Oranges!

So last week. Kari at work was going to throw out this huge bag of oranges. That weren't even rotten in any form or way. They had sat in the fridge since the day we opened so that was her motivation to toss them out. But I saw a window of opportunity to use every single piece of those oranges so I brought home these oranges that then sat on my counter for almost two weeks... The first week in. I made these awesome. Orange "brownies" with a strawberry Orange Glaze that are still insanely moist after sitting for a week.  The recipe I used is here . The original recipe is made with Lemon but oranges work just as well.! In fact that website is packed Full of so many neat recipes that I think it's worth a better look at.  

Though John hasn't had a appetite so I haven't had much of reason to really cook so I have not been cooking much lately.  This week I finally dealt with the rest of the oranges. Mostly. I still have a portion that I have not used yet, 

Last night I sat down and zested over 30 oranges. I chopped it finer and set it out to Dry. Dried Zest is wonderful to use in recipes when you don't have fresh orange on hand.  I then Peeled the oranges and chopped the rest of the peelings into pieces. Some were laid out to dry( they will be submerged into a big bottle of Cheap Vodka. Half will become orange Oil and the other half will be orange extract!)   Some of the Peels were shoved into over 6 cups of Vinegar where it will sit for a few weeks then It will be my nice citrus cleaner!.A small amount was covered with about 2 cups of olive oil. which will probably be gifted to my brother with a bit of the Orange extract as a gift because he cooks often and would enjoy it. 

What I have left is the actual Oranges which John and I don't actually want to eat.  I'm not 100% sure what do with them.  I did read I could freeze them then use them on salads... But we all know how I feel about salad. 

Last night John kept looking in the fridge so I just knew it was time to do some real cooking!. And I went with it. 

First I made up a batch of Black Refried Beans! I made up a small Batch of Crispy Hash browns with Chunks of Ham. As I waited for them to cook, I made up a batch of Tortilla Shells and Fried up some Ground beef with tomato and Taco seasoning. I then turned them into Beef and refried Bean Quesadillas with a side of hash browns.  Instead of just picking. My Love consumed two and a quarter of them and a generous serving of the hash browns. I was beyond thrilled.  

Which in Turn has given me the motivation to make Buns today. and a nice Flax, oat, bran Bread.  Which I'll probably have all baked up in time for when john emerges from bed at like 2.lol. Okay I hope not but who knows. 

Unfortunately I have never found a recipe for bread that I adore and so I tend to switch recipes very often. I linked to the recipes that I am using today.  The last Oat bread I made was tasty but when I put it in the oven, It fell then expanded and fell over the edges. Maybe I'm just to rough? Who knows.  but both doughs are looking some what promising so far.  Since I didn't make the doughs at the same time. I have to close all my windows so my house stays warm and draft free...I don't look forward to it

My Shifts at work have been changed again. On thursday I went to a friends grad party but to be able to attend I had to switch shifts with someone, which means I got to do the 7am til 2pm shift.    waking up at 5:30 is not pleasant but I kicked that shifts ass. I had soup ready for 7:15 due to my awesome prep skills. lol. By 10 I was wandering around.Bored out of my mind but I watched Chopped for a bit. Then I had 5 orders at lunch. 3 monte cristos, one burger and a grilled ham and cheese.  Easy.  I finished them quick and needed no help which made Kari decide that I should work  the morning shift again. So now every Thursday I get to work the morning which in turns means I don't have to work Ladies night. Bonus. lol

Because I dislike the nights that we have events because it means i end up being there past 10:30 which isn't cool. 

As well as switching my thursday. She made it that I work every other Sunday. Which means every two weeks. I only have one day off. While the other lady always gets two days off and every second week she gets three days off. 

I question how that makes sense. But what ever. 

As Most know. I take a string of pills. All which have a purpose.I'll go through them in a second. But for the past two? months I can't seem to bring my self to take them, Even though I look at them nightly as I brush my teeth. 

