Feed Reader?

Okay, now don't fall over or anything, but I have to tell you something...

I've never used a feed reader.

I've also never subscribed to a blog.

Shocking, isn't it?  I've been blogging for close to three years and reading (and commenting on!) blogs for even longer and, well, I've yet to explore using a reader.

So today?  I'm asking for your help!

• How do I get started?  
• Are there reader options?  (I don't even know!)  
• Is this going to simplify my life or create another time suck?  
• How many blogs do you recommend having on a feed reader?

Help a girl out!  Please?

Linking up to the backwards edition of WFMW

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Ten Quirky Things About Me and Soggy Food

You know, I've gone through my whole life with all these little quirks and they never seemed like much of a big deal until I listed them all out here.  So, thanks Amanda, for making me realize I may be a little neurotic about my food...


Just for fun, dear readers, here are ten examples of just how much I despise soggy food:

1. I can't handle mayo or dressing or anything WET on my sandwiches.  I also don't put ketchup ON the bun of a burger; I dip.
2. I don't even eat syrup on my pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
3. I use two tablespoons or less milk on my cereal.  Seriously, every bite needs to retain crunch.
4. I don't like sour cream to touch a taco shell... it makes it soft.
5. You won't find me dunking cookies in milk.
6. When people talk about pouring milk or cream over baked oatmeal, it makes me wonder why they're ruining a good thing.
7. I hate the part of the pie crust that's under the fruit.
8. If I have an ice cream cone, it has to be a sugar cone because those wafer things get mushy!
9. I dislike soggy bread so much, I tuck my pickle slices between the meat and cheese so the juice won't hit the bread.
10. I don't "sop things up."  This would go against my nature, clearly.

So there you go.  Rest assured, I'm actually an easy one to feed.  I like a wide array of flavors and spices and I have no dietary restrictions.  Just don't give me the stink-eye when you see how I handle my condiments.

C'mon, now... make me feel better.  What food quirks do you have?  Tell me all about it!

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Linked to Top Ten {Tuesday}

Rice Flour Pancakes

We all eat gluten in this house.  Always have.  Most likely, barring health issues that may arise, always will.

Still, I've long lived with the mind-set that, if we don't have it, we do without.  I am simply not one to rush off to the market to pick up this and that whenever a "need" arises.

So, when my son was begging for pancakes and I was looking at mere dust in my flour canister, I got busy making do.

Armed with a bag of rice and a coffee-bean grinder, I set about making rice flour and then concocted these...

Rice Flour Pancakes


Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup rice flour

Combine first three ingredients in medium bowl.  Add rice flour and mix until no lumps remain.  Cover bowl and let stand for at least one hour (or up to overnight.)  Cook on griddle over med-high heat (just like "typical" pancakes.)  

The verdict?  My syrup eaters (husband and older two children) thought they were tasty and fine.  One of them missed the vanilla I usually add to my pancakes, so that's something I would work to remedy in the future.  My youngest child and I noticed a significant difference... the texture is different and, without syrup to mask that, it's very noticeable.  Still, we ate them without complaint.

How about you?  Have you cooked or baked with rice flour?  How did it turn out?


linked to:
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Menu Plan: 5/1 - Hallelujah... I shopped!

Sunday:

B-Cereal, Applesauce, Milk

L-Bacon, Egg, & Cheese English Muffin Sandwiches, Peaches, Water
D-Fish Tacos, Chips & Salsa

Monday:

B-Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, Milk

L-P, B, & J, Prunes, Crackers, Water

D-Broccoli Alfredo Macaroni, Salad

Tuesday:

B-Key Lime Shortbread Muffins, Berries, Milk
L-Macaroni, Apples, Water
D-French Toast, Ham

Wednesday:

B-Key Lime Shortbread Muffins, Oranges, Milk

L-French Toast w/ Jelly, Yogurt, Water
D-Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Corn

Thursday:

B-PB Raisin Smiley Toast, Milk

L-Noodles w/ Tomatoes & Cheese, Water

D-Italian Cheese Bread Grilled Cheese, Apple Slices (<-- I realize this is incredibly indulgent in the cheese department.  It is also melty, gooey, yummy, and a sure fire kid pleaser!  Oh, and portable.  Important, since I have to pack it up for baseball practice!)

Friday:

B-Smoothies, Toast

L-Cheesy Black Beans & Rice, Water

D-1/2 Pepperoni, 1/2 Cheese Pizza (Boring, but popular with the littles.)

Saturday:

B-Choc Chip Muffins, Scrambled Eggs w/ Cheese

L-Noodles, Oranges
D-Cheeseburgers, Pickles, Corn

... hoping to grill those burgers if we have some pretty weather!  So, so jealous of those of you who already have fresh lettuce to top your burgers and sandwiches.  It will be awhile yet here in New England!

