Sunday, January 31, 2010

SNOW!

It snowed in Nashville and I have been so happy! It's always so magical to have snow,  it reminds me of being a kid and growing up in Washington State. Skiing was the official family sport of the Jensen family, so I love the stuff. FYI: It hasn't snowed this much in Nashville since 2003, so this was a huge treat. I woke up Friday morning and it didn't stop pouring for at least 15 hours. It took a little break and dumped some more. My little ruler measured 7 inches in the backyard... Andy & I had a great time, we went on a walk through the neighborhood, made snow cream, sledded with the neighbor kids, played Wii and watched movies. It was a glorious snow filled weekend!

P.S. You might notice Andy & I have matching jackets, I know that's cute - but it's not our general style. When Andy was with Little Big Town we ended up in Steam Boat Springs for a gig and they gave us the jackets for FREE. As you know, I love FREE stuff - so we wear them proudly every winter.















Andy - wiped out on the sled


I'm headed down the hill

Monday, January 25, 2010

Sloppy Joes

Here's a new recipe I tried tonight, it was a hit - Andy & I both loved it! It's easy, very low cal and it tastes nothing like the lunch lady version we all hated growing up. Try it - trust me it's great! Enjoy...

Ingredients:

1                 8 oz can of no-salt-added tomato sauce
1/2 c           ketchup (i use the no sugar kind)
1 1/2 T        Worcestershire sauce
1 t               prepared yellow mustard
1/2 t           dry mustard
1 t               molasses
1                 clove garlic, finely minced
Pinch           ground clove
To taste       red peppers

1 lb             lean ground turkey
1/2             small onion, finely chopped
6                 whole wheat hamburger buns, toasted if desired

Directions:

In a saucepan over low heat, combine sauce ingredients. Mix well and simmer while preparing turkey meat. Next, heat a heavy, non-stick skillet, at least 10 inches in diameter, over medium high heat. Add ground turkey and saute, stirring occasionally, 4-5 minutes or until turkey meat is no longer pink. Pour contents of pan into a colander lined with paper towels and drain liquid out. Add onion to pan and saute, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes or until translucent. Return turkey meat to pan and add sauce. Heat 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add additional peppers, if desired. Spoon 1/2 C turkey mixture over bun. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings
Calories 297/serving
Fat 10 g
Protein 20 g
Carbs 32 g

Thursday, January 21, 2010

A great yummy soup for a cold winter night!

I love to cook - and eat good food for that matter! I have a great friend, Amy who is very talented in the kitchen. I swear it's her spiritual gift... When Andy & I got married she gave me a large stack of hand written recipe cards and the tools to go with the recipes. Skewers, pie pans, etc. It was one of my favorite gifts! I have been going through the recipes ever since we got married nearly 2 1/2 years ago and am always pleased with the results. I love them and so does Andy - I think I'll share them with you one by one. I swear they are super easy, no fail and a huge crowd pleaser. 


Enjoy - Happy Eating!


Amy's Corn & Clam Chowder







Ingredients: 

3 slices of thick-cut bacon, diced
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 1/2 c. corn
1 lb. new potatoes, cubed
2 (8 0z.) bottles clam juice
1/2 c. water
2 lb. small clams, cleaned well or
1 can whole baby clams
1 c. whole milk
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 Tbs. butter
salt & pepper to taste


Directions:


In a pot, cook bacon over medium heat until browned, but not crisp. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain.

Add onions to the reserved bacon grease and cook until translucent. Add corn, potatoes, clam juice and water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender.

Add the clams. If you are using fresh clams, cook until they open. If you are using canned clams, allow to cook until they are heated through.

Lower the heat and add the milk, cream and butter. Once the butter is melted, season with salt and pepper to taste.


Add the clams. If you are using fresh clams, cook until they open. If you are using canned clams, allow to cook until they are heated through.

Lower the heat and add the milk, cream and butter. Once the butter is melted, season with salt and pepper to taste.





Friday, January 15, 2010

I love to vacuum!

I love to vacuum and always have! It was my choice chore growing up and I am a bit of a geek about vacuums. There is nothing worse than vacuuming with a bad one that just doesn't cut it and you're still left with a mess.


About 4 years ago a client of mine got a Dyson vacuum and I instantly fell in LOVE! I borrowed it every chance I could until I finally got my own when Andy & I got married. It's by far the best tool I've ever owned. So when, Dyson came out with a hand-held vacuum, I had to have it too. I love it just as much and it really works great.

Features I love!

- No bag
- Easy to clean
- Easy to clear out clogs
- Great customer service & phone support
- Love the way it looks
- Doubles as an air filter (just leave it running while you dust, clean the bathroom, etc.)
- No replacing the filter, you just wash it every 6 months


I wish I could strike up a deal with Dyson and get something back from them for referring customers to them. I counted just the other day how many Dyson's I have sold (via referrals), I believe it's nearing double digits. Can you tell I love 'em?

Tip: look for sales on these things - they aren't cheap or an impulse buy but are so worth the investment. For instance, Target offered the Dyson DC 17 Animal (my fav up-right model) for $200 off the retail price on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). What a steal! Since that deal is not currently available, I always tell people to buy them at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Those 20% off coupons you get in the mail work on Dyson products.

Happy vacuuming!

Jen

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Welcome!


Hey everyone! Welcome to my new blog - All Things Random.

As all of you know, All Things Random is the name of my personal assisting & concierge service in Nashville, TN that I have been operating since 2003 - however, I feel the name also encompasses my life - a little bit of this and that, randomly.

I have been thinking about and dreaming about creating a blog for a while now and have just never sat down to do it. Well, it's 2010 and this is NOT a resolution of mine, it's my new thing. So check back often as I post and keep you updated on, well, All Things Random.

My desire is to have this serve as a public journal letting you know what I see in a given day, what I'm thinking about, trying, reading, etc. You might see recipes I love, want to try, articles about health, products, book reviews, etc. Again, it's All Things Random - so you never know what you're going to get.

Thanks for stepping into my journey, I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say or the pics I show you, as much as I think I will enjoy putting it out there.


Best!

Jen