The Girls Graduated!

I can't believe it my youngest child graduated high school yesterday. We are so proud of her. This last year for her was a very long and hard struggle for her. We moved down with my boyfriend she had to switch schools for her last year. Then we find out she has a lot of credits to make up for the last year and that she might not graduate until the after summer school. The high school told us that the tech college offers a program called the Act 39. This is were she only had to get half the credits and she still gets a high school diploma and she walks across the stage in a cap and gown. So we went and talked to the people about that and she went for the Act 39 so she could graduate on time.

My boyfriends daughter graduated yesterday with my daughter. She dropped out of high school and she went back for her high school diploma. This was a struggle for her too. She has a little 3 year old daughter and she went for her diploma too. We are so proud of her too.

I couldn't believe it when they walked down the isle. Both the girls were next to each other and I took a picture of them walking down the isle. They both looked very nice for there graduation. I knew I was going to lose it by crying during the ceremony but we both lost it for both of the girls. They had two parents crying very happy tears for both of them because we are very proud for the two girls. It was a long and hard road for the girls and they both made it. We couldn't be more proud of them.

Now the next thing is the girls  want to go to college. We are behind the girls all the way. We know they can do it to get the degree that they want. The girls are very smart and I know if they put there minds to it they can make it happen.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU GIRLS AND WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!♥♥

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Recipe redo: Making dairy-free "cream cheese" frosting

Last week I tried to make a dairy-free version of cream cheese frosting. It is a southern favorite and a favorite with my family. I wasn't worried so much about the sugar, even though that is only good in moderation and I don't think I really consider this moderation. My goal was to take out the milk so that those who can't have milk products can have a reasonable version of a good old southern recipe. This is great on carrot cake, applesauce cake and just about any kind of spice cake.

The main change was to substitute a soy based cream cream, in this case Tofutti cream cheese, for the regular cream cheese. It does have less calories and fat, no saturated fat and it is a good replacement for regular cream cheese frosting. Surprisingly, my husband liked it. I usually try to gauge his reaction when I try to create something new and if he likes it, I think it is a success.

It is easy enough to make and I think a good redo recipe.

Mock "cream cheese" frosting

8 ounces soy cream cheese (I used Tofutti but there are some even better brands at makets like Whole Foods. Make sure you use a casein-free version)
1/4 cup vegan margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 (16 ounce) box Confectioners' sugar plus extra on humid days. It could take as much as 1 cup or more, depending on the weather. Add until it is of a good spreading consistency
Optional: A pinch of salt

Mix soy cream cheese and margarine and vanilla in mixer until smooth and creamy. Slowly add Confectioners' sugar. Add a pinch of salt, if needed. Blend until smooth and creamy. Frosts a 9-inch, two-layer cake or generously frosts 12 cupcakes. Store in the refrigerator after a few hours. Frosting will harden, much like butter cream frosting.

Whole-and-Hearty Asparagus Pizza

Ingredients
1/2 lb fresh asparagus
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large sweet onion
4 tbsp butter, divided
1/2 lb mushrooms
Whole wheat or white pizza dough
Olive oil
5 slices bacon, cooked and cut into small pieces (optional)
6 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
3 tbsp grated or shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 


Spread fresh asparagus on baking sheet with sides. 


Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. 


Drizzle lightly with olive oil. 


Mix well, using hands. Spread out in single layer. 


Bake 10 minutes. 


While asparagus is roasting, slice sweet onion thinly and saute in 1 tbsp of butter until caramelized, about 10 minutes, then set aside. 


Slice mushrooms; saute in 1 tbsp of the butter until they give up their liquid and are browned, about 10 minutes; set aside. 


Prepare the pizza dough by rolling out on a floured surface, transfer to pizza baking sheet brushed lightly with a little olive oil, and brush dough lightly with more olive oil. 


Cut cooled asparagus into 1-2 inch pieces.


Layer ingredients onto dough in this order: caramelized onions, bacon pieces, mushrooms, asparagus (in a pinwheel arrangement, if desired), mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano. 


Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until dough is crusty and browned on edges, and cheese has melted. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving.


SOURCE

Pizza

My Album Revue!

Today I decided to write about Rush's Moving Pictures album. I have listened to this album since it came out. But I always wanted to go and see Rush in concert. I finally had that chance last summer with my boyfriend when we went to Summerfest and seen Rush.