Every morning i have liquid Lemon Cod Oil- helps brain functions and memory

Every Night-

                         Iron- I have low iron which makes it so I cannot donate blood

                        Cal Mag D( calcium, magnesium and vitamin D) magnesium is known to help with depression, anxiety,  and it's supposed to help you go regularly. 

                       Vitamin D- The vitamin that you soak in a lot of  from the sun. it also is known for helping with depression and just making one feel happier. 

                       Prenatal Pills- No I'm not pregnant. When I remember to take these bad boys. They make my hair and nails grow quicker and thicker. meaning my weak ass nails don't bend or break as easy. 

                     Lavender- Though I dislike the smell, it helps relax and helps one sleep a little deeper

                    Garcinia Cambogia- appetite control

I think originally I kind of stopped taking them because when I added in the Cod Oil, it made me have upset stomachs and fish Burps.(Yuck) But I also took most of my pills at the same time.   If I actually get around to it. I could/will set up proper times for pills so they won't affect each other and make me have gross burps. 

The Challenge!

I know it hasn't been that long since my last Blog but I had to add this in. I really did. I swear.

I've given John some Motivation to go to work on time.. Because he's always at least 15 minutes late. Which drives me nuts and his bosses aren't to found of it either. 
I told him I'd make him a awesome meal if he went to work on time each day.  If he's late he doesn't get a amazing meal.  He'd get maybe cereal or a smokie.
Today I made Pasta Sauce and Garlic Sticks. Really Yummy garlic sticks. well at least I thought so( John likes them). The garlic sticks were coated with a herbed parmesan garlic Butter... Enough Said. Amazing.  
Tuesday: Mushroom and Cheese Stuffed Burgers( John really enjoys the burgers i make,Seems I recall John asking for some Private time with his Burger while kissing it..) With Fresh made hamburger buns.   
Wednesday: Herbed Sour Dough pepperoni, Mushroom and pineapple pizza
Thursday: Quiche- Chicken,potato and onion
Friday: Lasagna and Ceaser
Saturday- BBQ Pulled Pork, Roasted Veggies, Butternut Squash, Creamy Nutmeg Mushrooms. 

I don't have anything planned for the next week but I will think it over and in theory think up something. maybe meat loaf? Calzone? Salad....

Tuesday: Beggers Colabac

I'll think about it Longer I guess. 
Lately since I've gotten the 2-9. It's a rare thing if I get back by 9:45. Then I finish making supper then it basically we go to bed because John has to get up early. I barely get to spend time with him. It makes me feel down.  He's not much of a texter so I don't hear from him during the day either. I don't like it. I really enjoy seeing the man I love. and I hate that I only get to see him Saturday evening, Sunday and monday morning for a bit. At work it's a busy month so Kari asked Tina and I if we could take more shifts. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I already work over time. But I agreed that I could help on Saturdays But I down right refused to work Sunday. I told them it's my Only day to see  my Jobn and she was fine with that. At the end of June they are supposed to be going over my file and seeing if I deserve a raise. 
I had to go to Food Safe on Saturday. It really sucked and was the same course from when I took it in 2006, Even the same test. I finished the quiz kind of fast and I feel confident that I did well but who knows. I don't think it matters because I had passed it when I was younger.
I got a call from Cormicks which I had applied at when I first left Mr. Ribs. They wanted me to come out to Epson? Alberta ASAP because they needed a flagger which is cool. But to get there then get a hotel room is kind of expensive. and financially I can't afford that and adding Stress to our situation and distance? It really would not work for me.  I told him if he has a Saskatchewan Job I should be able to make it happen but I will probably be forgotten about. 



Today I am making a smores cake. Yes I've made something of the sort in the past. a four layer cake with graham cake, fudge cake and a marshmellow icing. but this is. grahams cake with no flour, it's made with Graham crumbs and stuff.... I baked it in a spring form pan. Next I'll be mixing up a batch of Marshmellow and Pouring it directly on top of the cake. letting it settle then browning it quickly in the oven to get that roasted marshmellow taste. then pouring melted ganche on it. The cake is cooling now. It is very Moist. 
I mixed up some Pie crust which is cooling in the fridge, Next I am making up a Mixed Berry Pie.Both Should be crazy good. Hopefully. 