What are you serving up this first week of May?

This post is linked to Menu Plan Menu.

Ebates for Travel

Have you signed up for Ebates yet?  I hope so!  I waited a long time before singing its praises a couple months ago because I promise you: I will never recommend something to you unless I've fully tried it out already.

I love using Ebates for my online shopping.  Since I tend to look for the rock-bottom deals, I'm not generally earning very much at a time but, hey, every little bit adds up!

Recently, I set out to plan a tenth anniversary trip to be taken this fall.  My husband and I talked a lot and did a whole bunch of research and, finally, decided to take the family on a cruise.  (Yay!  Can't wait!)

And here's my tip for you today:

If you're planning a trip of any kind, be sure to check Ebates!

Here are just a few of the travel sites currently offering a percentage back when you go through Ebates:

• Expedia 1-4%
• Budget Rent-a-Car 3%
• Comfort Inn 3.5%
• Holiday Inn 4.5%
• Orbitz 1-3%
• Southwest 3%
• Travelocity 1-3%

Are these huge percentages?  No.  But travel, by its very nature, tends to be a significant purchase.  Even though I scored a fabulous deal on our cruise for five, I still got about $30 back through Ebates.

That'll pay for some fun souvenirs.  Or a bottle or two of wine.  Or a couple hours of babysitting services. ;)  Not a bad return for a single click!

Don't forget Ebates when you're booking your travel!

linked to Frugal Friday

(Heads Up: Affiliate links used in this post!  Thank you!)

The Best Part of the Night

We went out to dinner Tuesday night.  

This was a huge blessing to me, given the fact that my kitchen sink is not currently in place and my new dishwasher is not yet hooked up. 

The five of us were seated right away at a six-top, rather than crammed at a four-top... but that was not the best part of the night.

Our waiter was fabulous.  From offering to water down my youngest's cranberry juice to setting the kids' fries aside to cool a bit, he was perfect... but that was not the best part of the night.

Our food arrived promptly and was delicious... but that was not the best part of the night.

The entire bill for an appetizer, three kids' meals, two adult entrees, and five drinks (soda and juice, adult and child, respectively) was $26... but that was not the best part of the night.

Because the bill was so low due to fabulous promotions at Chili's, we were able to leave a rather monstrous tip to that awesome waiter... but that was not the best part of the night.

As I gathered my little ones and prepared to leave the restaurant, an elderly lady one table over touched my arm.  I turned and faced her and her husband:

Your children are so well-behaved.  Truly wonderful little ones.  You should be proud.

I was.

And THAT was the best part of the night.

Lent '11 Final Thoughts: Saving My Energy For the Battles That Matter

Lent has come to a close. On Sunday, we celebrated the Resurrection of our Savior... what an amazing culmination to the season! The hymn "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" declares Easter "our triumphant holy day" and I could not think of a better description.

It was a long, thoughtful seven weeks around here with lots of challenges and things to think about. In case you missed any of the challenges, you can find them here:

• Challenge 1: Ask about an opposing viewpoint.
• Challenge 2: Free write for five minutes defending a differing view.
• Challenge 3: Ask yourself if it's an issue of faith or morality.
• Challenge 4: Talk to someone about a past choice you made that you now doubt.
• Challenge 5: Seek out information about an opposing viewpoint.
• Challenge 6: Try the other side.
• Challenge 7: Give yourself some grace.

My final thoughts after having lived these challenges for the past couple of months?

It was SO good for me.

I don't want anyone to think that letting go of judgment means letting go of your opinions. It most certainly does not. But it DOES mean that I spend a whole lot less time worrying about choices other people are making. The dear mommy friend who let her child guzzle three cups of soda at a birthday party? Not my preference, but also not my decision. And that's okay. I reckon he'll probably turn out just fine. The raw milk I bought and tried? It was fine. But I don't think it's going to become a "regular thing" around here anytime soon. And I think we'll be okay. That lady who pays full price for all her groceries and turned her nose up at couponers like me? Not my issue. It's her money to spend.

I'm learning to just breathe. To smile. To look at the glass as half full and assume others are making the best choices they can for whatever season they're in.

This also leaves me with enough energy to fight the battles actually worth fighting... those issues of faith or morality I mentioned earlier. I will STILL defend the unborn and will gladly speak up on their behalf every chance I get.

Letting go of judgment involves picking your battles...

I'm choosing not to nitpick every dietary and lifestyle choice so I can use that time and energy to stand up for the life and death causes.

And that works for me.

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