A Bucket List :-)

I didn't do a 30 before 30 list, or a 40 before 40 list and I don't think I could come up with (or do!) a 50 before 50 list.  So, I thought I would just make myself a bucket list of things I'd like to do.  Yes, most are probably pie in the sky, buy hey, if you're gonna dream, dream big. ;-)  If I had the time, funds, and opportunity these are things I truly would like to do one day.  What would be on YOUR list? :-)

tour the english countryside

swim with the dolphins

go on an overnight trail ride

ride in a hot air balloon

climb west spanish peak

go on an african safari

camp on a beach

hike cinque terra

snorkel at Grand Cayman

visit all of Texas' state parks 

(I have a friend that is currently sharing her texas state park adventures!)

visit all of the US's national parks

write a homemaking/cooking/country life book

Fajita Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

Adapted from Chicken Fajita Sizzling Salad

at Iowa Girl Eats.

4 servings

ingredients needed -

for the fajita chicken

juice of 1/2 lime

1 1/2 tablespoons oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 jalapeño, seeded and minced

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 pound boneless chicken tenders, sliced into strips

1 tablespoon oil

1 green bell pepper, sliced

1/2 onion, sliced

for the cilantro lime dressing

juice of 1 lime

1/2 cup cilantro

4 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoon vinegar

1 garlic clove

salt and pepper to taste

for the salad

romaine lettuce 

2 roma tomatoes, diced

1 avocado, diced

2 ounces cheddar cheese, cubed

4 tablespoons sour cream

Combine first 8 ingredients in a bowl.

Add chicken and marinate on counter for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile prepare the dressing.

Combine all dressing ingredients and pulse in a blender.

Divide lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and cheese onto four plates.

Heat one tablespoon of oil in a pan over high heat.

Brown chicken over high heat.

Reduce heat to low, cover chicken, and continue to cook until chicken is done.

Remove chicken from pan, increase heat to high,

add peppers and onions and brown over high heat.

Reduce heat to low and continue to cook peppers and onions until softened.

Top salads with cooked chicken, peppers, onions, a dollop of sour cream, and dressing.

Enjoy!

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
July 21st-27th

Sunday
leftovers

Monday

fajita chicken salad with cilantro lime dressing

Tuesday

mandarin chicken salad with sweet and sour vinaigrette

Wednesday

summer sub sandwich

Thursday

farm fresh pasta sauce

Friday

Pioneer Woman's bbq meatballs

mashed potatoes
fresh green beans

Saturday
out for supper

Linked to Menu Plan Monday

~Sunday Afternoon Sweetness~

What do you do on a Sunday afternoon when the whole 

family is quietly napping and some much, much, much needed

rain is falling on the roof?

Bake some soft sugar cookies of course! :-)

Soft Sugar Cookies

makes about 3 dozen

3/4 butter, softened

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 3/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375°.

Cream butter, cream cheese, and sugars.

Add egg and extract.

Blend flour, baking powder and salt.

Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and combine until soft dough forms.

Roll out dough and cut with cookie cutter.

Bake at 375° for 10 minutes on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Frosting

for 3 dozen cookies

1/6 cup butter, softened

2 1/4 cups powdered sugar

1/8 cup milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

food coloring

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth.

I often like to sandwich the delicious frosting in between the cookies.

This makes it easy to package up some cookies to give to friends.

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

Share Your Cup

~bull calf~

Well, we have a calf at our house. 

It's the baby calf we saw at my in law's ranch last month.

Rosie, the momma, didn't make it and my in laws found the little baby this past weekend

without it's momma and not doing very well at all.

It doesn't look much bigger than it did a month ago.

My in laws do not live full time at the ranch

so they asked us if we would keep it at our place,

bottle feed it and try to help him survive.

They brought him over to our house on Tuesday

and I fully didn't expect it to live until we got home 

from our vacation last night.

But, so far so good.

He's alert, standing, eating some, drinking

and pooping. :-)

We're going to do our best,

and I hope he makes it.

Because, of course, I am already totally in love.

Linked to Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #117 

Back from the Beach!

We're home from a trip to 

one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

Can you guess?

We were in Destin, on Florida's Emerald Coast! :-)

I'm a beach lovin' girl and I've been to lots of beautiful beaches -

Waikiki, Malibu, South Padre, and Miami to name a few,

but Miramar Beach at Destin has become my favorite.

The only beach I've been to that tops it is Cancun.

But as far as beaches in the United States go, I officially love Destin the most! :-) 

It was SO beautiful and we had perfect weather.

The water was swimming pool clear and just the right temperature.

The sugar sand was so white and pretty, and amazingly cool.

There was very little seaweed and NO jellyfish! ;-)

My kiddos both love the water and have declared Destin 

one of their top favorite vacations we've ever taken as well!

We got to spend three whole days at the beach and that was just about right

for Mr. H. and my son, but my daughter and I could have easily stayed a week. :-)

We stayed in a little house that was just a short walk to the beach.

It had wood floors, a screened in porch, and lots of wicker furniture.

I thought it was so charming! 

Wish I could have stayed forever! :-)

Linked to Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #117

Ice Cream in a Bag!

This one's all over pinterest. 

And it really works!

First, take a sandwich sized baggie.

Place inside -

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup half and half

Seal tightly.

Next, take a gallon sized baggie.

Place inside -

ice cubes until about halfway filled

1/2 cup rock salt

Place your small baggie inside your large baggie.

Seal tightly.

Then you, 

Shake!

Shake!

Shake!

And shake some more.

For five minutes.

Then take your small bag out and rinse it under cold 

water to get the salt water off.

Open your bag, pour your ice cream in a bowl

and dig in!

Tasty summertime fun!

Linked to From the Farm Blog Hop #41 

Farmgirl Friday #116