Go Pens!

Check out the labels!

I added something new to this blog today. Now, if you're on here looking for a recipe that I posted about a while back and don't want to scroll back through every post looking for it, you can look on the label list at the right side of this blog. I went through and organized my posts by recipe types, sources, etc. I hope you like it, and it simplifies looking for an old recipe! Thanks for stopping by!

Memorial Day

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Geist Half Marathon

I ran my fourth half marathon this morning, the Geist Half Marathon. Last fall I posted about running the Indianapolis Half Marathon. I am unable to run that race again this fall. Instead, I thought I'd plan to run the United States Air Force Half Marathon at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio in September. To get a seeded starting position at that race, women must have run a half marathon in 1:52:00 or less--80 seconds faster than my half marathon last fall. That became my goal for the race this morning.

I didn't train as well as I would have liked to this spring. I was beset with illness for a lot of March and April. However, I was able to set another personal record this morning! I ran the race in 1:50:16, which qualifies me for a seeded position at the USAF Half Marathon in September and is a full three minutes faster than last fall's race! I can't believe I did it!

time: 1:50:16
average pace: 8:26 per mile
overall place: 529th out of 2765 participants
gender place: 112th out of 1421 women participants
age group place: 30th out of 227 women participants age 30 to 34

Thanks for stopping by!

Lemon Cornmeal Cookies

The December issue of Cooking Light had oodles of cookie recipes in it. I don't make hoards of cookies at Christmas time, because it's just us here most of the time, and I don't want to sit and eat them all day myself. (I have no will power when it comes to cookies, cakes, muffins, etc.) I do make some for gifts, but I'm always reluctant to try a new recipe for a gift just in case it doesn't turn out well.


My December issue is covered in flagged pages of new cookie recipes that I want to try. So, for my stamping workshop last week, I made a new recipe, Lemon Cornmeal Cookies. I'm happy to say they turned out well, and I will be adding this recipe to my box of favorites. (I should tell you though that I also made a batch of chocolate chip just in case!) Thanks for stopping by!

Orange Cream Fruit Salad

A little over a week ago, we had some friends over for dinner. I wanted to make a nice, light dessert, so I dug this recipe out of my box. I made it a long time ago when my in-laws were visiting. They really liked it, and I thought it would be perfect to make again.

I got this recipe years ago at a county fair dairy promotion booth. I saved this one recipe cut out of the pamphlet. Apparently, I didn't choose to save any of the rest! If you're looking for a fruit salad that's a little different from the typical, give this one a try. The creamy sauce on it is fantastic! Plus, I used fruit in light syrups, sugar-free pudding, 2% milk, and fat-free sour cream to save some calories.

Orange Cream Fruit Salad

1-20 oz. can pineapple tidbits
1-11 oz. can mandarin oranges
1-16 oz. can peach slices
1 medium apple, chopped
2 medium bananas, sliced
1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1/2 c. milk
3/4 c. sour cream
1/3 c. frozen orange juice concentrate

Drain all juices from fruit. Put all fruit in a bowl. Mix pudding, milk, orange juice and sour cream with a mixer for about two minutes. Pour over fruit and mix. Chill for at least one hour before serving. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Mother's Day!

Take a look at this great Mother's Day gift from my oldest son! They made these in their preschool class. Check out that handmade card! I just love them both!


I also love the preschool that my son has attended for the past two years, Kids' Kingdom Preschool at the Wilkinson Church of Christ. Last year he attended as a 3-year old two days per week, and this year as a 4-year old three days per week. I can't believe he'll start kindergarten next year! We go to our kindergarten registration this week. Where does the time go?!? I'm trying not to get emotional over it, but I fear I will sit and bawl the whole time at his registration! I have to keep reminding myself that next year will be great, because it will be my youngest son's turn to have Mommy all to himself for a little while every day. Thanks for stopping by!

Chicken, Cashew, and Red Pepper Stir-Fry

I made this for lunch Sunday after we got home from church. Jim always makes the rice for me whenever we have anything with rice. We have a microwave cooker, and can you believe, with all the cooking I do, I can't seem to get rice to come out right when I make it?!? So Jim is the official rice cooker in our household.

Anyway, the Chicken, Cashew, and Red Pepper Stir-Fry was pretty good. If you like your stir fry with a lot of sauce, then you probably won't like this. We thought it was pretty tasty, and very light on your stomach. I added more peppers than it called for, used ground ginger instead of fresh, and didn't have any sherry, so I skipped that. Cashews can be expensive, so I'm sure it would be good with peanuts too. I happened to find some on sale, so I did use cashews. Don't ever by afraid to alter a recipe a little to use what you have on hand! Thanks for stopping by!

Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

Yesterday for dinner, I made this quick and easy shrimp recipe. I know it's a little unusual to make seafood for a family meal in Central Indiana, but consider it occasionally. You can get some great deals on frozen shrimp. It's not as good as having it fresh at the beach, but a nice change of pace every now and then.


Last evening for dinner, I made this Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi for us. It was nice and light and perfect with a salad on the side.

Be careful when you're using precooked shrimp, which is what I usually use. I like to get them precooked, deveined, and sometimes all they have left on them are the tails. Be sure to thaw your shrimp and then only cook them for a minute or two, literally, until they are heated through. They get tough if you let them go any longer than that. Thanks for stopping by!

OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and 5K

Today was the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and 5K in Indianapolis. My stamping and scrapbooking friend, Michelle, ran the 5K. It was just her second 5K, and she did great! Congratulations, Michelle!
Hope my cooking friends don't mind that I use my cooking blog to congratulate my family and friends who have ventured into running. I'm so proud of them!

I'll be back in the next day or so with a stamping post. Sorry I've been absent for so long! Thanks for stopping by!