GOODe GOODeNESS: Grandma's 123 Pickles

Tonight we gots a quick and simple summertime treat. Pickles. Easy as 1-2-3.

I know many of you can make this in your sleep, but I always forget which number goes with which ingredient... so don't mind me while I add this for my future reference ;)

I can just see this on farmhouse tables across the Midwest as I speak :) Yum.

I started out with a couple onions straight from the garden...

I cleaned them up and sliced them up...

Then I grabbed my cukes...

 Peeled them, washed them and sliced them up...

And piled them in my itsy bitsy bowl...lol

Now Grandma's recipe calls for one part vinegar, two parts sugar and three parts water.... 

But I heart me some vinegar... sooo I switch it up for myself... cause I can.

I use 1 part sweet (splenda) and two parts vinegar... and three parts water. 

Tart warning...

No... you know what I mean... don't add extra vinegar unless you like a little tartness ;)

Then you realize that your bowl is too small and transfer to two bowls... Pickles for everyone!

Add salt and pepper and enjoy!

GOODe News: WOOT!

WOOHOO!!

Now, I didn't win the year's worth of tomatoes (darn it!). 

BUT I did win a cookbook :)

And... we all know how much I heart cookbooks...   

A few of you may have just caught onto my obsession love for Red Gold...

So, this little surprise is doubly GOODe :)

It's a GOODe Life: A GOODe Bit of Random

Feeling random today... so here goes.

• So I ordered the Pampered Chef Mix 'n Chop that my gal pal Leah enticed me with over our Double Mama FREEZE-O-RAMA and the corn scraper that I have been hearing Miss Terra talk about over at Mom's Kitchen.
  
  
• Speaking of FREEZE-O-RAMA... You might have noticed that I haven't done one in a while. Don't worry... I still heart me some freezer cooking, I just have had so much in the freezer that we need to eat up that I haven't needed to do another cooking day lately. I have been making double (triple/quadruple) marinades anytime I make some up for the grill though ;)  That and canning beans.. Dude... I gots some beans!
  
  
  
• I have asked it before... but will ask it again... why does McDonald's cheese taste so good?
  
  
  
• We are having a "3 yr old" day today... lots of sass... I am huge on consistency when it comes to our parenting, but it is difficult when the Monkey throws me curve balls. Once I figure out what is going on and how I am going to consistently handle it, things are good. But, there have been times lately when I swear she has just turned into another kid... Linda Blair style. Then in a flash she is back to sweet little Miss Add. I have heard this is typical 3 year old behavior... so why exactly are the twos so terrible??Not looking forward to those teenage years... just sayin'
  
  
  
• Puddie got a new job! I love to see him on fire for what he does for a living. :)
  
  
  
• Speaking of Puddie-- Did you check out our contest entry for the state fair contest? I promise it is worth the watch ;) YouTube views count in the contest, so if you like it, share it with your friends :)

• Random Common Sense Commentary: Someone can give you wings to fly, but you have to take the first leap yourself.
  
  
  
• I found out today that my fence tutorial was featured on Mural Maker and More!

• I have some exciting news coming up this Monday! Some of my bloggy pals and I will be hosting "Family Fair Days with GOODEness Gracious N Friends"! We will be giving away State Fair tickets (courtesy of the Indiana Soybean Alliance) and giving you some behind the scenes posts about State Fair Family Fun!

• Inception was a really GOODe movie... but Puddie doesn't want to talk to me about it... makes our brains hurt a little. I have a theory about the end of the movie, but no one to talk to about it! Let's not put spoilers on this site, but if you have seen it and want to talk about it... EMAIL ME!
  
  
  
• Miss Add said to me today: "Mommy, you a good cooker"... lol! It is even more funny when you realize that I gave her Easy Mac ;) Hey- a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do sometimes.
  
  
• Random Common Sense Commentary: When you ask someone to be something they aren't, you aren't being a friend. When you help someone see who they truly are and who they can be, there can be no greater friend.
  
  
  
• I heart Mini-Wheats
  
  
  
• I need to do a whole post on how I have found myself in Coupon Limbo... I have turned my cost cutting system on its head and it has fallen and can't get back up...just sayin'
  
  
  
• I am really impressed with the customer service at www.bigidea.com. One of the toys I got Miss Add for her birthday broke and they are sending me a replacement... ASAP :)
  
  
  
• Laundry. It is my enemy. Just sayin'

Happy Birthday, Love Facebook

Happy Birthday!!! 

