for everyone!

In one of the local towns, there is a bi-annual sale that offers a great opportunity to buy second hand clothes AND support a local charity.

Cash for Clothes benefits a non-profit called Coastal Communities that helps individuals with disabilities of all kinds.  They help them work and live as independently as possible…which of course costs money.

This sale usually raises a couple thousand for them, and also usually provides some fantastic finds for me!

The Cash for Clothes Sale held true to it’s tradition and did land me some very nice pieces….And I don’t think I paid more than $3 for anything I bought.  I’m so excited!

I got 34 items for a whopping $55!

The sale is cool because it’s both for donated items, but also consignment (the charity gets 1/2) – which means there are some really nice items.

And, they have 3 different days; Opening Day is full price, then, there’s a 1/2 Price Day the next day, then the 3rd day is Bag Day.

My strategy has been to go right when they open on 1/2 price day.  I figure that way, the best stuff left from the full price day will still be there, but it’ll be 1/2 price!!

It paid off again today.

The next sale is in October – so I’ll be saving up and hoping for some  good deals again this fall!

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009

The guys all hanging out by the lake where we had our lunch

The weather ended up being absolutely perfect this weekend, so, we did head up to Acadia National Park and it was just fabulous!

Acadia is only about 2 hours from us, so it wasn’t a horribly long  ride for the kids, which was good.  When we arrived on Friday late morning, our hotel was able to let us check right in, which was awesome.  We were able to settle in and make some sandwiches then head out for a hike.

018

The view from the top!

We hiked up and around the hills and went to “The Bowl”, an amazing lake at the base of the mountains.  And we also hiked to the top of one of the “peaks” where there are just the most spectacular views of the ocean.

Then, the next day, after breakfast, we headed out for some biking.  The carriage roads that run in and around Acadia are really something.  They get you to beautiful places and are meticulously maintained.  Biking and walking on them was a lot of fun for all of us.

After that it was back home!  We all had a really nice trip and were glad everything came together so we could go.  Hopefully we’ll get to head up that way again soon.  Until then we’ll just have to settle for all the beautiful places right out our back door!!!  Living in paradise is soooo hard!!

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I. Just Got His Own Kayak!

May 19, 2010

We finally did it.  We’ve been talking about it since last season and we finally made it official, I. now has his own kayak.  A nice, lightweight kayak made just for kids.  This allows us, all 5 of us, to go out paddling as a family.
I can’t wait!  I didn’t get to paddle at all [...]

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Super Duper Tastilicious Peanut Butter Fudge Cake!

May 17, 2010

Looking for a yummy twist on chocolate cake?  This is it!
It’s called Peanut Butter Fudge Cake and I found it on, yep,  all recipes.
The boys and I baked it for the first time today…even though I printed the recipe quite awhile ago.  The hold up, buttermilk.  But then I found out you can substitute milk [...]

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The Family is Going to Acadia National Park….Hopefully!

May 16, 2010

Although we haven’t made any commitments yet because we want to be sure of the weather, as long as it looks good outside….. the family is heading to Acadia National Park this coming weekend.
We’ve been there before…well all of us except O.  But, it’s sooooo beautiful and quite close so, we head up every once [...]

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A Special Visit from Nana

May 13, 2010

The boys have been excited this week because they’re getting a special visit from their Nana.  My mom drove up from PA yesterday and the boys have been having fun with her ever since.
She brought gifts of new Star Wars sheets and new books…which she promptly sat down and read to them!  Then, she took [...]

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An Update on Our Adventure in Real Estate!

May 10, 2010

Our antique home in Maine is still on the market.  We did have two different people come by to view it.  Both of them loved it, but one woman wanted more acerage than we have to offer.
The other couple, well, they came by last Monday and approached Mr T. about seeing the home.  We showed it [...]

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