My Sis-in-law Enters AARP Boomer Superstar

She has a beautiful voice, especially since she is singing this acapella!  Take a listen:
http://aarpcontest.votigo.com/contests/showentry/1721401 Please share this with ALL your friends!

Hurricane

It hit me again

It hit him

and me

again

Like before

I didn't expect it

at all

It waited until

I was lulling in

the mirror reflection

on the river

Sentries on vacation

I didn’t react at first

Took awhile to hit me

the first wave

the next

the whirlpool

My hand up in the

center

not waving for help

Misunderstanding

Addiction took my son’s love away

He didn't want her hurt

He wrote a poem about her

There would have been my grandchildren

but he knew better

My daughters boyfriend was the opposite

he bit her

He suffused his malicious disease into her life.

Not at all understanding LOVE.

Organic Fertilizers Giveaway!

Do you have a garden?  Are you trying to be as organic as possible?
You can win a set of Organic Fertilizers from http://www.commonsensehome.com  She
is offering Liquid Seaweed Fertilize,r   Liquid Fish Fertilizer, Sea Minerals Fertilizer  , Liquid Fish Fertilizer, Bio Ag and Mycorrhizal Fungi.

One lucky Common Sense Homesteading reader will win one quart each of five different organic fertilizers! Total Value = $116 (including $20 shipping)

Enter Here: http://www.commonsensehome.com/smiling-gardener-organic-fertilizers/#more-7754

Lentils, Mushrooms and Salad for dinner

We had lentils with garlic, sea salt and Mrs. Dash orig.; sautéed mushrooms in olive oil with a little red onion and a large salad (Arugala, Mixed greens and tomato with oil, vinegar and basil.

I used this recipe to make the lentils http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-dried-lentils-116321

Parsley Wild Rice

I made wild rice and parsley yesterday. I sautéed mushrooms (1lb.) for 14 minutes. In another pot I had a cup of wild rice simmering in 6 cups of water for 45 minutes. When the mushrooms were golden I mixed the wild rice with the mushrooms and sprinkled 4 tbsp. of fresh parsley and 2 tbsp. of fresh squeezed lemon on top. You can add salt and pepper if you wish. I found this recipe on Martha Stewart website.  http://www.marthastewart.com/314462/wild-rice-with-mushrooms-and-parsley

Chicken Cacciatore

Yesterday I made chicken cacciatore. I put an 1/2 cup of flour on waxed paper and added salt and pepper. I coated the chicken with the flour and browned the chicken in a skillet. I removed the chicken and browned an onion. I added oregano (2 tsp., salt and pepper) a 1/2 cup of wine and cooked half liquid off. I then added a can of petite cut tomatoes with juice and 2 minced cloves of garlic. I covered and let this cook for 10 minutes. I added the chicken, covered and let cook for 20 minutes more. Serve over pasta.

Chicken and Mushrooms

This afternoon we were driving home and an older lady came on the radio with this recipe: Chicken, Cream of Mushroom Soup plus 1/2 can of milk and onions. I decided to make it for supper. I browned onion and mushrooms, then browned the chicken. Put in 9x12 and added cream of mushroom soup (I was going to make my own cream sauce, but I cheated), covered with tin foil, placed in oven and baked for half an hour. Boiled some Amish noodles and when chicken was done mixed them into chicken. I actually added another can of cream of mushroom because it was a little runny and placed back in over uncovered for ten minutes more.
Was delicious.

New York

It's first time I have been in New York since I was about four.  I love it.
Although it's a sad time for my husband. We are here for his cousin's funeral.
It was so nice having a Whole Foods just a block's walk away!

We bought some Pasta and sauce and some butternut squash and cranberries.
It was wonderful.  What is so wonderful is that it was late...the stores stay open
until 11. 

Can't wait to see the view of Central Park from the balcony tomorrow morning.