Interesting week

As usual my last Blog

It has been a interesting week.  Orginally it was planned that I would have a week of 2:00-9:00 pm then a week of 7:00-2:00. But after the first week we quickly discovered who worked best where.  Tina isn't amazing alone and she tends to like to do things her own way which is a no no. Carrie the women who covers the days off, isn't any better. She was supposed to cover Tuesday Men's night at the golf course and the manager ended up doing most of the work because She had panicked.  It was only 8 people but what ever.  So now Tina has Monday and Tuesday off. Then Works 7-2 Wed to Friday then Saturday and Sunday she worked 2-9. Carrie works 7-2 Saturday to Tuesday.    So I worked Monday to Friday 2-9. and have the weekends off.Which is such a rare thing. It really makes me happy.
This weekend was my first weekend off that i didn't need to beg for or trade things for. It was Nice.   Well sort of. the Boss asked me to work Saturday evening as the front staff meaning I was to run the register and the Beer Cart. I was excited for the beer cart.  But it was a slow evening because of the weather and I only made about 12 for tips.   My First stop on the cart. was for a group of six that were already fairly drunk. They ordered two whiskey and ginger ale with Lime, Two Vodka/Pepsi and Lime, a water and a bag of chips.I was so Nervous and one of the guys noticed. I was so Nervous that I was shaking. He made me stop what I was doing and hold up my hands for everyone to see how bad I was shaking. I got a hug for it. lol.  I managed to forgot to charge them somewhere. We were out for $2. There was another group. two guys who both wanted Whiskey/pepsi. Then he had two Whiskey Shots. He insisted one was for me. It made me laugh.  He was very Very Drunk though. 

Today We made it to Saskatoon. And it turned out to be a very Good Day. I spent time on Kijiji yesterday looking for Windows and I hit the jack pot. We looked at them today. Picked out 5 good ones. Doubled paned, PVC and stuff, just need to replace the screens. It only cost $95 for all of them!  We had gone to Saskatoon thinking it would cost at least 400 for used windows. We didnt even want to Think about how much it would cost for new.  He asked us to make a offer and John was like Uhh( later he said he was going to say 300!) the Man said here I'll start. 75 for four. We quickly agreed then we found another window, he only wanted 10 for it. I didn't have any change so we gave him 90 for it all. We saved so much. We picked up three water storage bins for 50.  We went over to the Ex Bf's(Tony) house. He donated two boxes of nails and lent us his air nail gun!. The two Boxes is about 10 Thousand nails a box.! I won't say no to that. Then headed home. Where we picked up some much needed groceries. There has not been much in the fridge put milk. I've been digging out things from the bottom of the freezer and adding potatoes to it for the past week!. 

Though on Saturday while John was at work, Some one that he helped at work gave him a flat(30) of Farm eggs. It was a great surprise!.

In the Dog world. I have two Clients. Rufus and Tucker. One is a large dog and one is small. Rufus is walked four days and Tucker for three. but I earn the same amount for Both.  I take them both out to Carolime's farm and they run and fight with her Four dogs. 

We are getting a puppy eventually. It's in the making. Literally.  Stripe is due on June 25. So in theory the end of August? Stripe is a Pure Black Lab. A gorgeous Gal. I spent the whole summer with her last year.  Then the father is a Rotti.   I get Second pick from the batch. My John wants a girl and I kind of wanted a boy. But I guess we will see who we notice first.  I'm a bit worried about raising a puppy. they are a lot of work.   But I am going to Socialize it a lot. makes sure it's used to all dogs so it hopefully stays friendly.  It can come to the farm four days a week. I dread training it. I dont have a clue how to train a dog.