Welcome to GOODEness Gracious

We're cooking up all kinds of GOODe things with a side of life! Come on in and check out our recipes, freezer cooking, super mommy secrets and common sense commentary on the GOODe life.

FREEZE-O-RAMA

Come chill with me, baby, as we cook up a month's worth of family meals in just one day. So come on into my kitchen. We'll give you all the freezer cooking tips, tricks and recipes.

Goode and Gooseberry Patch Project

Join me as I cook my way through Gooseberry Patch's Cookbook--Mom's Favorite Recipes a la the Julie/Julia project.

Super Mommy Secrets

The world is full of Super Moms just like you that make the world go round. From play rooms to board rooms, check out how my Super Mommy friends make it all happen.

It's a GOODe Life

Life is made up of moments. The funny. The ordinary. The frustrating. Join us as we share a few of ours while we live the GOODe life in the hills of Indiana.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

GOODe Grief: This post does not come with a warranty... or at least one worth anything anyhow.

READER WARNING: This mama ain't happy and this post is not exactly positive... except in the fact that I am POSITIVE I am mad. So, feel free to skip if you would like... I will be back to my usually GOODEness tomorrow... but for now I have couple GOODe pieces of advice for you as a consumer and would like to give HHGregg a GOODe piece of my mind.

A year and a half ago I bought a lovely Toshiba laptop from HHGregg.

I HEART my Toshiba laptop.

Truth be told, I love HHGregg too... which is why I am so spitting mad right now.

I love how HHGregg's salespeople are so knowledgeable--like when you go to a GOODe camera store. They know their stuff and the really GOODe ones don't try to sell you stuff you don't need... but rather help you find what you need. HHGregg is full of wonderful employees that --quite frankly-- I enjoy making my purchasing decisions with... which is another reason I am so spitting mad right now.

I was thrilled the other day to learn they were an Indiana based company. Made me a little proud... which is ANOTHER reason I am so spitting mad right now.

Ya see, despite all of the great things I love about this company, as of today they have lost my future business and I am sad.... and you guessed it-- REALLY MAD-- spitting mad even!

When I bought my lovely laptop at their lovely store, their salesman sold me a 3 yr warranty--against my better judgement. I bought a $699 computer with a $299 warranty... crazy huh?

Yep. It was.

Some GOODe pieces of advice I wish someone would have told me are:

GOODe Advice Tip #1: When their salesman tries to convince you that between routine maintenance, battery replacement and full accident coverage that a warranty nearly 1/2 the price of the computer will clearly pay for itself... tell him: "No Thank You"

If he presses you... ask him "How much is my time worth to HHGregg?"--this will be an important point in the future.

GOODe Advice Tip #2: When their salesman tells you that you could drive over the laptop with your car at the end of the warranty and they would replace it... tell him: "I am not in the habit of running over my computer with my car but thanks."

If he presses you... ask him "But what will you do when your repair guys break the computer?"

GOODe Advice Tip #3: If you ignore 1 & 2... don't feel bad-- I did too. But, when you have spent well over a month:

Shuttling your computer in for minor repairs.

They fix your minor repairs, but break it--big time.

UPS loses it.

UPS finds it.

It is broken.

They tell you it is the battery.

You know it isn't and tell them it isn't.

They send you a new battery.

It doesn't fix the issue... gasp!

You send it back in.

They have it for 2 weeks and can't tell you what is wrong or when it will be fixed.

You call all parties numerous times.

HHGregg tells you they are going to do right by you and replace the sucker.

You wait and wait and then FINALLY they give you an authorization code to go pick up the replacement computer.

You drive 1/2 hour to the store to pick it up...

DON'T EXPECT to actually walk away with a replacement computer. Nope. That would be....um.... well... customer service.

DON'T EXPECT the manager to "be able to do anything about it" despite the fact the warranty people are on the phone saying that the manager will "be able to do something about it". Nope. That would mean someone with the ability to help me you at HHGregg would actually have to...um... care.

Ya see, this is really all my fault. I should have kept my $299 and not purchased the warranty. Then I would have never sent in my lovely computer for minor repairs. Then your repair guys would have not been able to break it. Instead I would have taken that $299 and saved up another $400 and voila -- I could buy a new computer (quite likely from HHGregg) and not had to deal with this mess... and waiting and waiting... 10 days here, 2-3 weeks there, 10 days there, 3 to 5 days for a call back here... 3 to 5 days for a replacement code there... ya see when I bought the computer I expected to use it 365 days/yr... silly me.

But what's done is done. I don't think I can go out with you anymore HHGregg... sniff. I think we are going to have to break up. It was GOODe while it lasted... 2 Computers, Large Screen TV, Video Camera, My Beloved Dyson... and numerous other things over the years. But, ya see we have had some deal breakers going on this past month.... You wasted my time... A LOT of my time.... and as of today... you lied to me. This busy mama doesn't have time for these kind of games. So, once we get this settled... I am out. I will sincerely miss you...and I am totally bummed... but I respect myself too much to stay with you.

And, like in any GOODe break-up... I want my box of stuff back HHGregg...Just sayin'



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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

GOODe GOODeNESS: Grilled Sherry Rosemary Chicken

Tonight's recipe is Cris' Sherry Rosemary Chicken Marinade.


