10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK!

6 June - 13 June, 2010

"Thank God for the joys of family life.  I have often said there can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from a good home.  The sweetest influences and associations of life are there."    President Ezra Taft Benson

#1  Having said that ;), Doug and I were home practically alone for the week-end.  Hilary, Leslie and Christy went to Disneyland.  Emily was here, but she lives downstairs.  Happy, fun week-end.

#2  A neighbor gave me a wonderful antique rocking chair.  I wish I could say that I re-did it, but all that it needed was a mini make over.  It was a bright spring green.  I rubbed it with stain, wiped it off and sealed it.  I recovered the "box spring" with some fabric I bought at the estate sale.  I liked the fabric on the cushion, so I just unpicked it, washed and fluff dried it and sewed it back on.  I really like it.  A lot. (Can you see the cool carved wood and wicker?  The pillows were just some I had.) Thank-you, Elaine. 

#3  On Friday and Saturday I helped a friend do an Estate Sale.  (It was not a cheap project.)  I ended up buying new chairs for our living room.  (Odd word since we "live" in our family room, and "walk" thru the living room.)  I have not liked the living chairs for several years.  The new ones, while not just what I want (not sure what I want), are much better :0)  And I enjoyed the estate sale project.

#4  YEA!  I got my Blog packages mailed.  I am so happy that I got that done. (No points for me.  They should have been mailed several weeks ago.)

#5  I am happy we got a new stove.  (Not happy that I needed to get one.)

#6  I want to pay for the California/beach house trip.  (Gas, Disneyland, food, other stuff.)  I am happy I got a part-time babysitting job.  A three year old girl and 3 month old girl.  I work every day from 6:45-12:oo.  And 6 hours on Saturday. 

And I (finally) picked the yard sale date.  July 9-10 from 8:oo a.m. - 2:oo.

#7  Lightning makes me happy.  She is such a funny cat.  She sleeps on the end of my side of the bed.  (If she is not there when I go to bed, I go find her.)  She loves it when I crumple paper into balls, and throw them for her to chase.  I tossed her one the other day and it went under the t.v. table.  I pulled out 10 newspaper balls.  (I dust under there about once a month.)  Silly cat

#8  I am happy that I know Doug loves me and that he knows I love him.  It's the little things.  And the bigger things.

#9  On Saturday I enjoyed a Johnson family bridal shower in Grantsville.  I went with my mother in law and sister in law.  It makes me happy to be part of the extended family.  I am happy to be a Johnson.

#10  I am happy that I found 2 new keeper recipes this week.  (Also 3 throw away recipes:(  The Parmesan dressing was so bad it never made it to the table.)

The first recipe is an easy and fast chicken.  The second one is a side dish using orzo.

SIMPLY GREAT CHICKEN

from http://foodforahungrysoul.blogspot.com/

4 defrosted  boneless skinless chicken breasts - rinsed and dry

1 package DRY Italian dressing

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

THAT IS IT!

Spray your cooking pan.  (Can line with foil and spray.)

Mix the dressing and brown sugar.  Dip the chicken in, coating both sides.  Sprinkle extra sugar mix over the chicken.

Bake at 350* for 30 mins. to 1 hour (Depending on thickness of chicken.), turning over to coat chicken, occasionally.

This was supposed to end up a thick, sticky glaze.  Mine did not, so I broiled the chicken about 3 mins.  It really  good.  And simple.

PARMESAEN AND BASIL ORZO

from allrecipes (slightly adapted)

2 table. butter

1 cup orzo

2 cups water

2 heaping teaspoons chicken base

1/2 cup grated Parmesean cheese

1/8 - 1/4 cup chopped frsh basil OR about 2 table. dry basil

Melt butter in shillet and add orzo.  Stir until lightly browned.  Stir in water and chicken base.  Bring to a boil and cover.  Simmer about 20 mins. 

Stir in Parmesean cheese and basil.

I like orzo, and this was a new side dish.  I will try it in my rice cooker.