Salmon, Cricut, and 2016

Made an iron on with my cricut!

Gourmet meal! 

Highly recommend this crack!

I am having so much fun playing with my cricut explore air machine, this baby can do everything!
Tried out the iron on stuff using a pre-made design, but I am now off and running and making my own designs now!

I took a tamale making class (will blog on that another time) at Sur La Table, while on break I bought this rub for my salmon dinners.
Last night I made the most amazing dinner using it. I made salmon, rice pilaf, and oven roasted asparagus with lemon pepper. I kid you not, it was better than any gourmet meal at a fancy restaurant!! We cleaned our plates! Even the hubby loved it and he is not a big salmon fan.

Happy 2016!!

The Monkey is the ninth sign in Chinese astrology. Number “9” is associated with ambition, activity, smartness, mischief and adventure.

I want to wish all my friends and family a wonderful 2016!

I hope you are healthy and happy all year long.

Peace and love to you all,

Jackie 

Merry Christmas...

I wanted to share one of my favorite, favorite, never get tired of hearing Christmas songs...

Kenny Loggins, Celebrate me home.

I love this video that goes with it, because more than ever we need to support our soldiers who keep us safe and free to live in America! Thank you for your service and I hope you all can celebrate Christmas with your loved ones, Merry Christmas everyone!

Vegas Day, Penguins, and Lobster!

This is the tale of Christmas in Vegas...

It starts out with me and my reflection in a Christmas ball on the tree located at the four seasons hotel...

the four seasons had a display, a tiny little gingerbread town, that was all....

now the bellagio goes all out with their display, a rocking horse just the size for the jolly green giant!

They had  Top Gun Tom Cruise penguin getting the cold shoulder from Kelly Gillis penguin...

The first family penguins taking a stroll with secret service penguin following close behind...

The secret service always on the job...

even Adele the penguin showed up to sing carols!

Boys to men penguins...

the coca-cola bear was there, we think he had a little too much eggnog, goofy bear!

Kim K penguin, the paparazzi was going crazy getting her picture!

The people trapped in the globe, we tried to hang out long enough to see them get their feeding...

the joker arrived...

the flag was flying...

I had the lobster omelet, fabulous, Tanya had banana foster waffle...

the bears were dancing...

Bellagio flowers, looked like jellyfish...

last but not least this Christmas pooch, what cutie pie!

Merry Christmas everyone!

It's chilly out, time for Chowder!

I love clam chowder, it is always available on Fridays anywhere in this town (Vegas Baby!)
Some are good, some are better, you just find the one that is right for you and it is always on the soup menu!
I always thought it was hard to make so I never attempted it, until now. Gotta thank pinterest for this one, not sure which blog to give credit to as I went to so many before printing one out and then could not find the source again! Ugh! It is so easy to get lost in the Internet!

Give this one a try, was a quick easy dinner, I served it with sourdough rolls, gotta have sourdough with clam chowder! Oh and a glass of Riesling. Next time I am going to serve some shrimp cocktails with it as well.

INGREDIENTS:

• 8-10 bacon strips, divided
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 2 celery pieces, chopped
• 1 leek, finely chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3-4 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup broth
• 1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fat-free half-and-half, divided
• 3 cans (6-1/2 ounces each) of whole clams, undrained, chop into chunky pieces
• Bay leaf
• Chopped fresh chives or green onions, for garnish

1. In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; set aside. In the butter, saute celery, leek, onion in the drippings until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the potatoes, broth, clam juice, salt, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

2. In a small bowl, combine flour and 1 cup half-and-half until smooth. Gradually stir into the soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.

3. Stir in clams and remaining half-and-half; heat through (do not boil); turn down to low heat; add the bay leaf. Add 4 strips of bacon (crumbled).

4. Crumble the reserved 2 strips of bacon. Garnish chowder with crumbled bacon and fresh chopped chives.

December is upon us...

We are settling in to a routine, working from home, it is nice to be able to take care of the house and work all in the same place. I like not having to drive in the rain to work as it floods here most the time and people cannot drive in the rain safely. It is supposed to rain a lot this winter, so we shall see.

Hope everything is cozy and bright in your neck of the woods!

I wonder if I will get snow this winter in Las Vegas?

I know I will get rain!