Tips, Treats & Treasures

Confections of a Chocoholic

Chocolate

The lover of chocolate in me thinks it worthy to write about....Chocolate!!

A real treasure for the taste buds. This is a happiness for my mind, body (OK, maybe not that) and spirit! No wait a minute, dark chocolate in moderation is OK, and also said to be healthy, an antioxidant. (*thinking* moderation?.. yeah right!)

I had just enjoyed a banana with some nutella on it, (one of my favorite snacks, day or night!). And then it occurred to me that I really hadn't written about Chocolate. I have written about Nutella, a new discovery for me recently. I know, I know like where have I been since the stuff has been around for, forever! Anyway you can have a look at my links on Nutella later if you like. Oh yeah...Back to the Chocolate. (well actually I never really left the subject, since Nutella is chocolate too!) Hey, if it has cocoa in it...it's chocolate!

Chocolate is that feel good food. Mood altering in a good way! I do adore me some chocolate! That just doesn't sound as good, huh? (adore?..I've been trying not to use the word 'love' so much), but I do love chocolate, I do! There, putting in back in, ('love') cause it just belongs, and is true!

For as long as I can remember I have always loved Chocolate. Dark chocolate is usually my first choice, but milk chocolate, hey, it's deliciously awesome too. I don't turn it down for sure. It has it's place in so many good things to eat. Honestly though, if it's chocolate?...I want it! (I think I am salivating as I write this, uh, more like drooling.) I will be adding new or not so new tasty chocolate recipes and treats here to share with others who love chocolate too. I am always on the look out for new recipes with chocolate or tasty treats of chocolate so, a 'Chocolate' feature sounds ...magnifantabulicious!

I recently discovered a new goodie, it's like nutella.

(Shhhh, don't tell Nutella but I have been unfaithful!) Check out the new Jif. Jif Hazelnut Spread, a cocoa and hazelnut goodness! (Their peanut butter has always been my favorite of all other brands.) Wow, my eyes about popped out when I saw it! I tried the Mocha Cappuccino. It's nice and chocolatey with a hint of coffee/mocha flavor as well. I like it! Yum, another treat to put on bananas, or bagels for breakfast, and...oh the possibilities. Way to go Jif!

This choosy Mom always chose Jif!...
(you know I just had to say that!)
~Tammy~

Chocolate - wikipedia

& image source

Net Fun

[: My -Just for laughs- today :]

(-: Funny Funnies Around The Net :-)

Since I do really enjoy a good laugh, I have to confess my overwhelming desire to go and have a peek at some of those funny websites, i.e., People of Walmart.com! Another one is Fail Blog.org: and it has links to Engrish Funny (I didn't spell that wrong), also Autocowrecks and many many more!

One of my favorites there is, There I fixed it. So if you haven't partaken in this funny compilation of OMGosh they didn't really do that, scratching my head, gut busting, I can't even believe...oh yeah I can, hilariously stupid, clever, what the??? or what a great idea, amazing, unique, what were they thinking, and down right dumb and goofy things...

Here are a few I recently viewed:

This is my kind of repair!

If I can 'Tammy-rig' it with a bungee cord, you better bet I will.

Just ask my family! lol

They often call me the Bungee Queen! (I wear it well!)

- Screen glare -

This had a comment of: "The enemy of nerds everywhere"

Well hey, I say "good job nerd, well done"! I would do this! lol

This had a comment of: "I couldn't help but notice that your mug says "Astute Solutions" on it.

Way to live up to your company's namesake!"

I must admit there is within me a deep desire to do this at my house, since the hubs likes this full at all times! I wonder if he would like this...hmmm I wonder?

It's good to have other uses for toothpicks...and tape! lol

and

then there's this below

Weeeeeeeeeee!

Ride Closed This Summer...

...for construction?

These kids probably think they have the coolest Dad ever!

(I'm feeling a little dizzy now!)

Having a good laugh!...

Eyesight - I See!

~ A new vision for me~

I've been experiencing what I call, that over-the-hill loss of near vision, for some time now. I've learned the term for this is Presbyopia - a vision disorder that develops as we age, decreasing our ability to focus on near objects and small print. Actually I believe it started for me around forty five-ish, (no wait, I'm only 39...*wink*) when I started feeling like I needed longer arms so I could read what I held out that far, at arms length.

Hello Summer Solstice

~ Happy Summer Solstice ~

Summer is here! My favorite season of all! There's so much to enjoy about the summer time. I enjoy the warmer weather, both during the day and night. I truly do love the southern summer nights! Although I'll admit it can get pretty hot here in Georgia, "Hotlanta" as it's called, but I'd prefer that to winter any day of the week!

A few of my favorite summer things are:

[Photo taken at Panama Beach Florida]

- warmer weather

- enjoying the great outdoors

- lots of sunshine

- going to the beach

- longer daylight hours

- warm summer evenings

- fresh fruits and veggies

- cooking and eating outdoors
-ice cream trucks
-beautiful plants and flowers

- sandals

- lighter clothing

- swimming pools

- suntans

- july 4th celebrations
- flowers
- no school buses early morning
- the smell of fresh cut grass
- coffee mornings outside or on the deck

- football-preseason begins, Oh Yeah!

