Leftover Rotisserie Chicken...never again!

Okay, If you are keeping track ~ this is a Life's small lesson ~

I live alone so buying a whole rotisserie chicken means I'm going to be creative with alternative combinations for that big bird. Here is my all-time favorite recipe for left over bird!

Pull the chicken/turkey off the bone and then chop it up and put in a large bowl

Depending on the amount of chicken leftover, peal, core, and chop up 1 to 3 apples *put the slices in a Ziploc and sprinkle just a little lemon juice in it and shake the apple slices around until coated - this keeps them from turning brown - next lay them on a paper towel to drain for a few minutes before adding to the bowl of chopped chicken

Grab chopped pecans and add 1/2 to 1 Cup of these to the chicken, based on your taste preference

Now, stir in Mayo, again to your preferred taste and consistency and you're done

See - EASY! Chicken Apple Salad

You can now use this as a sandwich filler, topping for a salad, or just straight out of the bowl. (I'll never tell!)

Enjoy your next rotisserie chicken with all the confidence that you will finish the whole bird.

OH! I have no pictures as this dish doesn't last long enough to photograph.

Happy Cooking ~
Tess

21 pieces of brave...

This is the link of a new friend. She has been blogging about her life with the love of her life, a preacher named Dan, and their 4 kids. I invite you to go read a little about the challenges they have faced and find out where their source for strength, hope and bravery is ~

http://21piecesofbrave.blogspot.com/

Oklahoma Earthquake

WOW! Did you feel the earth move this morning around 9am? This was my first earthquake and I probably would not have gone with my first explanation if my co-worker had not been through an earthquake before and confirmed it was just that!

I have been visiting a certain webpage today... http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/?region=Oklahoma
and clicked on Did You Feel It? to see the particulars. You can also report an earthquake if you want. Oklahomans seem to be very vocal on this quake as there have been more than 6 thousand reports on this event. People from Texas to Kansas felt this quake!

If you've been wondering about additional pictures of my tree, it has not turned yet so just keep checking in...

Hope the rest of your day stays steady under your tootsies ~
Tess

Fall Tree Planting

Autumn is here! It's time to take those evening walks and look up...the trees are going to be on fire with color. In a few weeks I'll be posting a picture of my Chinese Pistachio tree with it's fall colors.

If you have been 'planning' to plant a tree in your yard - now is the time! Check with your area nursery for a list of options and then make it a family/neighborhood event. When everyone helps ~ everyone learns and enjoys...


I was lucky enough to have my son, one of the boys from the youth group, and other boys in the neighborhood to help out. There were several theories on 'how to plant a tree' and the best news is that after a year...the tree still lives!

Wait...how did I get in this picture???? Hmm~ when planting your tree, better take stock in your choice of clothing, or be caught like I was in your not so flattering combination! LOL

Happy Fall Walking!
Tess

Autumn Beauty...through a haze

We are getting those little glimpses of fall here in OK these days. A couple of hours of a north wind before the south wind comes back through. Maybe three or four days of temperatures that are comfortable before the heat and humidity comes sneaking its way back into the heat of the afternoon. It's a great seasonal change month...achoo...with a haze!

Along with the changes of wind and temperatures, we get to deal with the dreaded fall allergies. UGH! When you understand that Oklahoma has a ton of man made lakes, you begin to understand all the allergies. Even transplants to Oklahoma generally develop allergies over time. What to do? Learn the allergy meds and which one works in the spring versus the fall.

Well, I am having the fall allergy challenges this weekend and am not convinced that I have a handle on this stuff. Usually I loose my voice - which is not a big deal since I know sign language - but it is a big deal because even the doctors' offices can't communicate using sign language! HA! So I whine silently to myself and keep taking the allergy medicines (over the counter of course) hoping that I wake in the morning feeling like a million dollars.

And this is the point in this posting that I sneeze three times, take the last dose of meds tonight, and turn off the computer for the evening. Sleep well...

It takes more than just one!

Have you ever had to have an extra income? You are not alone. I've had several odd jobs over the years - secretarial, book keeping, music, piano teacher, hardware stores (one of my favorite places to be), Swarovski Crystal retail sales, and several home businesses as well. As you age you have this urgency to have an extra income even more - some hope of retirement perhaps!

About a year ago I decided to become a Scentsy Consultant to earn some extra money and have had a blast every step of the way since. My daughter is one of my very best friends, but she now lives 12 hours away so I had to find something to do in the evenings and on weekends. It has been a BLAST ~ wait, I think I've already said that! During the process I've connected to several former friends and their children. That is one plus I didn't think about happening when I decided to start this most recent home business.

Now, let's get honest - it isn't an overnight, get rich quick process when you begin a business, well not usually ~ but it is fun. Hey, if we have to have a second job, we should enjoy what we are doing! When you make this decision it is important to set goals and the first is - am I going to commit to this project? If you are not ready to commit you are just wasting your start-up money so be sure you are going to put the effort into your business.

Who loves to open presents at Christmas? I DO! With this company twice a year we unveil a new selection of scents and new warmers to boot. It's like Christmas three times a year! Amazingly, each scent triggers a memory of some sort. Sitting around with the girlfriends and talking about our memories when the new scents arrive becomes something you look forward to.

Seriously - if you've not checked out Scentsy, hop over to my web site and take a look. The extra plus here is that there are no flames to put your house/office/bedroom at risk of a fire. (can you tell I sell insurance?) You see, there is a light that warms the wax scents and fills your home with ... well,memories!

OH - you need the website huh - www.tonyahuffman.scentsy.us

This year we have a couple warmers that are also fundraisers for different entities - the armed services and cancer research. I read a report that said Scentsy donated $150,000 to a project last year. Everyday this company is helping someone else!

Well, I hope I haven't just rambled - but then again I do that sometimes. :-)

Be sure to reach out to someone today and let them know they count!

New Leaf...

Last time I blogged, I was heading off on vacation and said I'd keep you informed on what was happening ~ best laid plans! The internet was not working well at our location so I wasn't able to write a thing! We had a great time and the temperature was way cooler than it was in Oklahoma! I am going to try to turn over a new leaf this fall - blogging daily ~ about anything and everything for now.

Well, now that I've apologized for my absence let me take off on my topic tonight - cooking. Have you ever watched Iron Chef. This show is CRAZY! Some of the items they have to create a dish from is totally nuts...and I'm not talking pecans folks. I like to experiment and pretend I'm some great chef as I create, but I can't get my cats to respond other than looking at me from their respective napping spots. Now, let me just pop a can of tuna open and they sing my praises while intruding into my space because of one metal can getting opened!

I do have a favorite way to fix pasta and potatoes. Let's talk potatoes - boil a red potato until it is just tender. While the potato is boiling in a small frying pan cook - sliced bacon, onion, garlic,chicken, broccoli, and what ever is in the frig that fries up well. When the potatoes are done, put them in the skillet and let everything cook for a minute or two - add butter or coconut oil if you need some additional moisture. If you put in broccoli and red peppers, you have some nice color along with the potatoes. It's a really tasty and easy meal for just one person.

Let me encourage you to try a new dish this weekend ~ and share your experience ~ you just never know...