A Beautiful Day and a New Book

It is an absolutely beautiful day.  The breeze is just right.  The temperature is just right.  Green is springing out everywhere.  I'm going to slip away to the porch to read the first chapter of my new book, Here Burns My Candle, by Liz Curtis Higgs.  I know that it will be just one chapter.  I'll have children asking what's for dinner if I read a second!

So, what is for dinner?

Sloppy Joes, corn (I always use frozen.), and celery sticks.  The ground beef is already cooked; so, it will go together quickly.

Have a great week,
Laura
Happy at Home

PBJ

The Good Old Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

It's the:

let's picnic at the park today

Dad won't be home for dinner

I don't feel like cooking

best with a tall cold glass of milk

can I have a snack

let's eat quick

childhood favorite that we never really outgrow!

...............

A Morning in the Kitchen....

Hey Y'all!
I've been keeping busy in the kitchen this morning. I tried Sue Gregg's Blender Batter Waffles. I've never made waffles before. That's hubby's specialty. I think they turned out light and delicious. I used buttermilk, brown rice, and oats. Yummy!

After that, I made up a big batch of homemade rolls. I'm getting low on hard wheat; so they were about 50/50 white and wheat flour. I made lots of medium sized rolls, that ended up being about the size of hamburger buns. I then made a bunch of large rolls that I thought would actually be hamburger buns. Um, you could put a meatloaf on one! I think I'll use them for something else. Lastly, little Amy 7, made some small rolls. Let's just say that no one complained!

In the middle of all of this, hubby came in with an armful of fresh herbs from the garden. So, I sat down and started pulling the leaves off to put them in the freezer. Some went in whole, and some will be dried. Oregano, three kinds of basil, catnip, chives, and mint. I took some of the basil, some olive oil, and some garlic salt and blended them in the blender for a topping for bread. I think I actually need a food processor. The leaves didn't get chopped up as finely as I'd like. It was good, though.

Well, that's all for now. For supper tonight, we'll have watermelon and a salad. Nice and cool for a hot evening.

God bless you,
Laura

A Fat Lip and Homemade Pizza

What an evening we're having! My son, Michael, came running into the house with his first fat lip. He caught a ball with his mouth!

Maybe I shouldn't have let him watch the Air Bud Snow Buddies movie last week! After we cleaned up the blood, sweat, and tears, we headed to the kitchen.

The kids helped make homemade pizza. It is so worth making it from scratch. Of course, it's delicious; but, the best benefit is how happy it makes the family.

I used the dough recipe out of my old Betty Crocker cookbook from the eighties. I took a small can of tomato sauce and a small can of tomato paste and stirred them together.

Then, I added oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper, basil, Parmesan Cheese, and Italian seasoning.

We added ground beef, canned mushrooms, pepperoni, and Mozarella cheese. You can add whatever you like. Why not give it a try this weekend?

Blessings,

Laura

Home Pizzaria Momma

Wednesday
Wholehearted Wednesdays     A Little R & R Raising Homemakers - A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Down to the Wire...Timeline

Okay, Friends, we're down to the wire for Thanksgiving preparations. Hopefully, you've already cleaned, planned out menus, and gotten food in the house. Next, it's time to make a list of all the things you have to do from now until dinner is served tomorrow. I'm going to a friend, Mrs. Smith's, house with my family, but I'm bringing much of the feast with me.

I am responsible for the following items:

turkey

gravy

dressing

sweet potato casserole

veggies for the dip she's making

2 pumpkin pies

1 pecan pie

That's nearly an entire feast in itself! I won't tell you all she's adding. You'll gain weight just reading the menu!

So next, you need to think about a time table. What can be made or prepared early?

I need to continue to thaw my turkey; it's not ready yet, though I did put it in the refrigerator 3 days early. So, I'll be thawing it in cold water in my sink, changing the water often.

The gravy will have to be a last minute thing.

The dressing will be my German Apple Stuffing that I've made nearly all the years I've been married. Many of the ingredients can be prepped early in the day. I'll put it all together tonight and bake it tomorrow.

I'll put the Sweet Potato Casserole together tonight as well.

The veggies for dipping can be cut up early today by a little pair of hands.

The pies, too can be made early today. First my hubby needs to make the pie crust for me. He's just so good at it! True confession, I'll have to make an extra pie for tonight. Everyone will have a terrible sweet tooth!

In addition to all of this, we have to eat today, too!

Get your comfortable working clothes and shoes on and let's get started! So, now that you have a To Do list, start to organize it by what can be done this morning, this afternoon, this evening, and tomorrow morning. Here's what it looks like for me this year:

Wednesday Morning:

Make coffee for hubby.

Make oatmeal.

Clean up from breakfast.

Put turkey in cold water to thaw.

Get my children busy cutting up the vegetables I'll need. I'll give them a list of sizes and amounts needed.

Make pie crusts. Hoping for My Honey's help with this one!

Make pumpkin pies.

Make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chips for lunch.

Clean up.

Take a break!

Wednesday Afternoon:

Check the turkey.

Make pecan pie.

Set Cool Whip in the refrigerator to thaw.

Put together the sweet potato casserole and put it in the refrigerator. I'll bake it tomorrow.

I'll have one of the children toast the bread for my German Apple Stuffing while I'm working in the kitchen.

Wednesday Evening:

Serve grilled cheese sandwiches and leftovers for dinner.

Clean up dinner.

Put the stuffing together.

Watch a movie with the family.

Thursday Morning:

Start the turkey early in the morning. I use a Reynold's cooking bag to make it quicker and easier.

Mid-morning, add the sweet potato casserole and the stuffing to the oven.

Cut the turkey and make the gravy.

Pack items to take to my Friend Laura's house for dinner.

Leave about 11:40.

Well, my friends, there's the plan. I'll follow it the best I can. Even if I don't do it perfectly, I'll still be ahead of the game.

Now, quick, sit down and make yourself a time table and get busy!

God bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!

Laura

Tonight for Supper...

Chicken breasts with teriaki sauce and steamed rice. How on Earth do you spell that? ~smile~

Have a wonderful evening or day!
Laura

Tonight for Supper...

Fried Ham Steaks

Macaroni and Cheese

Applesauce

Simple, yummy, and quick!

God bless you all!

I'm off to transcribe for awhile.

Laura

P.S. Oh yeah, about the picture above. As my Grandpa Frank used to say, it's something to make little girls like you ask questions!

~smile~

Tonight for Supper... Beanie Weenies

Beanie Weenies

32 oz canned pork and beans

2 T brown sugar

2 T instant minced onions or 1/2 chopped onion

1-2 t prepared mustard

1 t Worcestershire sauce

4-6 hotdogs or wieners, sliced. Dice if you have little kids.

OVEN: Combine all ingredients in a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Makes 6 servings.

STOVETOP: Combine all ingredients in a skillet. Bring to a bubble over medium heat, stirring often. Turn the heat down to low and simmer until thickened. I'd still give it at least an hour to cook.

I have three adults and three children to cook for; so, I usually double this recipe.

Well, I've got to go get mine started or I'll miss the dinner hour.

God bless!

Laura