Summertime and the living is easy...

~Tammy~

Potatoes - Oven Roasted

One of my favorite ways to cook potatoes is oven roasting them. I have always liked fried potatoes, but let's face it, now it's all about trimming the fat and eating more healthy foods. I first made oven roasted potatoes during the winter time, and of course having the oven on is a plus when it's cold outside. I have a toaster oven and it gets used often for a variety of foods. Now that Hubster and I are empty-nesters I use the toaster oven even more often since I am only cooking for two most of the time. Also even if it's warm outside the toaster oven doesn't heat the kitchen like the my regular oven often does.

(back to the oven roasted taters) I made these for dinner tonight and remembered how much I really enjoy them, he does too, so I decided to add my recipe for those who might be interested and would enjoy a healthier version that tastes like fried potatoes. I like the simplicity of these potatoes, with easy preparation and clean-up too. I prefer the small red new potatoes and I like to add a little diced sweet onion often too. I find it easiest to cut the potatoes into bite sized chunks rather than slices, so I can sit the pieces up on their skins. This helps with less sticking, less turning them, and more even browning on the cut potato part. I cover the broiler pan with foil, this makes for easy clean-up after cooking too!

Prepared and ready for the oven.

Roasting in the toaster oven.

Finished and golden brown.

I think I could eat this everyday!

~ Oven Roasted Potatoes ~

6-8 small/medium red potatoes chopped - (for two servings)
1/2 c. diced onion
2 tbsp. olive oil
seasoned salt
garlic powder
onion powder
black pepper

Place potatoes and onions on foil lined broiler pan, coat with oil and seasonings, toss to coat well and then place in 400 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until golden brown. Serve or keep warm in lower oven temperature for a few minutes.

Enjoy...

Panama City Beach Trip

A nice trip to Panama City Beach with the daughters and granddaughters, yeah an all girls trip!

~The girls were ready for a vacation and had asked me last month about us all taking a trip to the beach, so we got busy making plans to go to Panama City Beach, Fl. for a little R and R all together. We drove down on sunday and stayed thru friday. The weather forecast had us all a bit unhappy since the forecast was showing rain for just about everyday that we had planned to be there. I said to the girls "It can't rain every minute, let's be positive!". We arrived to a thunderstorm just as we were getting to the hotel. "Great...this is awesome!" Thanks to the covered area for unloading we managed to unload the car and get moved into the hotel. The rain cleared out and we headed out into the sunshine to explore the surroundings i.e., the pool area and the beach. Luckily from then on, we had beautiful sunny days for the rest of the week and only had rain again on thursday evening and on friday morning, before the time that we checked out.

We had much sun and fun! Plenty of beach and pool time, some shopping and some good eats too. Speaking of good eats, one evening we went for dinner at Bishops's and had all you can eat crab legs, along with other seafood goodies and many other items that were on their buffet. Great place to eat, and eat, and eat for sure! We all had a great time on our beach vacation and enjoyed our time away.

I'm truly very glad I got to have the time with all my girls, all to myself.

Happy Father's Day Dad!

~ Dedicated to my Father ~

There is a special bond between a young woman and the first man she ever loves...her Daddy!

Hoosier Daddy!

My Dad was born and raised in Indiana, a true Hoosier. He moved to a couple of other states, but always and eventually went back to Indy. (singing ...♫ "back home again in Indiana"♫ ) Dad is that guy who is always a friend to everyone, I don't think he has ever met a stranger or at least they weren't one for long. He's a simple man and likes things simple, as in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Don't be a changing things on him either, "it's fine the way it is!" I see so much of him in me and in my appearance, he can't deny I'm his for sure! I do remember thinking he looked like Elvis when he and I were younger. Dark hair, blue eyes, and tall, "Tall, Dark and Handsome!"... and he can sing and play the guitar too! He shared life with four females (Mom and us three girls) and has managed to survive that without losing his mind! He is quite the character though, and always has been. He makes me laugh with his amusing humor. Well I suppose life with four females one would need a good sense of humor for sure, lots of patience, and just might question their own sanity from time to time! I'm very grateful to have had this gentle giant in my life and he has always been one of the people I look up to the most! He's many things, a son, a father, an uncle, a grandfather, a great grandfather, and a friend. He's my 'Pops' to me!

Dad,
I can't thank you enough for all that you have given to me all of my life and for being a good father, always protecting and looking out for me, and wanting only the best for me always!

Thanks so much Dad for all you have done and all that you are!

You're the best DAD!
I LOVE YOU!

~Tammy~

* Father's Day Wishes to All *

To all the Dad's today!

A Special wish to:
my Husband, my Father, my Father-in-Law and my Son-in-Law
...a few of my favorite Dads!

Jewelry by Tammy - Bracelets

~ Bracelet variety ~

Bracelets are that little something extra! I enjoy wearing bracelets and I do wear them a lot,

alone or mixed together with a similar type or style, or complimentary to the other bracelet(s). I also often wear a different bracelet on each wrist.

This is a variety of some of the bracelets I've made.