Abigail's Love

Loves have been on my mind a lot lately. Maybe it’s the fact that Valentine’s Day has arrived in the local stores or maybe it’s just that I am a romantic at heart.  Natalie Cole sang “I got love on my mind” and it seems that I do to.

I love, love, and I love being in love. I got love on my mind and its one of the most awesome things in the world.

Abby

Abbys Morning Rain

 

The rain started about 3 am this morning as a loud clap of thunder roused me, waking me from a deep sleep. Tumbling out of bed this morning,  I opened my curtains and started the coffee maker. I love the rain in early morning. I find something calming about the sound of rain as thunder announces its arrival.  As the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted into my bedroom, I cracked the French doors that lead to my patio breathing deeply as the smell of rain and coffee mingled.

It’s mornings like this that renew my hope in life and the future. Pouring a cup of coffee, I decided to crack a few eggs and make breakfast. As the bacon fried, and my toast popped up a clap of thunder announced the storms, voracious raged was overwhelming the sky. Armed with my breakfast, I plopped down next to my French door and welcomed the rising sun.

It’s day like this that remind me  why I love the morning.

A Full Cup of Coffee

 

Watching the sun come up last Friday, I sipped on a half full cup of coffee and thought about love. Love is an eternal gift that we seek and treasure if were smart. Love comes from a heart easily broken and a soul that is immortal and forever.

When I was a child, I loved to sit with the older women and learn at their knee about life, love, and marriage.  All the right things I know about relationships comes from older women whose knee I sat at and learned that the greatest lessons about love, heartbreak, and marriage.

Sitting in my chair next to my window, I thought about love and smiled.

Banana Walnut Pancakes

 

 

Sitting on my patio this morning, sipping on a cup of coffee, I closed my eyes and watched the sunrise. Mornings are my time. I always use the early hours of the day to reflect on life, love and my own liberty.

 Unlike most mornings, I had Banana Pancakes with Walnuts. These pancakes remind me of weekends at my maternal grandmothers. Grandmother Wade lived on a working farm where the eggs were fresh, and the humming of the old fridge on the back porch always made you smile because you knew homemade ice cream was in it.

Sitting by my window this morning, I remembered my childhood and smiles as I ate with fond memories my Banana Walnut Pancakes.

Banana Nut Pancakes | Just a Taste

http://www.justataste.com/banana-nut-pancakes/ 
Ingredients

Produce

• 2 Bananas, ripe

Refrigerated

• 1 Egg

Condiments

• 1 Maple syrup

Baking & Spices

• 1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon white sugar

Oils & Vinegars

• 1 Vegetable oil

Nuts & Seeds

• 1/2 Walnuts                                                    

Other

• 1 1/4 Cups milk
• 4 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 Teaspoons baking powder

Directions

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl then set it aside.
In a separate bowl, mash together the bananas with the milk, egg and melted butter.
Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet, stirring to combine, then stir in the nuts. Allow the batter to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Heat a large sauté pan over medium-low heat and add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan, allowing it to heat for 2 to 3 minutes. (See Kelly's Notes.)
In batches, scoop 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter into the pan to form pancakes. Cook the pancakes on one side until bubbles appear in the center, then flip them once and continue cooking them until they're no longer doughy in the center. Serve the pancakes with your choice of toppings, including maple syrup, fresh fruit or whipped cream.

MLK Day

Today is MLK Day and I and my family will be volunteering to give back at our local food bank. When I was a child the food bank was one of my mothers favorite places to volunteer.

Abby

Abigal serves Whiskey and Beer BBQ Chicken Sliders

I always try to introduce a new quick and easy sandwich to our menu for movie night. While on the Betty Crocker website, I found a recipe for Whiskey and Beer BBQ Chichen Sliders.
Theses sliders are quick and delicious.  I used a rotisserie chicken that was already cooked from Walmart which made this breeze to prepare and serve by 6 pm when movie night started.

