Doesn’t that look delicious? If not, maybe there is something wrong with your video card because I’m drooling all over my keyboard ;-). For the past two weeks I have meant to post this recipe for Slow Cooking Thursday and have forgotten. Thank goodness I remembered today! Two years ago I had my first taste of Stuffed Pepper Soup while on vacation at Woodloch Pines. It was so delicious! We had it again there this year and I vowed to recreate it at home. Well, this version is thicker than a soup, so that’s why I call it “Lazy Stuffed Peppers.” It’s so easy to make, and you can freeze the leftovers for an easy meal another night. Enjoy!

Lazy Stuffed Peppers

1 12-oz package of frozed, diced green peppers (you can certainly use fresh, but this is what I had on hand)
1 medium onion, diced
1 lb. ground turkey
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (I used fire-roasted)
1/2 jar spaghetti sauce
2 cups chicken broth
Seasoning to taste
1 bag of instant rice (e.g., Success)

Brown the ground turkey and add to slow cooker. Add peppers, onion, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and chicken broth. Season to taste (salt, pepper, Adobo, garlic powder, whatever tickles your fancy). Stir to combine. Cook on low for 6-7 hours. Open up bag of instant rice and add to slow cooker*. Stir to combine. Cook on low for 1 additional hour.

* When you add the rice, be sure to taste test to make sure the seasoning is right.

I made “Red Lobster Biscuits” to go with it and what a yummy, yummy meal. The fact that it is so easy to throw together is a bonus! For more slow cooking recipes, be sure to visit Diary of a SAHM!

A couple years ago, my brother and sister-in-law (before they were married) went to The Cape and brought back Jake these super cute pyjama bottoms from The Black Dog. Jake loooved these pj pants and wore them all the time. In fact, he wore them out. Somehow he managed to wear the knees so thin that one eventually tore and really it didn’t make sense to sew it up. But because he loved them so much I didn’t throw them away.

The other day I was reading one of my favorite new blogs, Nesting Place, and I saw her post with a how-to for this adorable Ragamuffin Garland. Instantly I knew why I had saved those pj bottoms: to make this garland! So this morning I got down to business and tore up the pants along with an old pair of my jeans, a onesie from when the boys were babies (::sniff!::), some fabric remnants, and ribbon pieces. I tore and tied and tore and tied and attatched a couple clothespins and voila! I had made my very own super cute ragamuffin garland. I ran upstairs to hang it over Jake’s bed:

I can’t wait until he comes home from school. I think he’ll get a kick out of it. Plus, he can hang photos or artwork from the clothespins. I am going to make one for Noah and I might also make one for the kitchen. Heck, I might make these everyone I know because they are really easy and totally adorable! (Well, I guess you have to like shabby chic/cottage living type decorating.) Now I’m going to raid all my bags of clothing donations…

Seen all around…

Where did you grow up? Three Rivers, Mass.

WHAT DO YOU CALL…
1. A body of water, smaller than a river, contained within relatively narrow banks?
A brook

2. Whats the thing you push around the grocery store is called?
Shopping cart

3. A metal container to carry a meal in?
A lunch box.

4. The thing that you cook bacon and eggs in?
Frying pan

5. The piece of furniture that seats three people?
A couch.

6. The device on the outside of the house that carries rain off the roof?
A gutter.

7. The covered area outside a house where people sit in the evening?
A porch.

8. Carbonated, sweetened, non-alcoholic beverages?
Soda

9. A flat, round breakfast food served with syrup?
Pancakes.

10. A long sandwich designed to be a whole meal in itself?
A grinder. (Though Westchester has rubbed off on me and I will say “Wedge” on occasion).

11. The piece of clothing worn by men at the beach?
Bathing suit.

12. Shoes worn for sports?
Cleats or sneakers, depending on the sport

13. Putting a room in order?
Tidying up (if I’m just doing it quick — otherwise cleaning)

14. A flying insect that glows in the dark?
Lightening bug.

15.The children’s playground equipment where one kid sits on one side and goes up while the other sits on the other side and goes down?
See-saw

16. How do you eat your pizza?
Point first.

17. What’s it called when private citizens put up signs and sell their used stuff?
Tag sale

18. What’s the evening meal?
Now I say “dinner” but growing up it was “supper.” I hate the way “supper” sounds though.

19. What do you call the thing that you can get water out of to drink in public places?
A water fountain.

20. What do you call the clothing covering for legs worn on the outside?
Pants.

♥ The dandelions that constantly find their way into my little vases in the kitchen.
♥ Coffee. How did I got for 2+ years without it?
♥ My microfiber mop. Nothing captures the cat hair off of the hardwood floor as well as it does.
♥ Snail mail. I’ve been getting so many cool freebies in the mail lately. It’s like a party in my mailbox everyday!
♥ Springtime sunsets
♥ Pomegranate seltzer. I have a couple different pomegranate liqueurs at home - I think I’ll try some cocktails this summer.