New Years Dinner

New Years Day

Sauerkraut and Pork
Buttered Potatoes
Leftovers from New Years Eve

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie
Cherry Pie
Apple Pie
Champagne Cake

Beverages

Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry
Coffee
Tea

New Years EVE Menu

New Years EVE Menu

Appetizers

Small Salmon Patties

Triscuits and Humus


First Course

Butternut Squash Soup with Half 'n Half and Thyme

Greens, Apples, Pecans with House Dressing

Second Course

Sweet 'n Sour Meatballs and Pineapple

Thyme Rice

Mushrooms and Onions

Cauliflower

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie

Cherry Pie

Apple Pie

Beverages

Sherry

Easy Supper with Cabbage and Kielbasa

Today, I couldn't figure out what to have.  I have not made a menu
for this week, so I saw an ad for kielbasa and I thought I have a head
of cabbage from the co-op and some carrots. So, I found this recipe:

http://www.food.com/recipe/cabbage-and-kielbasa-422164

We have been so busy with Christmas preparations that I needed something
quick and I think this will do the trick. I think I am going to change the recipe up.
I will brown the onions and sliced cabbage and place the sliced kielbasa over the onions in a 9x12 pan.
I'll slice the carrots thinly and mix them in.  I might add some garlic, not sure. I'm thinking of making mashed potatoes, but if I don't have a lot of time, I might just slice them and add them to the cabbage mixture.
I'll then cover with tin foil and bake for a half an hour and see how it looks.  Maybe ten more minutes
uncovered.

Let you know how it turns out...will take pics.

Thanksgiving 2013

Well everything is quiet here...the kids went to a movie and it's just
my husband and I home.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My one daughter's family could not make
because they all had the flu :(

I made a very simple stuffing with a couple bags of stuffing, salt, pepper, a couple of eggs, 8 stalks of celery chopped, onion chopped, some milk to moisten bread cubes. I first put a stick of butter into a large frying pan and sautéed the onions and celery for about 10 minutes. I mixed the bread with milk and the eggs and then poured the butter mixture over the bread cubes. I stuffed the turkey and put the other half of the stuffing in a 9x12 pan. I roasted the turkey for about four hours. (19 lb. bird)

I also had succotash, mashed potatoes, candied yams, organic green bean casserole, gravy and cranberry sauce.

Beef Tips Over Rice

Today I made Beef Tips over Rice



I sliced an onion and a green/red pepper
Sauted in oil in a large skillet, sprinkled salt and pepper over the onion mix.
When the onions and peppers were slightly brown, I took
them out and added the pound of beef tips, salted and peppered
them and added a little bit of soy sauce.  Browned the meat...did
not overdo it.  Added 1-1/2 cups of rice to 3 cups of boiling water and
covered and let simmer for 20 minutes.  When the rice was done I added it
to the large skillet and mixed well.

While onion and green pepper were sauteing, I made a green spring salad with tomato.
I sprinkled salt and pepper and  2 capfuls of oil over greens along with a couple of capfuls
of cider vinegar. I chopped a clove of garlic and added to the salad. Tossed well and served
as a first course.

I also had some banana squash in the freezer, put it in the oven and then when I served added
brown sugar and cinammon with a little butter.  Yum!

Yesterday I Switched it Up

Yesterday I switched it up. Instead of using the Womans Day November Menu

We had kale, broccoli and Black bean chili.
I cut up celery, onion, pepper, browned it, browned 1 lb. of grass fed beef, added 1 28 oz. of tomato sauce, salt, pepper and 3-4 tbsp. of chili powder and cooked for 45 minutes. Served over rice.
oops, I forgot while I was preparing the above, I had a banana squash in the oven....I drizzled molasses and sugar on it (I am out of honey) when it came out of the oven.  You can add some butter it you like.

By the way, banana squash should be the number one prep food to grow in your garden....It is huge, although a little difficult to peal and cut up.  I really needed a hack saw :)  My friend gave me some out of her garden and she said she did not give me the larger ones!  She also told me they make great pumpkin pie...most cans of pumpkin are just some kind of squash.  

