Our Power is Back so Let's Celebrate with an Upcoming Giveaway!!!

 

Well 21 Rosemary Lane got its power back last evening around 6pm. I was never so happy, unfortunately something happened to our heating system which left us without heat. Today we had our heat restored just in time for the nor'easter Athena, which is hitting the east coast right now. Athena is bringing with her high winds along with rain and possibly up to 3 inches snow.  Ugh, old man winter is just a little too eager to start partying this year!

 

However, on the flip side of all this bad weather, is that I have been provided a fabulous opportunity to work with a company by the name of Lifetime Brands. Lifetime Brands asked me if I'd like to partner with Pfaltzgraff and create a post spotlighting one of their gorgeous dinnerware patterns. As you would have it, I've been a huge fan of Pfaltzgraff for years, so you can imagine my excitement at the prospect of creating a tablescape post for them.

Take a look at this beautiful pattern.

 

In the next few days my post containing a tablescape, product review, and the official giveaway will go live. Stay tuned because one lucky reader will receive 8 four piece place settings of this gorgeous dinnerware from Pfaltzgraff!

Wishing warmth and safety to my fellow northeast friends, and praying this storm will have minimal affect on our area!
XO



Cheesey Taco Chili on the Grill

 

As we remain powerless with regard to electrical power, the grill has been my main way of preparing hot meals. My hubby and kids love my taco lasagna, so last night I had the idea of blending all the ingredients of my lasagna together into a chili. This recipe includes cream cheese which makes this chili wonderfully creamy in texture. This would also be really yummy if placed in a slow cooker for a few hours...that is when electicity is available!

 

Take a peek at the ingredients...super easy to make too!

 

2lbs ground meat (I like turkey or chicken)

Chili seasonings (cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder...)

8 oz, pkg. cream cheese, softened

16 oz. jar of taco sauce

28 oz. can of whole tomatoes

1 pkg. Goya chicken bullion for flavor

8-12 oz dried pasta ( I use ditalini)

Cheddar cheese

Black beans optional

Serve with taco chips

 

Brown the meat in a cast iron skillet over grill flame. Add seasonings plus bullion and continue to brown. Add soft cream cheese and blend completely. Next add the taco sauce and tomatoes and heat through, then add your pasta (and black beans if using them), let simmer until pasta is cooked, about 10 minutes. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and

enjoy!

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Thank you!

 

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Continuing to Hang Tough with Your Love and Prayers

 

We are on day 6 of the post Sandy power outage and still hopeful our power will be restored in the next 2 to 3 days. Kids will not go back to school tomorrow and school reopening is pending for Tuesday and Wednesday. Gas is being rationed and the lines remain long, but more stations are beginning to open up as they have their power restored. This will undoubtedly help relieve some of these tremendous lines.

 

In the meantime I want to thank the many of you who have written to 21 Rosemary Lane sending your precious prayers and well wishes. I cannot tell you how much it means to me and my family here in New Jersey. I am truly overwhelmed by all of you in the blogosphere by your kindness and sweet offers to exchange a balmy southern day for one of our cold overcast days, or a wish to live closer to us to be of help during this crisis. 21 Rosemary Lane is so blessed by each and every one of you. Through your thoughts and words you have made us feel very supported and loved, and have helped us in ways you cannot possibly know, to stay strong through this difficult time.

I will keep you posted and hopefully be back soon with my regular recipes, crafts, room decor and furniture redos.

Again thank you for your words, thoughts and prayers. This is truly an amazing community of bloggers, and although I have never met most of you in person, your love and support couldn't be felt any deeper than if you were right here with me and my family.

From the bottom of our hearts here at 21 Rosemary Lane...
Thank you and God bless you all!

Update from New Jersey ~ After Hurricane Sandy!

 

11/3/12 Update...lines for gas are still very long here in New Jersey...easily 50 to 60 cars with a 2 plus hour wait. It is expected to get even colder and there is possibly another storm coming our way. Please keep the northeast section of our country in your prayers!

 

Rosemary Lane is wrapping up day four post the rage of Hurricane Sandy, and is still without power. Gasoline is becoming even harder to come by in New Jersey, where gas lines are sometimes 30 to 50 cars long with state troopers directing traffic.

 

 

There are also walk up gas lines where you can fill gas containers to fuel small generators. With undying gratitude we have my sister and brother-in-law's back up generator, this is enough to keep our refrigerator running, provide a few lamps with power, watch a movie in the evening with the kids, and oh yes...give us Internet access!



As far as damage to 21 Rosemary Lane, well we lost two trees in our backyard. Above is a picture of what they looked like early on Monday morning. The tree in the foreground is right outside my daughter Grace's room. The tree in the background, the one without the tire swing, is directly outside our bedroom window and adjacent to the screened-in porch.



We were extremely lucky on both accounts as both trees fell away from the house. The tree next to the porch went down first. Immediately I told Chris to have Grace sleep in Michael's room in case the one next to her window goes down. Not 10 minutes later we lost the second tree.



 

Other damage to 21 Rosemary Lane occurred in the way of losing part of our roof!

 

 

Cooking has been a bit of a challenge...my kids are use to hot meals but that can't always be the case when using the grill to cook. Not only do we have to conserve our gasoline for the generator but we have to do the same with the propane gas.

 

I can't tell you what a God send my cast iron skillets and pot have been.
 

Our latest challenge with this storm has now become the effort to stay warm. As I write this the temperatures are expected to be in the low 40's to mid 30's at night and daytime highs are only suppose to reach the upper 40's to the50 degree mark over the next 4 days. We have a small space heater up in Michael's room where both kids are currently sleeping, that keeps them pretty toasty! Chris and I pile on the extra blankets for warmth. Small flame less candles are on over night to provide some light when navigating to and from the bathrooms. I plan to purchase more of these little lifesavers once everything gets back to normal.

 

The schools were closed all week and Halloween has been postponed to Friday the 9th. Power here in our township is expected to be fully restored by next Wednesday.

 

But all in all we are pretty lucky!

Stay safe and God bless to all who are suffering in the wake of Sandy's path of destruction.



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