I am feeling loved today:) Anyone who has every experience a birthday via Facebook knows what I mean. 

It is amazing how tons of little birthday wishes trickling in all across the interwebs to your little facebook account can brighten your day... just sayin'

I know some folks are convinced that Facebook is the devil... but me, I think you're GOODe people there Facebook.

Thanks to all of my fantastic friends for the lovely wishes!

Speaking of birthdays... lookie what I got for mine ;)

Here is a hint...

It starts with a V and ends in a Bradley!

Vera baby ;)

The new Metropolitan in Slate Blooms to be exact...

She was MADE for my new job... really, no kiddin'

She holds my laptop...

And, in true Vera fashion, she has tons of pockets for all my handbag needs :)

While we are talking business, this old school gal needed the a new planner too ;)

I heart my VB planners. I am a uber visual person, so my palm calendar just doesn't cut it... sorry pixi poo. Vera hits the spot though :)

Purse Strings threw in a cute little pencil tin as an extra birthday treat. :)

Hope you are all having as GOODe of a time as I am today. 

BTW- It is Frugalista (today) and Hoosier Farm Babe's (yesterday) birthdays too! 

Wish them the best from your GOODe Friend ;)

GOODe Projects: Going Hog Wild

So, my hubby and I made this video for the Indiana State Fair's YouTube Contest.

It may or may not involve one or more of us wearing a pig snout... just sayin'

And I may or may not have lost my ever livin' mind... just sayin'

But at least I am in GOODe company!!!

So do me a favor and let not my embarrassment (or silliness) be in vain... 

YouTube views count in the contest, so check it out and be sure to share it with your friends;)

GOODe TV: Go Aarti, It's Your Paarti

Have you guys been watching the Next Food Network Star?

I am not a huge fan of the show, but this season has me hooked...

Mainly because of Miss Arti... she is so engaging and inviting. She cooks mostly Indian cuisine--which, truth be told, I have rarely tried or cared for : / -- and makes it look like comfort food.

I sooo want to try her recipes (not to mention those super cute hair accessories).

She makes me think I have totally misjudged this type of food... perhaps after just one trip to India Garden and that bad incident with a chicken bone (which we won't talk about)-- I didn't exactly give Indian food a fair shake?

Weeks ago I thought they should just stop the show now and give it to her.

She is like a younger Paula Deen with an Indian spin and a little less butter.

If they mess this one up and pick someone else, it would be a shame... just sayin'

Turns out, she is a food blogger at Aarti's Paarti and has a YouTube internet cooking show (see below)...

Where have I been?!?

So are you watching the Next Food Network Star? Who is your favorite? 

Do you like Indian food? Help a novice out... what should I try first???

Meet and Greet Mondays

It's a GOODe Life: Mama Always Told Me to Eat My Veggies!

Well, today was the BIG day at the Goodes! 

Miss Add's 3rd Birthday Party...

A Very Veggie Birthday Party that is... with a little Toy Story thrown in... to boot ;)

More on all of the festivities in a future post... for now, let's check out the cake.

Mommy directed while MeMaw executed the coolest birthday cake ever! 

Addie decided MONTHS ago that she wanted a Bob birthday cake and that Mommy should have a Larry birthday cake, while Daddy should have a Junior birthday cake.

So since Addie and Mommy's birthdays are just two days apart, we had a Bob and Larry cake and made cupcakes...

Cupcakes that included... a cupcake just for Daddy...

Junior was just one of the clay charms I have been working on for a month now... 

You can check out the making of Bob and Larry here 

You can find the making of Madame Blueberry, Junior, Jean Claude, Philly and the "Happy Birthday" here.

Miss Add LOVED that she could play with the charms after the cupcakes were done.

I am so glad that I opted to make them out of clay rather than fondant.

Before we cut into the cake, Miss Add distributed the birthday cupcakes per her plan...

And then Aunt Lou butchered Bob... with a sort of gleeful intent...

Miss Add was soo excited about the cake all weekend long.

When we told her it was time to cut the cake she squealed with delight!

You would have thought Santa had just arrived.

More birthday highlights to come... stay tuned :)

Linked to:

• It's Fun to Craft
• Something I Whipped Up Monday
• Making the World Cuter
• All Things Related
• Cupcake Tuesday