How to make a pumpkin pie from squash

Made Meatloaf Tonight

Anyway, I made meatloaf tonight. It was a very delicious. My son said it tasted like Swedish meatballs. Probably wouldn't want to have it like this all the time. Here is the recipe: 
http://www.food.com/recipe/yes-virginia-there-is-a-great-meatloaf-54257

To go with the meatloaf, I cut up five potatoes, five carrots and sprinkled with salt and pepper and Braggs Liquid Aminos. I covered with tin foil and stuck in the oven with the meatloaf.

http://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Aminos-16-oz-Ounces/dp/B0006Z7NNG/ref=amomslove09

Told the younguns to shut the oven off when it dinged and went shopping for this coming week's groceries.

This was a very easy meal.

Dinner Menus this Week

This week and next I am using Family Food on a Budget from So You Call Yourself a Homeschooler
I am using the October Plan.
http://www.soyoucallyourselfahomeschooler.com/2013/10/01/october-2013-free-whole-food-monthly-meal-plan/

Today I made Quinoa Veggie Salad....I knew my husband wouldn't eat quinoa so I substituted rice and my kids do not like zuchinni so I just didn't put it in...Instead I used 1 stalk of celery, 1 tomato (I didn't have cherry tomatoes), some red onion chopped, some chopped basil and parsley.  I made the salad dressing and added some black beans.  It was very good.

For breakfasts we have had oatmeal with sliced apples, brown sugar and cinnamon, fried egg and toast and fruit. One day we had yogurt and granola (I used Bob's Red Meal Museli). For lunches we have had leftover pizza, tuna sandwiches and leftover tacos.  

I absolutley love this menu plan.

Dinner Menus

This week and next we are using this blog free October Menu Plan:
http://www.soyoucallyourselfahomeschooler.com/2013/10/01/october-2013-free-whole-food-monthly-meal-plan/
Today we had the Taco Casserole. It was very good.

There are so many blogs with recipes and menus. I like the fact that this one has breakfast and lunch as well as dinner.  Takes the "what-should-I-have-for-breakfast?" out of a rushed morning, or a leisurely one.  So, I'll let you know how this goes.

For more dinner menus check out:
http://www.pinterest.com/caroline_shaw2/dinner-menus/

Easy Dinner: Hamburger and Mushroom Sauce over Rice

Yesterday I went to Penns Corner and picked up my order of ground beef from Clarion River Organics.

So today I was a little under the weather with a cold, so I decided to see what's in the fridge.
I had a bag of baby carrots and a quarter of an onion and a patty pan yellow squash. I chopped the carrots and squash and sliced the onion and sautéed them together. I removed the vegies and put the pound of ground beef and browned that. I put salt and pepper and added a couple tbsp. of flour. Stirred it well and added the vegies back in and a can of cream of mushroom soup*. I simmered the mix for about 30 minutes or less and served over rice. I also added about a tbsp. of Braggs Liquid Aminos.

*Make your own mushroom soup.

Mac 'n Cheese

Today I made Mac 'n Cheese for our Two Week Get to Payday Menu

I boiled 3 cups of macaroni until dente.  In another pot I added 3 tbsp. of butter to
a pot and whisked in 2 heaping tbsp. of flour when the butter had melted. Poured in
2 cups of milk, some salt and pepper and simmered until sauce thickened.  I added
8 oz. of grated Giant Eagle mild or sharp cheddar cheese; let the cheese melt and added
1 can of creamed corn and stirred for a couple more minutes.  Spread the cooked macaroni
into a 9 x 12 greased pan and scraped the cheese sauce over the macaroni and mixed well.
Took the pot back to the stove and added 2 tbsp. of butter and quite a bit of  Italian bread crumbs
(about 4 tbsp.). I sprinkled this over the top of the macaroni and pushed the crumbs into the top
a little.  Baked on 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Was delicious.