Roaster-Phobia....BE GONE!!!!

I woke up this morning and after seeing that the weather is cooling off a bit, I decided that a roast would be a great idea for dinner this evening. So, after sending the Hubby and the K-bug out the door to work/school, I started assembling things needed for my roast; such as all the veggies and taters. Well, when I pulled the roast out and tried to put it in my large crock-pot I found out that it would not fit. (This is actually a half of a roast I just got from the Meat Market.)

Well, not giving up I went downstairs and brought up my roaster oven, the one that used to belong to my mother-in-law. I assembled the roast with the veggies and taters and a few onions, seasoned it all up, and then I sat down looking at it like it was going to walk me through the next phase of this journey. lol Let me be clear about something, I have only used this roaster TWICE in the year I have had it in my possession. I boiled hot dogs in it for my son's graduation party and I, somehow, managed to roast our Thanksgiving turkey it in this past Holiday...OH WAIT, make that THREE times as I also did our Christmas Ham in it. :) But, I gotta say, those last two times were purely dumb luck on my part. lol

So, I did what any good cook would do in this same situation.....I got online and looked up the owners manual for my roaster! LOL WHAT?! Did you think I was gonna say that I called my MOMMY?! UHHHH....nooooo....I see that as admitting defeat and well, that was NOT gonna happen this morning. lol While looking up the owners manual I also browsed a few recipes they had listed via their site too, and I must say they have some really yummy lookin recipes there; including some for cakes and such that can be made in the roaster.(Am I the only one who didn't know that you could bake a cake in a roaster?) I know that cakes and cheesecakes can be made in the crock-pot too, not that I have ventured out to that area as of yet. lol

I am happy to post that as I write this, my roast is in the roaster, roasting away. LOL And, it is making my whole house smell DELISH! LOL I would say that I will be using my roaster more often, but I will be honest with you all...I don't think that will be happening. I may go and check into getting a smaller roaster, as mine is an 18qt roaster and is a bit large for my kitchen space; but, yes, I would be interested in getting a smaller roaster and trying out new things in it....making a cake in one is one that I would love to conquer! LOL

Happy Roasting!
Lu

Hodge Podge

Have you ever had one of those days where you wanna write something....you know you wanna write something, be it a blog or a letter or a status update on your FB page....but you have so many ideas running through your mind that you cannot just pick one out and slap it on a page? YUP..having one of those days right now. lol

NW Indiana is having some awesome weather! I mean, its the middle of March for crying out loud and it is near 80 flipping degrees outside. All my windows are open and get this...I am wearing shorts right now..YES...SHORTS! LOL How odd is this? I mean, when I lived in North Carolina and California, this was nuttin..people were opening their pools by this time of the year...but in this area? NEVER! LOL I am totally enjoying it, but I must be honest....I think I am taking too much advantage of it. lol

I have been out of school since the end of January 2012....that is only 2 full months of no school schedule to follow and well....I'm really not liking the whole "no schedule to follow" thing. I love the fact that I can either run all day or just chill out at home at my leisure, but honestly, it is starting to get to me somewhat. lol It being spring and planting season is a great thing, as this will give me more things to do and occupy my time with. :) I am also looking forward to summer, as I still don't know what it holds for me; I may be going back to school in June for my LPN or I may not be going back to school for my LPN...ya, real definite eh? LOL It all depends on what my cardiologist has to say when I see him at the start of April, so right now I will continue to study for my Registry exam..and that is something that is not keeping me as busy as I thought it would. lol

Now, here is a question to all the spouses out there...does your spouse have a "secret" language that, over the years, you have deciphered and can even communicate with them? Let me just be the first to say....I HAVE ONE OF THOSE SPOUSES!!!lol My hubby and I can be having a "normal" conversation and he will try to explain something to me....using maybe one word, or two, that actually belongs in that convo....and even when he uses the most ridiculous words, I can decipher it. lol Should I be worried? LOL

Oh, and my dear friends stopped by today..my "Gusbands" as I lovingly call them brought donuts and I supplied the coffee and kitchen table. lol Anyway, they are well warned and even have experience with my coffee whore of a dog...but, it never fails that she (the coffee whore hound) will get her way and it is usually with Tom's coffee....actually, it is ALWAYS with Tom's coffee. lol Today was just priceless as I watched my dog try to slurp the coffee through a straw in Tom's cup. LMAO I sooo wish I had a photo of that as it was just too dam hilarious! :) Maybe next time I will be better prepared. lol

OK, I think I'm done....for now, as I am sure more topics and spurts will come to mind today...or tomorrow. lol Thanks for letting me clear my brain a bit...hope I didn't get anything on ya. LOL

Decisions....yup, I made em. lol

As some of you may already know, I finished up with my Associates Degree in Medical Assisting at the end of January....and have since then been dealing with my home life and pretty much trying to NOT think about what comes next. lol Well, (insert sigh) I am going up with my friend, Rhonda, on Monday to talk to the school about starting in the LPN program around April or so....Yes, friends..there is a method to my madness. lol And, now I will explain. :)

Our area is a bit behind the times when it comes to the pay of MA's...and nursing is what I started going for several years ago....and not to mention the pay difference and the availability of jobs in the surrounding areas. Yes, they hire MA's up in Chicago and South Bend areas..but the pay is not really worth my driving time, gas, or train fair for Chicago....soooo, this is what brings me to the LPN program. With the pay scale of a nurse, I would and could afford to pay to go further out for work..or I could and probbly will choose to work closer to home for a bit to gain experience before venturing out to the big cities. lol

I have not made any definite choices as of yet, I want to talk to the director of the Nursing program before making any final decisions and I also, of course, will want to talk it over with the hubby. I know he is all for it..he sees the advantages of having a nursing degree over an MA degree, we have been talking about it for years...so he is all for it...I just like to run it by him in case my brain is missing a vital piece of info or something. lol My big issue is that Kbug is still in school....and my school schedule is not a set schedule as it was here at BMC.....but the high point is that Hubby is on straight days and I do have close friends I know i can count on if needed. I just worry is all...typical mama stuff I guess. And, as Hubby points out...Kbug is not a baby or even a "kid", she is going to be 13 this summer and is very self sufficient and does follow the rules when home alone to a T....now, we haven't ever left her alone and gone further than the grocery store or out to lunch with my friends before....I will be going to school an hour away....and to calm myself down I shall remind myself I have great friends close by who would drop everything in a heartbeat to help out if needed. :)

Why did I start this post? I guess just to let you all know that Im still around and just dealing with stuff on the home front. :) And, yes, to keep ya up to date on what is going on with me. :) Cuz, well, ya...duhhh..I knew ya all would be waiting with baited breath to hear from me. HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Blog ya all later!