My New Favorite Idea

SO... Have you heard about these mesh bags that you wash socks in?  You know, the same type that you wash your delicates in, but bigger?  Well, I saw and add for some about a month ago and thought it was a FABULOUS idea- I just hated the $10 price tag associated with EACH bag.  So, back into the mental filing cabinet in went.  Until I went to the supermarket about two weeks later when I was gathering some oranges in the produce section.  I noticed a 3-pack of mesh produce bags for 1.99...  "Reusable, washable produce bags" *Bing! Lightbulb moment!*  I'll just use these bags instead! 
After shopping I anxiously went home and wrote the names of my boys on two bags in permanent marker.  Wa-Lah!  Perfect sock bags!  (Just make sure to tie them securely, or they'll open up in the wash.)  No more lost socks, no more searching, no more stressing.  Done and done.  Ahhh... It feels so good to open the bag, match the socks and know what child it belongs to!  You really should try it.  :) 
:) ~Kira
p.s. there is always the option of making your own too if you are super ambitious... Just a thought. ;)

RATATOUILLE!!!! Oh so yummy!

Okay, so this is actually the "Ratatouille" from the movie- not the traditional dish recipe. Just to clarify. :)

Here is what I did. ( I modified the recipe a tad-  I will post the website where I got the orig. from at the end)

Ingredients:
-1 zucchini
-1 yellow squash (Come to find out, it works best if they are both about the same size around. I improvised though and  put two side by side zucchini slices instead of one big one...)
-1 clove garlic
-3- 4 roma tomatoes
-Thyme (dried is what I used)
-Salt, pepper
-minced onion flakes
-2 Tbsp. olive oil
-1 1/2 qt. baking dish  (or there abouts)
-parchment paper

Preheat oven to 375* F.
Cut one roma tomato into fourths.  Put in blender for 20-30 seconds until well blended.  Poor into baking dish and spread evenly.
Wash zucchini, squash and remaining roma tomatoes and slice thinly.  I didn't do anything fancy, just cut them.  If you have a slicer, great! If not, no worries. Don't stress about getting everything perfect.
Start laying your zucchini and squash over the tomato puree in an alternating pattern.  Once you come to the end of your outside circle, tuck the last slice under your first slice and then continue with the middle.
Take your roma tomato slices and tuck them in every so often.  I did it about every 4-5 slices or so.
Mince your clove of garlic and sprinkle evenly over top.
Sprinkle a generous amount of salt and pepper ( I say generous because I am not one to put salt on things very often... I think I went over mine twice with each).  Also sprinkle your onion flakes and thyme over the dish.
Poor olive oil over top.
 Take your parchment paper and trace the bottom of your baking dish.  Place parchment paper on top of your ratatouille and bake for 45- 55 minutes.  Enjoy!! :)

Here is the origional recipe's link.  I don't think I EVER follow a recipe 100%... Call me a rogue recipe cooker! =)
http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/07/rat-a-too-ee-for-you-ee/

Ratatouille!!