How about you? What is tickling your fancy these days?

In the last month or two I have made a command decision. I am not going to settle for sub-standard products. If we purchase something, using our hard-earned money, and it does not meet our expectations, I am going to let the manufacturer know. Seriously — people have no problem walking into the wine shop and complaining that they didn’t like a wine so it must have been “bad.” (Not true: just because you don’t like something, that doesn’t mean it has turned.) I hear people at the bank complain about waiting in line (and rather nastily, I might add). I don’t think it’s ridiculous to lodge a complaint if the product really, truely does not perform — as long as the complaint is made in a courteous way. Considering the rising prices of foods and household goods, I feel well within my rights to demand excellence.

About a week ago, after yet another load of laundry where several items had to be re-laundered because stains did not come out (even after pre-treating), I decided to write to Proctor & Gamble, the maker of Tide detergent which I had been using. The stains weren’t anything crazy. They were basic food stains created by two messy little boys: ketchup, chocolate pudding, spaghetti sauce, etc. I went to the Tide website to contact the company. I included the size of the detegent I’d purchased as well as the UPC code. I very politely expressed my disappointment with the product, noting that I had been a loyal Gain user but decided to give Tide a shot because I’d purchased it on sale. I wasn’t mean, I wasn’t accusatory. I asked if perhaps they’d recently changed formulas or if there was a bad batch, and also said that I was sorry I could not recommend the product to my friends and family because I do use and enjoy many other P&G products. I wrote the e-mail on a Saturday and that Monday I received an e-mail response back, saying that there would be a postal mail follow-up. Today I received a $5 coupon for Gain detergent (also a P&G product, in case you were wondering). I was very happy about this and it makes me feel like I am valued as a customer. Sure, $5 might be a drop in the bucket to Proctor & Gamble, but it is good enough for me. Basically, it gives me the money back on the Tide I was not happy with and allows me to puchase my detergent of choice. I was proud of myself for making my dissatisfaction known in a firm, yet polite way and getting a result.

So the moral of this story: don’t be afraid to complain! It doesn’t matter what the product is, if you are not satisfied, let the company know. Say you prefer to write with Bic pens, and you buy a package that is faulty. Send them an e-mail! Any corporation worth their salt will send you a coupon at the very least, as long as you thoughtfully explain the problem and are not obnoxious about it. It might not seem like much, but I think it’s going to matter more and more in this slow economy. Don’t throw your money away and don’t feel like you have to settle.

• Ah, sun! How I’ve missed you! Looks like we’ll be enjoying some warmer (i.e., more seasonable) temperatures this week.
• Tried a new restaurant yesterday: Buffalo Wild Wings. It was OK, but nothing special. Won’t be rushing back. I did enjoy their mango-habenero sauce, though.
• Briefly considered buying Maggie a cat condo that was clearance at Target, but decided against it. Doubt she’d really use it.
• Watched Disturbia last night. So. Good. My heart was pounding during the last part of the movie.
• Again, totally unprepared for festive food holiday: nothing Mexican planned for Cinco de Mayo.
• Just realized that Sunday is Mother’s Day. Better get on that!

I have to admit that the weekly sales haven’t been thrilling me lately. But there were quite a few monthly May deals that I was interested in. As I mentioned in my previous post, Noah had spent yesterday with my mother-in-law, so I took the opportunity to do my CVSing for the week and get the items I knew I wanted before they were gone. I got everything in the photo for $6.90 out of pocket (I used $21 worth of ECBs and had $8 worth of manufacturer’s coupons), and got back $34.91 in ECBs. With the exception of the gum, everything else was “free” because you got back ECBs in the amount you paid. I “made” $7 on the deal because of all the coupons I used. I didn’t max out all the deals because I felt that for now this is just fine. If the end of the month comes and I need to roll over some ECBs, there are a couple things I can go back for (assuming they are not all out, of course). I was happy!

To see other smart shopping deals, check out Super Savings Saturday!