If you like sherry, you will love this... (and I even used the cheap stuff). This makes for the most flavorful grilled chicken!


I poured 3/4 cup into a measuring cup.


Then added 1 T EVOO--Rachel style ;)


Then 1 T Kosher Salt


I then grabbed a bunch of fresh herbs... rosemary, thyme and basil


I threw the herbs in a baggie with 4 chicken breasts. 

Note: I like to cut my breasts into even strips for quicker grilling.


I then poured my mixture in and zipped up my baggie.


Pop in the freezer and thaw in a water bath when ready to grill.


I then grilled it up. So Yum!


Recipe Card below :)
In other grilling news... GOODEness Gracious was awarded the Grill Master award at www.ourhomeschoolhome.com for our Grilled Basil Tomato Chicken Marinade !








GrillMaster by RobynOHSH.




WooHoo!!! 

Not only did we get the nifty Grill Master button, but the UPS man delivered this awesome prize today :)


Big thanks to Robyn for hosting a great linky party and the awesome gift!

Linking up to the following blog hops today:



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Monday, June 28, 2010

GOODe Project: A Very Veggie Project

We are gearing up for a REALLY big day... I'll give you a hint:

VeggieTales, VeggieTales, VeggieTales, VeggieTales!





Broccoli! Celery! Gotta be

VeggieTales!





Lima beans! Collard greens! Addie's Three!
VeggieTales!

Cauliflower! Sweet and sour! Half and hour!
VeggieTales!



Plans are in the works for a very veggie birthday at the end of July. For MONTHS we have had the following conversation:

"Mommy, can I have a Bob birthday cake?"

"Sure!"

"Mommy, do you want a Larry birthday cake?"

"Why not?" (My birthday is two days after Miss Add)

"Daddy, do you want a Junior birthday cake?"

"Yes!"

So we have decided to do a combo Bob/Larry cake with very veggie cupcakes that spell out "Happy 3rd Birthday Addie".

I have been scouring the net to find some inspiration for these little cupcakes.

I found this perfect starting point over at www.cakemiracle.com:



I heart the little characters!!!

So it gots me thinkin'. 

My fam is not a fan of fondant... we're buttercream kind of folk... so, I thought why not make the figures out of polymer clay and Add can play with a new set of veggie pals afterward.


So, I started with Bob and Larry...


First I had to condition my clay for 2 minutes--which consists of working the clay until it is soft and pliable.


Then I formed Larry's body.


Then added his eyes and nose :)


Finished up his eyes...


Then added his cute little mouth with his tooth.


On to Bob...


Same simple steps :)


I can't WAIT for her to see these little guys.


Then I finished off with Bob's greens :)


Ta Dah!


I plan on adding toothpick holes on the bottom of each figure before baking...

These were so simple and fun, I can't wait to make the rest of the gang! I know I will make Junior and probably Laura... maybe Mr. Lunt and Pa Grape... oh! And, Madam Blueberry... This is going to be fun! Stay tuned :)

Participating in the following blog hops:



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Sunday, June 27, 2010

It's a GOODe Life: Library Time

Miss Add has been working hard on her words lately... so we decided it was finally time...


Today the Goodes ventured to our local library to get this...


Addie's first library card! 


We put on our "pack, pack" and headed into the library while Gilbert took a cat nap in the car.


Once inside, Addie got to lookin' for some books. Addie made sure to tell Daddy he had to be quiet at the library :) He did ok... I am sure he will be better at it after we visit a few more times ;)


She picked out a few and GOODe Ole Daddy read them to her while Mommy looked for a Mommy book.


I walked the aisles until the mocking began...


Then I decided to head to the biographies-- safe from all that judgement.


In the end, we walked away with 3 books to treasure for the next 3 weeks :)  

I'd call that a GOODe day!

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Saturday, June 26, 2010

GOODe GOODeNESS: Grilled Summer Salad



I call this Grilled Summer Salad because it just gets better and better as the summer goes on. It has so many flavors Puddie once said the flavors pop like fireworks in your mouth. :)


Truth be told, I have been preparing for this salad for months. When I saw this killer deal on red peppers a few months ago, I KNEW I needed to buy them up and freeze them for to make this salad (until my garden peppers are ready ;) ). 


I tossed my corn and frozen pepper right on the grill.


Then I drained a jar of pimentos... I heart pimentos.


I then tossed my lovely pimentos in a bowl.


Then I cut my grilled corn off the cob and tossed it in.


Then I grabbed some maters and chopped them up.


I tossed in my maters and tossed on some Kosher salt.


I then grabbed a couple avocados.


Cut them in half


 And then used my Rachel Ray trick to pop them out of the shell with a spoon. :) Then I chopped them up.


I heart Rachel :) A little perky, but full of great info.


I then juiced two limes after nukin' them in the microwave for 15 seconds.


I then cut up my grilled pepper. If it had been fresh, (vs. frozen) I would have skinned it as well by taking it from the grill and placing it in a bowl covered with press n seal until it cooled. But, the frozen pepper doesn't skin very easy and we really don't mind the skin.


Toss it all in...


Add fresh pepper and chili powder to taste.


And stir... Yummo!


Grilled Summer Salad....


And a preview of my next recipe: Cris' Sherry Rosemary Chicken Marinade...and it is sooooooo GOODe!


Grill on Foodista




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