Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2-1 oz. squares chocolate
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups grated zucchini
3 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two loave pans. Microwave the chocolate in a microwaveable safe bowl until melted. Stir until smooth. In a large mixing bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, oil, zucchini, vanilla, and chocolate until smooth. Add the baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Fold in the flour. Add the chocolate chips. Pour the batter in the two loave pans. Bake at 350 degress for approximately 60 minutes, or until a toothpick in center come out clean.

Enjoy!

Barb

• Read More—”Reading from a great book is really all about having a conversation with the author. Sit back, enjoy some tea, and take in some wisdom from Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Bill Gates, or some other person you respect, or enjoy. Let some of their brilliance rub off on you.
• Take Some Chances—We all need to get out of our skin at some time or another and try different things. Sure you mail fail at some things, but failure is an essential ingredient for achievement.
• Be Happier—Do more things that make you happy. Most of us stop doing things we enjoyed doing in our childhood. Take some time to write a list of 10 of your greatest passions, or things you really and enjoy and then make time to start doing them. You’ll be surprised at the results.
• Listen Twice as Much as you Speak—When is the last time that you really listened to someone speak to you? Most of us are already concocting our replies in our heads, or doing some other activity, while trying to listen. Listening intently to another, creates a connection and shows respect, and a more caring attitude.
• Be Enthusiastic—You will naturally attract more friends and encourage more positive vibes.
• Prioritize Your Schedule To Your Values—If family, or friends are important to you, make sure you allow ample amount of time to be with them and enjoy their company.
• Practice Self Care—Take time for yourself. ( e.g. exercising, massage, alone time, reading, etc.)  When you feel good about yourself, you are more apt to be positive and upbeat, which will rub off on others.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

The other day, I received a “Big Idea” email on the concept of “Stickability,” taken from the Magic of  Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz.

Here’s the quote:

“Just enough sense to stick with something—a chore, task, project, until it’s completed pays off much better than idle intelelligence, even if idle intelligence be of genius caliber.” According to Schwartz,  “stickability” is 95 percent ability.” Wow—now that’s a concept.

I can think of many examples where that would be true. Here are just a few examples:

• Sales—Persistence, persistence, persistence. Make the calls and stick to it, and you’ll make sales! The more you tell the more you sell!
• Business In a Down Economy—Go back to the basics and stick to it, and your business will grow and again through persistence, and determination.
• Diet—Strive to eat right, and exercise and stick to it. If you fall off a day, so what. Get back on your plan and stick to it and the results will come.
• Etc.

I don’t know about you, but I think we could all use a good dose of stickability in our lives!

Thanks for reading!

Barb

I was being a bit sarcastic in that blog, but that was my point. (That not all granite fabricators are the same.) Many ideas are hard to get across to the general public without using some terminology, or examples that hit home.

Anyway—if you follow my blog, you will find blogs that educate, blogs that give facts & tips, blogs that share recipes (under the Category, Cooking In Your Kitchen), and of course—blogs that give my opinions—snarkily or otherwise.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Barb

For stains caused from olive oil, butter, etc.:

1. You will need to purchase a poultice paste, from a granite fabrciator, a local tile shop, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Most poultice paste is sold in a 1 lb. tub.
2. Follow the instructions on the tub, except cover it with Saran Wrap and tape it down, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, remove the Saran Wrap. Allow the poultice to dry completely. This may take 24 hours.
   Note: In most cases it is the drying process that pulls the stain out of the stone.
3. When the poultice paste is completely dry, remove it from the stained area.
4. If the stain is still present, you will need to apply the poultice paste again. Note: It may take several applications to remove the stain.
5. Upon completion of removing the stain, clean and rinse the stone and buff dry with a clean cloth, or use a blow dryer.
6. Seal the stone with a silicone impregnator (sealer), which can also be purchased through a granite fabricator, a local tile shop, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

Following are some photos of oil stains being removed from a granite table I wanted to share:

Granite table with oil stain

Close up of stain

Poutice paste applied to the stain

Poultice covered with Saran Wrap

Saran wrap taped down covering the poutice paste

Scraping the poulice paste off the granite with a razor blade

Stain removed

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Still a little frazzled, I said, “I really don’ think the peanut butter was worth the price,” and explained what she said to him. After complaining to each other, we proceeded in line and retrieved our order. As we sat down, I looked at my tray and discovered I got about a tablespoon of peanut butter. What the heck?! Now there’s a money maker! Another example— Ever been to Chipotle and requested some guacamole to go along with your burrito, or salad? That’s an additional $1.80! Whoa!

How many of you out there remember that 1974 Burger King television commerical with the catchy tune, “Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce. Special orders don’t upset us. All we ask is that you let us serve it your way?” Well times sure have changed! These days you can still have things your way, but ya better be prepared to pay!

I don’t know about you, but I guess I’ll be eating my peanut butter at home.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Computers are another example of ever-changing technology. Although the first computers were developed in the mid 20th century, they became popular and more affordable in the late 80′s and early 90′s. The computer is one technology that is constantly being revamped to be faster, more efficient, and let’s not forget the ever-changing software.

Speaking of software, this week we finally updated some of our very outdated software—A Good Thing!  With all new technology however, especially software, there is a learning curve—The Bad. Although it may take a bit of time to adjust and figure out where this feature is, or that one is, we will learn. Unfortunately, with today’s technology, we have the capability to be ever-connected—The Ugly. Although I was able to sneak out of work for a few hours yesterday to catch a Twins game, I spent part of it talking on my cell phone, & sending text messages back and forth to work to try to resolve some software issues we were having with our database. Oh well! Maybe next time, I’ll just turn my phone off, another technology capability.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Following are a few photos from the historic day at Target Field:

Thanks for reading!

Barb

I don’t know about you, but I’m sure looking forward to more!

Following are a few photos from the Pre-Season Opener I wanted to share:

Opening Ceremony

Nephew Nick and girl friend Stephanie one level up

Joe Mauer at bat

Chris in his season ticket holder seat

View of the field

Jacques Jones up to bat

Another view of the field

Retired Numbers

Thanks for reading!

Barb

Let me explain…

In late 2008, when the economy began to turn, and orders began to slow, we wanted to come up with a way to help motivate our employees and help them stay positive. 

After a brainstorm session, we decided we needed some way to relay to our fabrication shop when orders came in. What we came up with was a bell. Yes a bell! Well…I don’t know how many of you out there have visited our fabrication shop, but it can at times be very noisy, so this bell would need to be…LOUD! After a moment or two, Chris and I looked at each other, and knew we were thinking the same thing…

A Bowden Bell!

I bought one several years ago for Chris for Father’s Day, which we hung at our cabin. The bell, which is made of old scrap cylinders, can practically be heard across the lake.

 Anyway—after installing the bell, the phrase, “Ring The Bell,” was born, and since then, has morphed into a variety of phrases  including:

• How many dingers?
• Bada Ding!
• Da-Ding!
• Etc. 

The bell is also responsible for a lot of whooping and hollering, a lot of laughs, and positive energy. I am glad to say that, “The Bell,” is ringing a lot more these days!

Following are a few photos I wanted to share:

Here’s Geno Ricci, one of our Sales Reps “Ringing The Bell!”

Bowden Bell at our cabin

Bowden Bell at our cabin

Thanks for reading!

Barb