backyard transformation....

So you may remember this picture, let's call it the before:

*Sometimes I don't really know what we saw in this house when we bought but it is coming along :)*



These are the after(still have more of the details to work on but it is coming along):

*I can't get over how different the grass even looks!!*



The rocks were free from my uncle(gotta love farmers :). I have an old metal chair that I am in the middle of painting that I plan to place somewhere.
*note to self plant potatoes in the back of the garden next year!!*





I have linked up to a blog party--never done this before hopefully I did it right....

How I met the parents

So I got thinking how I met Jeremy's parents this weekend after being with some newbies coming into the family.

The Story:

I think we had been 'dating' for maybe a month when this happened:

Jeremy: "Would you like to have supper with my family tonight?"
Me: "That should be fine. What time?"
Jeremy: "I will pick you up a little before 5:00(totally making the time up, can't remember the little details ;)."
Me: "Ok (thinking what have I just agreed to)"

Jeremy picks me up on time and we proceed to drive to his aunt and uncle's house. I think ok this is a few more people then I was thinking but whats two more people. We get there and it is his whole mom's side of the family (fortish people)....I don't know who was more surprised me or his parents!!

Detroit

Jer and I went to Detroit last week to attend a Drive and Ride for Ford Dealers. Basically I got to drive one of these:

 

around a crazy curvy course with hundreds of Orange cones.

*I am guessing that my reader base is mainly female so I will not go into detail and post a bunch of car pictures :)*

Hoarders the TV show here we come!!

If you come to our front door this week, you may think we belong on that show Hoarders!! But don't worry I am just getting ready for our garage sale so I don't end up like the show :)
(and yes our front room is boring normally--but when you decide to go back to school it puts all the big purchases on hold--books are expensive!!)



I have made some changes with my decor. I saw these keys in the PB catalog and decided I had to have them!! I have them hanging above our front door and love them :)




I also added some summer theme to our mantle. You should have saw the look of Jer's face when he saw me walking around Kohl's with them *lol* But I noticed a theme in my PB catalog and found this pair for $3 total(they were 55% of and I had a $10 off coupon).

Family Room Update

I still have to paint the brick and mantle of the fireplace but otherwise it is done!!

Before Picture:


After Pictures:

Not the best picture but I can't wait to cover up the ugly brick!! and yes hubster picked out the bulky black furniture!! and not sure about the mirror on the shelf but it was only $5 at garage sale may do some re-arranging...



and someday when I have time I have picture in my head of what I am going to do with this:

Made it!!

We made the recipe below last night and it was delicious!! I forgot to take pictures--ok that is a lie, my kitchen was a disaster during the entire process!!(it took a lot of dishes but I think I can improve that the next time)

Normally I leave leftovers for Jeremy to eat at lunch but I am taking them with me to work today :)

It has a citrus flavor with a litttle bit of a zing.

Please

can someone please make this for me?!?!

general dawn’s spicy tso chicken from www.vanillakichten.blogspot.com
by Dawn

Vegetable oil, for deep frying
4 boneless chicken breasts (you can use dark meat)
3 eggs
2 ts cayenne pepper
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup plus 2 TB cornstarch
1 – 1 ½ cups of panko crumbs

Sauce:
1 large orange, zested
1 ¼ cups orange juice (with pulp is best)
½ cup dark brown sugar
3-4 TB plum sauce
1 stick of unsalted butter
2 ts hot pepper flakes
2 TB Worcestershire sauce
1 – 2 TB cornstarch

1 red bell pepper, cut into small strips
¼ - ½ cup of sweet & spicy pecans (I found at Trader Joe’s)

In a large heavy-bottomed pot, use about one bottle of veggie oil or enough oil to cover your pot about 1/3 of the way full. Heat pot over medium heat until oil reaches 350 degrees F.
Cut chicken into 2 or 3-inch pieces.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, cayenne, salt & black pepper, set aside.
In another large bowl mix the flour, cornstarch and salt & pepper, set aside.
In a medium bowl put the panko crumbs in.
Dip the chicken in batches, first in egg mixture, then in the flour mixture and shake to coat. Then coat in the panko crumbs, making sure to push down and get them nice and coated. Line them up on a tray to get ready for frying. It’s best to let them sit for a few minutes to absorb all the dry coatings.
To prepare sauce use a large sauté pan, melt 6 TB of the butter, then add in the orange zest, orange juice, dark brown sugar, hot pepper flakes and Worcestershire sauce. Stir, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and add in the 3-4 TB of plum sauce, bring to a boil again and sprinkle on the cornstarch (use your hands or a sifter to avoid any cornstarch clumps). Stir well, let cornstarch dissolve, taste as you go, it might need a pinch or two of salt. Let simmer a bit till thickened—maybe 10 minutes? Add the last 2 TB of butter, stir until melted.
Carefully place chicken in hot oil and fry in small batches until golden and crispy; should take about 5 - 8 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to paper towels to dry a bit. (this recipe belongs to dawn finicane)
Add the cooked chicken to the sauté pan with the sauce and toss until evenly coated. Then add in the red pepper strips and pecans, toss again and serve with white sticky rice.