I remember when I had gotten this album. My parents didn't like the fact that I was listening to this music. I didn't care at the time because I like there music very much.

To me each song on the album tells a story about the whole album. This I never knew until my boyfriend told me about that. Then he played this album and I seen the story to the album. Then he told me to listen to the music more than the words. I did that and I couldn't believe the instrumental I was listening to on this album. My boyfriend really has opened my eyes to a different light to music. This is the main reason why I am writing about this album. This is the first album we listened to together last summer. This is something I will never forget either because of how much I love my boyfriend.

All of the songs on this album are great. I love every one of the songs on here. But seeing them perform the songs in concert is so much better than listening to the album. Just standing there listening and watching them perform each one of the songs was unreal. We had really good sets and we could watch the stage or we had a screen right by us to watch too. Watching Neal just beat on the drums was great to watch. He is just surrounded by all of these different drums in a circle. Then Geddy going from keyboards to bass and singing. That was really interesting. He does have a great voice singing. Then Alex on the guitar. I loved his guitar solo that was awesome.

If you are a Rush fan this is one album to have in your collection.  There are five main songs on here that I really like the most. Tom Sawyer I know this has been over played but it is a great song, Red Barchetta is another great song, Limelight this is another great song, The Camera Eye is an awesome song on here and Vital Signs is another great song.

I hope you like this revue of the Rush album. I would like to hear what you have to say about this album. I am going to leave you with a video of Tom Sawyer with the Cartoon intro.

Cardboard and mulching

 This weekend my sis and I went dumpster diving for cardboard boxes. We went to our local dump and loaded up our truck with cardboard to put between the rows in our raised pepper beds.

After we got back, we cut the cardboard into strips that fit in the rows and then topped it with mulch.

I think in addition to the fact that it looks good, the cardboard and mulch will hold the moisture in and keep the ground from getting quite so hot in the blazing summer sun. The mulch will also prevent weeds from coming up between rows. That means no tilling and the bad insects won't be able to hide in the weeds. The weeds won't take the nourishment from the soil and the mulch will eventually add compost to the soil.
 

The cardboard, over time will turn into compost, too and best of all, we shouldn't have to pull weeds or till in this area all summer. The only place we might need to till before next year would be if we decide to plant something after the peppers are done at the end of the summer.

I really hope it works for us. So far, so good because it really looks just like we hoped it would.

I will say that it has been hard work to get things to this point. If we get the benefits I expect it will be well worth it in time saved. I think weeding takes roughly half the time of mulching but we have to weed periodically during the season. If we don't have to worry about weeding, there should be less work in the end.

American Idol 2011!

This week was really a sad one for me. You will find out by the end of this post.

May 24th will be the Season Finale. I know that is one show I will not miss.

There are only four contestants left this week and they have to sing two songs.

The first type of song they have to sing is Inspirational;

James sang " Don't Stop Believing" By Journey. This was another awesome performance by him. If you listen to this he almost sounds like Steve Perry singing this song and I loved it.

Haley sang " Earth Song" By Micheal Jackson. She did an awesome job with this performance. I just love her voice.

Scotty sang " Where Were You When The World Stop Turning" by Alan Jackson. His performance was awesome too. He can sing his country songs really great. He sounds like Alan Jackson with this song.

Lauren sang " Anyway" by Martina McBride. She had a good performance. But to me she still sounds like she is singing karaoke.

The next type of song has to be written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller;

Haley sang " I Who Have Nothing" by Jordin Sparks. This was an awesome performance by her. The whole audience was standing during the whole song. It was great.

Scotty sang " Youngblood" by The Coasters. This was an awesome performance by him. You could tell he was having a blast with this song. I loved it.

Lauren sang " Trouble" by Elvis. This performance was really good. This was not one of her better performances by her.

James sang " Love Potion Number 9" by The Searchers. This is another one of his awesome performances. You could tell he was having a great time with this song.

The Special Guests are;
Enrigue Iglesias
Jordin Sparks
Lady Gaga as the mentor
Steven Tyler's debut video

There was 72 million people that voted this week.

This week they did a Top 3 and they are -
Lauren
Haley
Scotty

Eliminated
James

This is why I am saying this week is a sad week for me. I was really hoping for James to win. He has been doing an awesome job with all of his songs. I think Lauren should have gone home instead.

I would really like to hear your thoughts on this!