Tainter Skillet

Saute 1 small onion, chopped, in olive oil. Add a handful of chopped colored pepper


Add sliced fresh mushrooms, about 1 cup

Add sliced Canadian bacon, about 1/2 to 1 cup.....or try regular fried bacon

Be sure to add seasonings to taste. I love Penzey's Mural of Flavor seasoning. Also add salt & pepper

Continue to saute vegetables on low heat, stirring frequently

Add about 2 cups frozen hash browns

Stir and then pat mixture down with spatula. Turn up the heat to medium. Let sit for five minutes or so

Ahhhhhhh.....add some red pepper flakes if you feel a little "frisky"!

Now stir and flip. Move mixture around to cook evenly

Add 3 beaten eggs, (or in my case add 4 egg whites & 1 drop of yellow food coloring)

Quickly stir. When eggs are cooked.....plate it

For salsa lovers, add several tablespoons over top. Serves 2......enjoy

Oh, Winter Is Fun

Despite the extreme cold, doesn't this little guy look joyful?

Wow, driving home tonight after work was brutal. Blowing snow, snow drifts,colder temperatures, slippery roads….yup, we are in the heart of winter.

When I finally arrived home, I felt that big relief. Ahhhhhh, I’m home.

It’s hard not to be a couch potato in wintery weather. Does a couch, a blanket and a laptop (in my lap) in front of the TV count as a “couch potato.”?

Imposter!

Hope you enjoy a little bit of color….I am certainly enjoying it!

I caught an imposter today….HA!

For several years I’ve been saying to myself that there are two women book reps that frequently call me at work wanting me to buy business type books for my library collections. These two women have an an unusual East coast accent that sounds incredible similar.

To make a long story short, I’ve been dealing with a woman named, “Paula” who happens to work for a New York book company. Now make sure you say Paula out loud with a New Jersey/New York accent.

But I also deal with a woman named Janeen, who frequently calls and also sells business type books.

Well, Paula called me again today at work for the millionth time.

I kindly said “no, I’m not interested.”

Then, three hours later the woman named Janeen calls, from the same book company and asks me if I am interested in the same books that Paula just talked about.

A big hugh “Hahaaaaaaa” went off in my head.

Before I knew it, I blurted into the phone…..”say, you sound just like Paula.”

The woman named Janeen quickly started sputtering on the other end of the phone and gave me a very nervous laugh.

“Oh, really, isn’t that something” Janeen spurts out. So I guess you don’t need any books today?

HA…….after all these years I finally put two and two together.

Paula & Janeen are the same people!

Ok, I think that’s pretty low….impostering yourself to be a second person.

Geez!

Well, at least I got a good laugh this afternoon. Sometimes you just gotta laugh at people and their actions.

I can’t wait for Paula or Janeen to call me again. I think I could have a little fun with this. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

Just Wanna Fly Away

At this time of the year I just wish I could be a bird and fly away to a warmer climate…..one that is more gentle on the body & soul.

Spent the day just blowing and blowing my nose at work. My sinuses are telling me they do not like the cold dry air outside, and certainly not the warm dry air inside.

Tried to revive myself by going to the fitness center after work. Worked out on the virtual bike and then did some weight training. Whoo hoo!

Single digits still dominate our weather outlook…..guess I’ll keep blowing my nose!

Monday Night Spin

Now this is what I call a spinning workout! Courtesy of flickr.com

I had a full spin class tonight, which seems to be the trend now. I think it’s due to the holiday sweets guilt thing going on! Like last year, I’m seeing an influcts of new people at the fitness center. My usual showed up tonight, plus one newbie.

I recently changed my spinning play-list to a faster RPM’s type workout, which seems to be going quite well for getting people to pick up the pace. To keep the heart rate up there, I’m not giving my class participants much time in between songs to lower their cadence or heart rates. I really want them to utilize the 50 minute spin class.

Warm up….blast off…..that’s how I like to think of my spin classes!

I give my class guidance and encouragement, but will not scream wildly at my class. I think it’s the cyclist in me. I’ve been to former spin classes where the instructor screams loudly and intimidates everyone to think they have to work until they puke.

Spinning can be fun with the right instructor, the appropriate play-list, safe spinning moves and a good attitude.

Yes, I still miss my trail rides on the Red Cedar River, my bicycle commutes to work, our long journeys to Southern Wisconsin, our Tainter Lake route and mostly just hoping on the bike to ride the country roads of Northwest Wisconsin.

But, spring will be here in four months…..it’s worth the wait.

I Bet You Didn't Know I Have an Outdoor Cat!

Another non-motivated day…..well kind of I guess.

Despite the 18 below temperature early this morning, I managed to make my way to church and prepare the coffee and communion platters for our Sunday service.

After that, my usual run-into-Wal-Mart for a few quick supplies.

Then back home to finish working on my sewing project.

New Year’s is the end of my holidays/vacation days, and now we go into a long stretch of no holidays until Memorial Day.

Bring on winter and some warmer temperatures please!