FloridaNative

about me

My name is Kitty, and I'm a born and bred native Floridian, wife to Greg and mother of two children (Steven 22 and Rachel 9 years old) and 3 fur-babies, Apache our Aussie, and MiaMariaBonita and Berger, our 2 cats. I love to sit out on the patio in the morning and have my coffee and watch the day wake up. This photo was taken during our 2007 vacation to Boca Grande, on Gasparilla Island, west coast of FL - beautiful place.

Most of the recipes I've posted are my mom's or mine, with some from my favorite cookbooks or friends. The ones that say "Mimi" in the title - those are from my mom, and I have more to go through and post. My mom (we call her Mimi cause my kids do) cooked alot of different things in our house, and she taught me alot about cooking, and alot about life — the rest I've learned from trial and error.

We became an "organic" family in May 2007, so we try to stay as close to 100% organic as possible — my motto: If you can't pronounce it, don't put it in your mouth! I'm also a type 1 diabetic, so I have some challenges with the foods I eat - no sugar means 'articifical sweetners', which I avoid. So I'm looking for natural solutions to low-sugar baking especially. We no longer eat pork, and we're eating less and less meat - which I must admit I miss. I LOVE a medium rare steak! I am learning to like more veggies and whole grains, and I want to learn more about canning so I can make our garden's abundance go further without any waste, but no time for new projects right now...maybe next year.

OOPS!! Looks like half my AM page has a tendency to disappear — I'll keep an eye on this issue...it's happened twice now...not sure why...
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MY PERSONAL INTERESTS:
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I love the Lord, my church and having church luncheons once a month! I enjoy spending time with my family around the house, going to the beach, running, kickboxing, gardening, quilting, reading, cross-stitch, golf, going to the movies, cooking and hanging around in the kitchen. We try to do things together as a family, so that leaves lots of opportunities for new adventures, especially in the kitchen. I really enjoy Zaar for that reason, finding new recipes and trying new things together is fun for all of us. My daughter says she wants me to teach her how to cook...if she only knew...

I enjoy collecting things - I especially like 'old' things, and collect pewter, hobnail milkglass items, transfer ware, depression glass, and shot glasses from around the world. I also love teddy bears and stuffed cats, and I have a special place in my heart for frogs - green tree frogs are my favorite. I love all things Celtic as I am half-Irish and DH is Irish/Scots. My favorite colors are cobalt blue, seafoam green and aqua - colors of the ocean. I would love to visit Israel one day to see the land my Lord loves, and I dream of leaving the 'corporate' world and becoming my own boss in a business that leaves more time for family AND me!

I have a "servants heart", and I like to make large meals for family and friends and just enjoy everybody while they enjoy the food. I like to make special treats and give them as gifts to friends and others who have blessed me with their attitude or small favors. I really enjoy giving to others. I have a 'tender' heart - I cry at TV commercials
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WORDS OF WISDOM that make me smile:
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"Because NICE matters"

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way" ~ Native American saying

"Elegance does not consist of putting on a new dress" - Coco Chanel.

"Don't compromise yourself; you are all you got" ~ Janis Joplin

"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it" ~ Margaret Thatcher

"It does not require many words to speak the truth" ~ Chief Joseph, Nez Percéé Indian chief

"Nature doesn't adjust to your skill level" ~ Unknown

"You''ll never regret the angry words you do not speak" ~ Unknown

"You learn in life that the only person you can really correct and change is yourself." ~ Katharine Hepburn

"Well done is better than well said." ~ Benjamin Franklin

"Change is the essence of life.
Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become." ~ Sir Winston Churchill

~~~~~AN IRISH PRAYER~~~~~
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
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SWAPS:
I have participated in a few swaps: F&G, Coffee & Tea, Fall/Halloween, the CrAzYmIxEdUpSwApPeRsSwap, 2008 Holiday Ornament Swap, and the 2008 Holiday Stocking Swap.

MY WONDERFUL SWAP PARTNERS: 4-H Mom, ChamoritaMomma, Color Guard Mom, mailbelle & StraMaestra (CrAzy SwAp), Alskann...RoxiGirl, and more coming soon!

COOKING CONTESTS & TAGS: Fall PAC 2008 (I adopted 11 'babies'), Football Pool 2008, the CRAZE-E Cooking Contest, My 3 Chefs 2008, and most recently, the 2008 Diabetes Awareness Tag Game.

I'm currently participating in Operation Baking Gals, sending homemade goodies to a selected soldier overseas. Round #4 was a great time of fellowship with 'my girls' and my daughter. She helped...alot!

I enjoy getting to know other members of the Zaar community through these activities, plus they're always lots of fun.

Favorite Foods:

Comfort food is my favorite and here's a list of those things I like best: French onion soup, grilled buffalo steaks, chicory coffee with cream (cafe au lait), chai tea lattes (YUM), hot tea with honey, peanut butter pie, red beans and rice, chili with cheese, fresh baked bread, really GOOD soups, roasted nuts, shortbread cookies, bar-b-qued ribs, potato salad, mac & cheese, Italian pasta dishes with fresh mozzarella and parmesan cheeses with delicious tomato sauce, fresh salsa with blue corn tortilla chips, chocolate milk, and after a long day - single malt scotch. Add to this one of my new favorites, Buttermilk Pie.

BTW — my favorite food to HATE is mushrooms, can't stomach the smell of them cooking or the texture when I eat them. Even if they're diced fine, I can tell if they're "in there"... ... they totally ruin a dish for me...poor DH, he loves them.

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