Whiskey and Beer BBQ Chicken Sliders

Sauce

1 cup barbecue sauce                                            

                                                                                                                         

1 1/2 cups lager beer, such as a pilsner                                            

                                                                                                                          

2 tablespoons whiskey                                            

                                                                                                                          

1 teaspoon seasoned salt                                            

                                                                                                                          

1 teaspoon garlic-pepper blend                                            

                                                                                                                          

1/2                                            

teaspoon ground mustard

1      to 2 teaspoons Frank's™ RedHot™ Buffalo Wings Sauce                   

                                                                                                                          

Sandwiches

                                                                      

1 deli rotisserie chicken, skin and bones removed, shredded (about 4 cups)

                                                                      

12 slider buns, split

                                                                      

12 pimiento-stuffed green olives, if desired                        

Directions

• 1 In 2-quart saucepan, heat sauce ingredients to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
• 2 In medium microwavable bowl, place chicken; cover. Microwave on High 4 to 5 minutes or until hot. Add shredded chicken to sauce in saucepan, stir to coat.
• 3 Place about 1/3 cup chicken mixture on bottom of each slider bun; top with bun top. Garnish each sandwich with green olive.

Throw Abigails Hand in the Air

Some days I feel like throwing every thing up in the air and letting the pieces fall where they may.
Happy Friday!

Have a Great Weekend Abigail Madison Chase

Pamper Me, I am Abigail

January 5, 2017

Pedicures are my life. 2015 was the first year that I became serious about my getting a pedicure weekly. While I don’t stand on my feet a lot, I do find that getting a deluxe pedicure which includes an extended foot massage is luxury that I am unwilling to give up.

If not for my weekly pedicure on Fridays, I don’t think I could enjoy my weekend as much. Weekly pedicures are a little expensive but well worth the cost.

Abby

Good Morning America, I am Abigail

January 4, 2017

I have become addicted to watching Good Morning America. I am not sure how or when it happened, but in the last year no morning is complete without spending an hour or two with the Good Morning America Crew.

Is it the witty banter between the host? Is it the stories? I am not sure. But whatever it is I a fan.

Abby

Oatmeal Cookies and Ice Cream Bars

January 3, 2017

Oatmeal Cookies and Ice Cream Bars

I love oatmeal cookies almost as much as I love peanut butter cookies and I love ice cream bars with a hard chocolate outer shell almost as much as I adore peanut butter cookies and oatmeal cookies. Therefore, it has become my mission this year to find a recipe for all three that I can make at home.

Abby

A Plan for the New Year

January 2, 2017
It’s the second day of the New Year, and as always, I set goals for myself with achievable benchmarks. This year my greatest goals are to take more pictures with the kids, drink more smoothies, celebrate life each day, wear lipstick and embrace sandals and sundresses.
Goal One-Benchmark One
I have lots of picture of us separately but very few of us together.  To reach this goal, I have a jar that I will use to save for pictures, and after careful research, the most affordable place to get pictures taken is the local portrait studio. I’ve also asked the kids to make sure they take at least one picture of all of us each time they do selfies, and this will serve as a benchmark of reaching my goal.
Goal Two-Benchmark Two
I love smoothies. Did I say I love smoothies? Smoothies are the most delicious drink that ranks a few marks below my favorite milkshakes. When I drink smoothies, I forget they are a healthy. Smoothies are a delightful treat that makes life a little brighter. My goal is to drink two smoothies at least once a week made with fresh fruit. The benchmark for this goal is the delight on my face as I drink my smoothie.
Goal Three-Benchmark Three
How do you celebrate life each day you awake? There are no easy answers, or a one size fits all solution. I plan to celebrate life by doing the things that make me happy all year long. I love to read, and I plan to read a lot and share that love of reading with others. I like to wake early and enjoy a morning cup of hot chocolate as I watch the sunrise. I plan to celebrate life by doing all the things I love. The benchmark of this goal is the smile on my face as the sun warms it each morning.
Goal Four-Benchmark Four
I love lipstick, and I am fascinated on how it changes the way you look. I have for years invested in lipstick never finding the perfect color. This year I am on the quest for a red and a purple that make my smile dazzling. If at the end of the year, I have more than ten tubes of lipstick my goal is met.
Sandals and Sundresses? Hot summer days are more bearable in sundresses and sandals. As I approach my fifth birthday, I have developed a deep and abiding love for sundresses and sandals and planned to indulge often this Spring and Summer.
I don’t have many goals, and they are not lofty, but they reflect what I want for me in the New Year.
Abby

Happy New Year

January 1, 2017
Welcome to the Abbyville as we celebrate the first day of a New Year. Many exciting things that will take place this year. In May, my daughter will graduate from college and in December my son will also graduate from college. I am vacationing in Rabat in North Africa.   The best of thing of all will happen on December 29 when I will turn 50. Thus, we have more than 364 days to enjoy here at the Abby.
This blog is my place share with those who stop by a little bit of me as I tackle life, love, motherhood and learning to cook.
Abby