Taco Bake

On a busy day a few years ago, I needed to come up with a quick dinner.  My family loves tacos, although I didn't have shells or taco seasoning in the pantry.  So with the indredients I had on hand , I created the following recipe, and it's been a family favorite ever since.

Taco Bake
1 lb. ground beef
1 16 oz. jar of chunky salsa
1 ½ cups shredded cheese
1 tube crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook beef and drain, add salsa and simmer on low. While meat is cooking, pat crescent rolls into an 11 x 7 baking pan. Cover bottom and about ½ inch up sides of pan, prick dough with fork and bake about 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven, top with cooked meat mixture and layer shredded cheese on top. Return to oven until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Serve with your favorite taco toppings, such as chopped tomatoes, onions, lettuce and sour cream.

Snowflakes

A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!  ~Anonymous

Optic Neuritis

Just as things are going well with my Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I get socked with another bout of Optic Neuritis (ON). Even though I've had ON a few times in my 13 years of being diagnosed with MS, I didn't suspect it right away. In the past, I've had moderate to extreme pain along with the blurry, distorted and sometimes double vision. Thankfully, I'm just experiencing the blurry vision in one eye with an odd feeling of eye strain, without the dreaded pain.

Definition from the Mayo Clinic, "Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve, the bundle of nerve fibers in your eye that transmits visual information to your brain. Pain and temporary vision loss are common symptoms of optic neuritis."

According to my Neuro-Opthamologist, if this current exacerbation of optic neuritis follows the same course as previous ones, it should be gone in a few weeks without too much permanent nerve damage.

A Whopper of a Snow Storm

As I'm sitting here in the comfort of my home, we are under another Blizzard Warning. The snow has been falling since last evening and the wind has picked up even more. I'm so thankful to be able to stay in my cozy environment and just watch Mother Nature at her finest. Today's blizzard comes just 4 days after last weekend's whopper of a storm. I'm too chicken to venture outside just yet, so thought I'd share a few pics from this past weekend.

Chili Cheese Dip

This dip is super easy to make and sure to be a hit at your next party!

Chili Cheese Dip
1 (15 oz.) can of chili with beans
8 oz. cream cheese

Cut cream cheese brick into chunks, place into a microwave safe bowl and pour chili on top. Cover and microwave on high for 1 minute. Uncover and stir until cream cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.

Candlelight

Overnight we were blessed with several inches of new fallen snow; which reminds me of one of my favorite things this time of year. It's the soft glow and true-to-life scent of burning a Mia Bella's gourmet candle. These cleaner-burning candles help to make my home feel warm and cozy, while winter beckons at the door. Check them out and enter to win a 16 oz. jar candle and soy bath bar at http://www.kimscandleshop.com.